Chiang Rai Tour Review: 7 Must-See Spots & Lunch Buffet

So, you’re thinking about a trip to Chiang Rai and came across the “Chiang Rai Explore 7 Top Highlights Buffet Lunch Included” tour? Basically, it’s a pretty well-rounded option that aims to show you some of the cooler things up north, while throwing in a lunch buffet for good measure. I went on it, too it’s almost, like your average traveler looking for a way to see the popular sites without a bunch of hassle. What follows are my, basically honest thoughts, I think.

The Promise of 7 Highlights

Seven seems to be, more or less, the lucky number for this tour, you know? What I’m getting at, really, is that it pitches itself as an all-in-one thing that will, arguably, introduce you to Chiang Rai. I mean, this includes spots, like the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), the Black House (Baandam Museum), a spot for lunch, plus a few other places, like tea plantations or viewpoints, which seem to be dependent on what the operator thinks is the best fit on that particular day, you see? That, to me, appears to be, a big sell because Chiang Rai isn’t exactly compact, that is to say, that all the sites are very spread out.

Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple): A Sparkling Start

Okay, Wat Rong Khun is, obviously, stunning, isn’t it? Seriously, like your travel brochures have it correct in this case, in my view. It’s that bright color, just the unique design, the whole thing makes you, you know, stand back in amazement a little bit. Crowds do gather around here, I should point out, however our guide very gave us, just enough time to wander and snap a few pictures. Basically, try and go early as possible, too it’s almost like avoiding the midday heat makes the experience significantly better, as I remember.

Wat Rong Suea Ten (The Blue Temple): A Deep Dive into Azure

After the gleaming White Temple, there’s the Blue Temple which, in some respects, seems to be almost as impressive. Right, the temple does have this mesmerizing sapphire color thing going on, complete with all kinds of intricate carvings and striking artwork. Right, it is pretty impossible to miss the huge Buddha statue inside. Seriously, what’s really cool about this stop is that it offers a moment of calm because of, just the relative quiet compared to the White Temple, at least it seemed that way, anyway.

Baandam Museum (The Black House): A Walk on the Dark Side

Then, you have the Black House. You see, unlike the temples, that one is, quite a different vibe, basically. Baandam is really a collection of unique structures displaying artwork and odd collections by Thawan Duchanee, and he seems to be a Thai artist. The vibe there, I’m sure you can appreciate, is really intriguing but also kind of macabre, too it’s almost. I think the whole experience might be slightly unsettling, really.

The Buffet Lunch: Fueling the Adventure

Now, let’s get on to the food, can we? A buffet lunch is, obviously included in the tour, I thought the spread was quite a solid offering for tourists like you. We were shown to a restaurant which, in a way, felt like a typical touristy stop-off point – reasonably busy, plenty of selection, generally catered to all sorts of palates. So, what did that entail, I hear you ask? You are looking at Thai food choices with some Western dishes there, for variety. That being said, you’re not looking at a Michelin-star experience, just decent food that will, just about, fill you up ready for the rest of your afternoon.

Other Potential Stops: Tea Plantations and Viewpoints

Right, other stops that this specific trip usually seems to make can sometimes include tea plantations, could be. So, too it’s almost like having a, chance to see the landscape of Chiang Rai a little, sample regional teas and get a nice photo opportunity on social media. Viewpoints can happen, it might be, which is cool for getting your scenic views that really sell Thailand, more or less. In fact, I recall that which stop we actually did make ended up dependent on time, traffic, and maybe even what our guide figured the group might have, preferred to see, it seems like that anyway, at the end of the day.

Things to keep in Mind

There, arguably are some things that, clearly, potential takers on this particular tour should keep in their minds before booking it, you know? So, firstly the bus trip, now. Chiang Rai’s sights are very much spread out, that is to say, expect to be doing some distance on a vehicle, maybe. If you do experience motion sickness or you can’t, basically, sit still that much, come prepared.

Then, there’s the crowds to take into account, of course. Obviously, this particular tour is popular. Meaning the prime spots could get heavily populated and the time that is spent at each place might have, might be impacted. Temper expectations on seeing the spots privately, or at the very least for really getting a calm vibe, that’s what I say.

Lastly, about the guide, they’re quite important, don’t you agree? These trips usually rely very heavily, too it’s almost, on your guide’s ability to tell stories well in the English tongue plus know lots about, let’s say, each spot. They also keep an eye on the entire group and schedule, obviously, it seems that guides really may, arguably, vary widely in talent from those with extensive knowledge, to individuals that may only offer quite the basic recap from Wikipedia, at the end of the day.

The Verdict

Is it good? Well, in my experience, the ‘Chiang Rai Explore 7 Top Highlights Buffet Lunch Included’ option provides that, you know, typical, handy way of taking a day trip from Chiang Mai straight up north to see, what are typically considered its most iconic attractions. So, yes while each sight is indeed striking, you may feel somewhat time-restricted when visiting a handful of places, really, but, it’s worth it. Obviously, getting transport and lunch provided does tend to be, good perks when, arguably, considering the low price, you see? Assuming seeing tons of sites while not wasting tons of time thinking through the logistics is really what you want in a vacation this actually is, often, worth considering doing yourself, too it’s almost.