Baby friendly activities in Chiang Rai?

[janejira]

Hello... my husband and I are planning our first family vacation to Chiang Rai in May with our 5 month old. Wondering if anyone has advice for activities that are both interesting for us and baby friendly?

 

We fly in on a Sunday so plan to go to the walking street. We are also looking at Singh park, Doi Tung, Doi Mae Salong and White temple. We don't want to have too ambitious a list with the little one in tow but still want to feel like we have explored the area.

 

The hotel we are staying at has a shuttle to the city but we are also considering renting a car while there.

 

Thanks!

[Flustered]

Which hotel are you staying at? A lot depends on your location.

 

The walking street is very, very crowded, mainly with PRC tourists who have no manners and will push and shove you all over the place.

 

Some "baby friendly" excursions would be driving to the elephant camp and the hot springs. The scenery is great and you should have a good family day out.

 

The Google map is the worldwide web address for google maps and then         maps/@19.9663617,99.7041059,15.4z

 

Google does not let web addresses be shown on TV for some reason. Then just over the river is the hot springs at Pha Soat. Make sure it is on a Monday or Friday when they will have cleaned the big pool even though the private baths are good all week. Nice BBQ area and very hood chicken and eggs on sale.

 

If you hire a car, a drive to Mae Sai on the Myanmar border is a good trip (about 1.5 hours from CR) and it has some very interesting markets.

 

While at Singha Park, drive on past it for a few miles and there is a sign for some waterfalls on the right. (I am sure someone will remember the name). As you drive up to them, look at Victoria Village on the right hand side. A luxury western estate that was started and stopped for some reason...very spooky and very interesting.

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2017 by Flustered

[janejira]

Thanks, Flustered.

 

We are staying at Le Meridien and plan to spend at least some portion of the time lounging around the hotel. We only hope to rent a car for a day, so we are trying to plan a driving route. Will look into the hot springs and waterfalls. ?

[XJ650]

If you rent a car one day you can cover Doi Mae Salong, Doi Tung Mae Fah Luang Garden and Golden Triangle in one day.

 

The other days you can take a taxi to Baan Dam (Black Village), White Temple or Blue Temple and some other places close to the city.

 

You find more information with photos and maps here: 

http://mkcrtour.com/

 

There are many interesting places in and around Chiang Rai. 

 

 

 

 

[Flustered]

3 hours ago, janejira said:

Thanks, Flustered.

 

We are staying at Le Meridien and plan to spend at least some portion of the time lounging around the hotel. We only hope to rent a car for a day, so we are trying to plan a driving route. Will look into the hot springs and waterfalls. ?

You will enjoy Le Meridian. Yes it is a bit away from the town but not too far.

 

The swimming pool and spa are great and the gardens back onto the river. We have stayed there a few times and eaten there often when needing a western pick me up. They have a nice quiet library room with a couple of computers which are free to use. The restaurants are first class and an excellent buffet breakfast. The best thing is, no package tours of PRC Chinese.....Good choice.

[kevvy]

11 hours ago, Flustered said:

Which hotel are you staying at? A lot depends on your location.

 

The walking street is very, very crowded, mainly with PRC tourists who have no manners and will push and shove you all over the place.

 

Some "baby friendly" excursions would be driving to the elephant camp and the hot springs. The scenery is great and you should have a good family day out.

 

The Google map is the worldwide web address for google maps and then         maps/@19.9663617,99.7041059,15.4z

 

Google does not let web addresses be shown on TV for some reason. Then just over the river is the hot springs at Pha Soat. Make sure it is on a Monday or Friday when they will have cleaned the big pool even though the private baths are good all week. Nice BBQ area and very hood chicken and eggs on sale.

 

If you hire a car, a drive to Mae Sai on the Myanmar border is a good trip (about 1.5 hours from CR) and it has some very interesting markets.

 

While at Singha Park, drive on past it for a few miles and there is a sign for some waterfalls on the right. (I am sure someone will remember the name). As you drive up to them, look at Victoria Village on the right hand side. A luxury western estate that was started and stopped for some reason...very spooky and very interesting.

 

 

 

Khun korn waterfall . It is not baby friendly as you have to walk up a steep track and it is hard to do without a baby.The Victoria estate has a locked gate and has only 2 or 3 houses in it all empty and about 60 blocks. They want to sell it for about 67 million  baht .It is not Luxury , it just has some made roads in it .

[kevvy]

Some good things on here

http://chiangrai.sawadee.com/attractions.html

 

this is one of the better temples . It is amazing .. ....

Wat Sang Kaew Photiyan

http://www.chiangmai-alacarte.com/blog/wat-sang-kaew-photiyan/

Post me if you want the directions .

Kevvy

 

 

[janejira]

 

 

 

We are limiting the temples. While they are interesting, after being in Thailand for a few years, I feel a bit templed out.

 

We might save waterfalls for another trip to Kanchanaburi.

 

Right now it looks like Day 1 will be a night market, but as soon as it opens. The little one usually is put to bed between 7-8pm.

 

Day 2 - main attractions around the city-- White Temple, Black House, Singha Park

Day 3- Doi Tung.  

Is there anything else along the way to this? Mae Ha Salong seems a bit far. We've also crossed off the Golden Triangle.

Day 4- lounge around hotel until our  early afternoon flight

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

[thaibeachlovers]

 

On ‎4‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 7:06 AM, janejira said:

 

 

 

We are limiting the temples. While they are interesting, after being in Thailand for a few years, I feel a bit templed out.

 

We might save waterfalls for another trip to Kanchanaburi.

 

Right now it looks like Day 1 will be a night market, but as soon as it opens. The little one usually is put to bed between 7-8pm.

 

Day 2 - main attractions around the city-- White Temple, Black House, Singha Park

Day 3- Doi Tung.  

Is there anything else along the way to this? Mae Ha Salong seems a bit far. We've also crossed off the Golden Triangle.

Day 4- lounge around hotel until our  early afternoon flight

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Day 1 All day doing nothing?

 

You can do your day 2 in a morning, so for the afternoon I suggest drive to Chiang Saen to see temples, museum and old wall. Can eat at restaurant beside river. Nice place and very quiet. Not yet ruined by western fast food and big hotels.

Then travel north along the river to the Golden Triangle. Super touristy and tacky, but a must IMO if visiting north Thailand as can see 3 countries. Good roads the whole way.

 

White Temple- the real MUST SEE in north Thailand. Drive past all the idiots trying to park on the road- there is a big new car park past the temple on the turn off from the highway. Entrance beside the car park.

Unfortunately it is inundated by heaving crowds of bus tourists rushing through and taking selfies.

 

Day 3 at Doi Tung- have you driven many off highway Thai roads? Is your kid a good traveler?

Never been myself, but the road looks like a typical mountain shocker from the google map.