Chiang Rai

Under the Mongolia–Thailand bilateral agreement, an ordinary passport gives 30 days visa-free. The general 60-day exemption ended on 15 September 2026, but this does not affect Mongolia. For health or similar reasons the stay can be extended once (1,900฿); overstaying is fined 500฿ per day. Your passport should be valid for more than 6 months and you should hold a return ticket.

Every foreigner entering Thailand fills in the TDAC on the official site within 3 days before arrival — free. If you connect via Bangkok, you clear immigration there, so that is where it is checked. Other sites that charge a fee are agents or scams.

November to January is best: cool, dry and clear; mornings and the mountains are chilly, so pack warm clothes. From February to April wildfire smoke badly pollutes the air, so avoid it with children or anyone with breathing problems. May to October is rainy. Travel insurance is a must.

The official taxi at Entrance 3 on the terminal's first floor charges a flat 150฿ to anywhere in the city, with no extra fees (until ≈22:00). Grab from ≈180฿. 15–25 minutes to the centre.

13 departures a day (7:00–18:00) from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3: Express ≈260–290฿ (3 h 45 min), VIP ≈360–400฿ (3 h 20 min). Buses stop at Terminal 2 first, but stay on to Terminal 1 in the centre next to the Night Bazaar.

AIS and TrueMove H counters in the Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Rai arrivals halls: an 8-day plan ≈299฿, 15–30-day plans up to 599฿. Show your passport and staff will set it up.

If your phone supports eSIM, install one before the flight. SIMs and top-ups are sold at 7-Eleven and AIS/True shops in town. Hotel and café Wi-Fi is fine.

Tip: Download Chiang Rai, Doi Tung and Mae Salong in Google Maps for offline use — signal drops in the mountains.

Grab is the easiest way around town — the fare is shown upfront. Agree tuk-tuk and songthaew fares before getting in. A cheap public bus runs from Bus Terminal 1 to the White Temple.

The Golden Triangle, Doi Tung, Mae Salong and Choui Fong are far out and poorly served by public transport, so hire a car with driver or join a tour. Agree the route in advance; entrance tickets are usually not included.

Renting a motorbike requires an international licence and a helmet. Mountain roads have steep hairpins and are slippery in the rain — don't ride without experience.

Almost every Thai bank ATM charges about 220฿ (some 250–350฿) per withdrawal on a foreign card. Take out larger amounts at once; AEON ATMs are cheaper (≈150฿).

Temple and museum ticket windows don't take cards — carry cash in small notes. Markets, street food and tuk-tuks are cash too. Cards work in bigger hotels and malls.

Tip: When paying by card, choose to be charged in baht — conversion to tugrik or dollars costs more.

Khao soi (noodles in coconut curry broth), khanom jeen nam ngiao (rice noodles in a red broth), sai ua sausage and sticky rice. Yunnan food and oolong tea in Mae Salong; Doi Tung coffee. Ask for 'mai phet' if you want it less spicy.

Tip: Drink only bottled water; ice is usually factory-made and safe.

The Night Bazaar food court, the Saturday Walking Street and the morning municipal market are the cheapest with the most choice. The Night Bazaar is known for 'jim jum' clay-pot hot pot.

Police 191, ambulance 1669, Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours, English). For scams, theft or disputes, call 1155 first.

In the smoke season check air quality daily and wear an N95 mask. Motorbike accidents are the main risk — never ride without a helmet. Rules for crossing into Myanmar at Mae Sai change without notice, so don't plan a border crossing.

Overbrook Hospital and Kasemrad International Hospital Chiang Rai are private and English-speaking; Chiangrai Prachanukroh is the provincial hospital. Serious cases are transferred to Chiang Mai, so insurance is a must.

Insulting the royal family is a serious crime under Thai law. The King's portrait is on every banknote, so never step on money. Visit the Doi Tung villa respectfully and modestly dressed.

At the White Temple and elsewhere, cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before entering a hall. Don't point your feet at a Buddha image, and women must not touch monks. Carry a light scarf and long trousers.

'Long-neck' Karen villages are widely criticised as 'human zoos' — many residents are stateless refugees. If you go, choose a community-based tour, ask before taking photos and buy crafts directly from the makers.

Grab — taxis and food delivery with fares shown upfront. Google Maps — temples, markets, restaurants and offline maps. 12Go — Greenbus tickets.

IQAir AirVisual shows air pollution hour by hour. The Thailand Tourist Police app connects you straight to the Tourist Police and shares your location. LINE is how hotels and drivers keep in touch.

The airport is 8 km from the centre, 15–25 minutes by Grab or taxi. If you are connecting to the MIAT flight in Bangkok on a separate ticket, leave at least 4–5 hours between flights, and more if you must transfer from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi.

In shops displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists', show your passport and ask for the form. At the airport where you leave Thailand (usually Suvarnabhumi), show the goods at the customs counter before passport control to get the stamp.