Thinking of heading up to Chang Rai for a few days as I haven't been there before and neither has my Wife. What are the must See and Do things in the area. Not interested in Elephant, Snake or Croc Farms. Been there done that brought the T Shirts.

The Markets that I read about in Mae Sai I take it are across the Border in Myanmar. I will only have a Tourist Visa so could I encounter any problems crossing the border or be denied entry back into Thailand. Is it worth taking $US across the border for the Markets or will THB be suffice.

Thank for any info.

Moving to the Chiang Rai forum for better answers.

Bring warm clothes or buy here its under 10 degrees some nights and lower in the lovely Mountains like Phu chi Fa or Pa Tang.

If you exit to market in Myanmar $10 or Bahts 500 you can re-enter Thailand Most westerners get 30 days on arrival.

There is a notice with financial requirements 20k is cited but I have never been asked in many crossings tho I have Thai driving licenc and cash in local bank etc.

Tackilek is a rather shoddy hovel of viagara touts pirate goods and very reasonable liquor,better deals away from the boder.

MAe Sai is one long stri with same nick nacks atThai prices,women seem to love the jewellry and Chinese goods cheap gadgets.

Living here I would say these are the 2 worst places in the Province.

If ypu have a car The Mekhong C Saen,Golden Triangle,river Rd to C Khong ,day trips into Laos over the new bridge,Wiang Kaen then lovely hill around Pa Tang then Phu Chi Fa to Thoeng

If you like temples C Rai good central night market has great turtles at Wat Phra Keow while rural Tam Pha Cherui Monastery is my pick

The White RongkhunTemple is a modern eyesore of gaudy tourists trinkets and loud tourists,avoid unless you like sucjh folk munching em masse posing Hello Kitty Stle etc.

Take your pick,The Diamond Parks New Resort great value while theDusit is a bargain for waht you get and can sometimes be had online under $100 rack rates.

Mae Chan Ma Falung and te mountain rds to Fang are scenic if a little hairaf unused to Thai driving or odd elephant

Bon Voyage

Border crossing no issue as long as you follow the rules.

USD better but they have to be PERFECT in some cases even creases not allowed, certainly no (even tiny) tears holes or marks.

THB also fine.

I really enjoyed renting a 4WD and heading in to the hills driving pretty much at random stopping wherever things looked interesting.

As you get up into the mountains some of the road conditions would be challenging to those with no experience off-roading, but that's where you meet the most interesting people.

Do NOT feed the monstrous human zoos of long-neck etc tribes. . .

Also be aware that some of the wildlife/elephant places are abusive, ask an animal-lover for advice on that if you're planning, there are some genuine ones around up there.

I forgot to add will I lose my immigration departure card that i arrived with in BKK and get a replacement one so I have no problems leaving BKK later?

you get a ne card on entry

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Northern_Thailand/Chiang_Rai-1445731/Tourist_Traps-Chiang_Rai-TG-C-1.html

Bring warm clothes or buy here its under 10 degrees some nights and lower in the lovely Mountains like Phu chi Fa or Pa Tang.

If you exit to market in Myanmar $10 or Bahts 500 you can re-enter Thailand Most westerners get 30 days on arrival.

There is a notice with financial requirements 20k is cited but I have never been asked in many crossings tho I have Thai driving licenc and cash in local bank etc.

Tackilek is a rather shoddy hovel of viagara touts pirate goods and very reasonable liquor,better deals away from the boder.

MAe Sai is one long stri with same nick nacks atThai prices,women seem to love the jewellry and Chinese goods cheap gadgets.

Living here I would say these are the 2 worst places in the Province.

If ypu have a car The Mekhong C Saen,Golden Triangle,river Rd to C Khong ,day trips into Laos over the new bridge,Wiang Kaen then lovely hill around Pa Tang then Phu Chi Fa to Thoeng

If you like temples C Rai good central night market has great turtles at Wat Phra Keow while rural Tam Pha Cherui Monastery is my pick

The White RongkhunTemple is a modern eyesore of gaudy tourists trinkets and loud tourists,avoid unless you like sucjh folk munching em masse posing Hello Kitty Stle etc.

Take your pick,The Diamond Parks New Resort great value while theDusit is a bargain for waht you get and can sometimes be had online under $100 rack rates.

Mae Chan Ma Falung and te mountain rds to Fang are scenic if a little hairaf unused to Thai driving or odd elephant

Bon Voyage

i been to takchilek.

I forgot to add will I lose my immigration departure card that i arrived with in BKK and get a replacement one so I have no problems leaving BKK later?

You cross the border and return the same as in any other country so you get a new arrival/departure card.

You can actually cross and return for the day without using your passport, what they call a VIP pass.

For this you just present your passport with 2 photocopies of the main page with 100B to Thai immigration.

They then keep your passport and give you the stamped copies as a travel document you use to enter Burma.

The Burmese are happy just to take your 500B, and when you return to Thailand go past the arrivals line up and around to departures where they will give you your passport back.

It's all very casual and civilised.

Edited January 20, 201412 yr by sceadugenga

For things to see we normally point people in the direction of our TOP 50 thread.

There are good markets in Mae Sai, As you approach the border veer left and there are plenty of market stalls and if driving there a parking stations that charge 40 baht. Enjoy Mae Sai markets.

There are good markets in Mae Sai, As you approach the border veer left and there are plenty of market stalls and if driving there a parking stations that charge 40 baht. Enjoy Mae Sai markets.

What is the Quality and prices like compared to across the border?

There are good markets in Mae Sai, As you approach the border veer left and there are plenty of market stalls and if driving there a parking stations that charge 40 baht. Enjoy Mae Sai markets.

What is the Quality and prices like compared to across the border?

I can't help with that one. Only been over the border once a couple of years ago.

It's different junk. over the border you get knock off stuff like copy watches, shirts and DVDs while on the Thai side you let a lot of the stuff you see in markets all over Thailand.

There's a couple of reasonable duty free booze shops in Tachilek.

The Mrs likes to go to MaeSai about once a year and buys stuff like new quilts and some houseware goods.