This underrated mountain city in Thailand now has direct flights from Singapore! Learn more about what you can do there in this Chiang Rai itinerary👇
I was 8 years old when I last visited Chiang Rai, but I can still recall getting my first Thai massage, being dazzled by the White Temple and the long, bumpy van ride from Chiang Mai.
Thankfully, I no longer have to endure that journey in 2026 as Scoot now operates a ~3.5-hour direct flight from Singapore to Chiang Rai — making it even more convenient to visit.
Returning to this mountain city almost two decades later felt like a pinch-me-moment. The city has modernised with many trendy bars and unique cafes. But it still retains its peaceful, zen-like vibe, free from the bustle one would find in the big cities!
From feasting at a night market to hopping on a road trip and exploring a Chinese mountain village, this 4D3N Chiang Rai itinerary is perfect for those looking for a blend of nature, culture and relaxation.
Psst, enjoy 5x weekly flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai with Scoot from S$150/way! One-way, taxes included. Terms and travel periods apply.
Day 1
8:30PM – Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
We landed at night, and our first order of business was to check out Chiang Rai Night Bazaar. The food section was like an outdoor food court with many seating areas and stores selling iconic Thai dishes: tom yum noodles, crispy pork belly and papaya salad. Most dishes cost under ฿100 or ~S$4, so it was pretty affordable! There was also a traditional dance performance happening on the stage.
The bazaar mostly sells clothes and handmade gifts, so we did some shopping after dinner! Take note that it’s mostly cash-only, but some vendors might accept PromptPay QR payment via DBS PayLah!, OCBC Pay Anyone or the UOB TMRW app.
10PM – Analog Cocktails & Records
After dinner, we checked out Analog Cocktails & Records, a creative cocktail bar that plays swanky tunes all night. Our favourite drink is the Clover Club — a gin-based cocktail with chrysanthemum, egg white and raspberry cordial! The result is a sweet and sour concoction garnished with a gummy bear 🤤
11PM – Sann Boutique Hotel
After, we headed back to Sann Boutique Hotel, where we spent the night in the city resting up for our upcoming road trip.
Day 2
Chiang Rai city is quieter and more laid-back compared to other Thai cities — there are no high-rise buildings!
10AM – Chiang Rai Clock Tower
We started the morning at the Chiang Rai Clock Tower, which sits gleaming in gold in the middle of a roundabout. We didn’t have time to catch the free light and sound show, but the clock tower lights up daily at 7PM, 8PM and 9PM for 10 minutes.
The street is mostly lined with restaurants, massage parlours and salons, and we spent the rest of the morning wandering around.
12PM – Pasom Art Cafe and Gallery
After exploring, we took a coffee break at Pasom Art Cafe and Gallery, and it ended up being our favourite cafe in Chiang Rai because of the good vibes. It’s an aesthetic coffee space with DIY workshops, art exhibitions, a library corner and live music on the weekends!
2PM – Road trip to Doi Chang village
No Chiang Rai itinerary is complete without a road trip to the mountains. We rented our car from Lanna Car Rent (~S$115/day), which conveniently delivered it directly to our hotel in the city.
The drive to Doi Chang village takes ~1.5 hours, and the roads are bendy but scenic. We were glad we got an SUV because it can get pretty steep and bumpy!
5PM – The Mist Mountain Doi Chang
We checked into The Mist Mountain Doi Chang and were stunned by the unobstructed view of the mountain valley from our room balcony. It’s perfect for those looking to disconnect and recharge 🧘♀️
6PM – Doi Chang Sunset Viewpoint
As our room was facing east, we hopped back into the car and caught the sunset at Doi Chang Sunset Viewpoint. We had the entire spot to ourselves, and the sunset was genuinely dazzling as the sky turned red and pink!
7PM – Seafog Mookata
For dinner, we feasted at Seafog Mookata — the sizzling meat hit the spot as it got pretty chilly at night.
Fun fact: Mookata, aka Thai barbecue and hotpot, is a cooking style that originated from Northern Thailand!
