Chiang Rai International Airport (Thai: ท่าอากาศยานเชียงราย) is located 8 km outside Chiang Rai City in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. It is the second largest airport in northern Thailand. There is a 3,000-meter runway built here, and there are irregular flights to Kunming, Shanghai and other places in China.
Chiang Rai International Airport is an airport serving Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. Since 1998, it has been managed by Thai Public Company Limited. In 2013, Chiang Rai International Airport transported more than 1 million passengers and provided 7,000 passenger flights. The airport has international flight facilities, but there are no international carriers in the airport. The airport's passenger traffic exceeds 500,000 passengers per year, flight takeoffs and landings exceed 3900, and freight traffic exceeds 2700 tons.
Chiang Rai International Airport Overview
The terminal building of Chiang Rai International Airport and the GTC (Ground Transportation Center) are in the ancient shape, and the main building of the terminal is in the shape of a mouth. The second floor above the ground has the domestic and international departure hall, check-in counter, shopping mall, security checkpoint, inspection and quarantine, customs, Frontier inspection area, gate. And the first floor has the arrival hall, baggage claim, shopping mall, gate. The domestic and international terminals are on the second floor and Thai AirAsia base is on the first floor. The ground transportation center is located in the southern area of Chiang Rai International Airport and is oval in shape.
How to go to the downtown Chiang Rai from Chiang Rai International Airport?
There is a red bus that you can take after you go out of the airport. The fare is 20 baht per person. It is also possible to take Grab to arrive the downtown, which takes about 170 baht and it can take 4 people. Both of these two methods will take you to arrive in half an hour. As the airport is the first stop, there are not many people and you won't feel crowded.
Best Hotel Highly Recommended near the Chiang Rai International Airport
Chiang Rai Legend Boutique Resort & Spa
The Legend Boutique Resort and Spa in Chiang Rai is only 6 kilometers away from Chiang Rai Airport and the transportation is very convenient. The resort has 76 luxurious villas, which are hidden in the mountains and rivers. When you enter the hotel lobby, the waiter wearing a saree will hand you refreshing lemongrass tea and put you a white and fragrant jasmine bracelet. The window of each room is like a beautiful landscape painting. The original forest was not developed when the hotel was built, and it still retains large trees and dense vegetation.
Attractions Highly Recommended near the Chiang Rai International Airport: Wat Rong Khun
You can rent a Song Taew directly from Chiang Rai Airport to Wat Rong Khun. Taking the Song Taew costs about 200-300 baht. The Wat Rong Khun was built in 1997. Its real name is White Dragon Temple. It was designed and built by the famous Thai designer Chakermchai Kosipipat. From a distance, this temple seems to be built with porcelain, and only when you get closer will you find that this illusion is caused by white paint and glass sequins. The Wat Rong Khun is made of plain white, and there is nowhere to be inlaid with gold, which symbolizes the purity of the Buddha; the silver mirror edging means that the wisdom of the Buddha illuminates the entire universe. The shape of the arm at the entrance of the temple is a symbol of hell. In addition to the traditional Buddhist theme, the mural paintings in the Wat Rong Khun also add many modern elements.