Day 3
8:30AM – AKHA FarmVille
Day 3 of our Chiang Rai itinerary is a full day on the road. We started off at AKHA FarmVille, a cafe with free-roaming Corriedale sheep against the backdrop of the Doi Chang Valley. It felt like we were walking into a scene of a fairytale as a few curious sheep approached us, even though we didn’t buy any feed.
A fully functional white carousel perches at the edge of a cliff, and we rode a few rounds on it. It has a separate entrance fee of ฿100 with no time limit. We went at opening, and it was perfect because of the low crowd, making it great for photos (and personal time with the flock) 🐏.
12PM – Doi Mae Salong village
Our next stop was the Doi Mae Salong mountain area, which is home to Yunnanese villages settled by those who fled the Chinese Civil War to Thailand and still live there today. Driving through the village felt like we had left Thailand as the architecture and shop names turned distinctly Chinese! We had lunch at Sihai Yunnanese Restaurant, which is run by a second-generation Thai-Yunnanese owner.
2PM – 101 Tea Plantation
The region is known for sprawling oolong tea plantations, and we dropped by 101 Tea Plantation for a stroll amongst the tea leaves. There’s also a cafe, gift shop and tea tasting bar on the grounds 🍵
5PM – Lalitta Cafe
On the way back to Chiang Rai city, we made a last stop at Lalitta Café. It’s a recurring attraction on every Chiang Rai itinerary, and while I was sceptical at first, it truly lived up to the hype.
The entrance is by the side of a highway, but stepping in is like being transported into a secret garden with lush tropical flora and koi fish. There are many seating areas to lounge at and even a massage centre, but we mainly came for the indoor waterfall — which was surprisingly powerful!
Day 4
8:30AM – NATHA Thai Costume Rental
On our last day, we got dolled up at NATHA Thai Costume Rental and wore traditional Thai costumes to visit Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple.
10AM – Wat Rong Khun
Opened in 1997, it’s one of the most unique Buddhist temples in the world thanks to its intricate white and silver architecture. I could easily spend all day there staring at the details and checking out the different halls. I was also tickled to find some modern pop culture elements such as sculptures of Gollum, Frankenstein and Hellboy in the surrounding grounds!
1PM – “Sai Jai” Khao Soi and Nam Ngiao
Khao Soi is a coconut curry noodle soup, almost adjacent to laksa! Whereas Nam Ngiao is a pork and tomato curry noodle soup that has a tangy and gamey flavour.
We couldn’t leave Northern Thailand without trying its speciality dishes, so we dropped by ข้าวซอย น้ำเงี้ยว “ใส่ใจ” (“Sai Jai” Khao Soi and Nam Ngiao) for authentic khao soi and nam ngiao noodles. Safe to say, I preferred the khao soi as I’m not a huge fan of pig blood curds!
2:30PM – The Thai Massage
After lunch, we snuck in a traditional Thai massage at The Thai Massage to soothe our achy muscles after gallivanting across Chiang Rai. It was so relaxing we fell asleep!
5:30PM – Chiang Rai International Airport
Before we knew it, it was time to head to the airport and say bai kha~ (goodbye) to Chiang Rai.
Direct Flights to Chiang Rai — Only ~3.5hrs from Singapore
As of January 2026, Scoot now flies direct from Singapore to Chiang Rai, and it only takes ~3.5 hours. This means that getting to Chiang Rai is now easier than ever!
We took their Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, and the journey was comfortable thanks to the spacious leather seats! Plus, it’s in a 2×2 configuration, so there’s plenty of room to chill (or gossip) with your travel buddy 🤭
We pre-ordered the Hainanese chicken rice and seafood pasta for our in-flight meals, and they were pretty delicious! The departure and return flight times are also close to mealtimes, so we were glad we came hungry.
Feeling inspired? Enjoy 5x weekly flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai with Scoot from S$150/way! One-way, taxes included. Terms and travel periods apply.
Chiang Rai’s natural beauty and slower pace truly healed the burnt-out Singaporean in me. In fact, it got me wishing we had more days on the road to slow travel the mountain ranges!
I’m already plotting ways to return so I can eat my weight in khao soi noodles!
What are your favourite spots in this Chiang Rai itinerary? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by Scoot.
