Hot Air Balloons & Glorious Mountains
Chiang Rai Province | Cool Season | 432 KM Ride | 2 Days
The Chiang Rai Singha Park International Balloon Festival is a spectacular annual event, where participants from 14 countries (including the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Brazil, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Austria, Latvia, Germany, Italy and Japan), all come together to display their fabulous balloons.
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Contents
Chiang Rai Balloon Festival Guide
Day 1. Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
The ride out. I took the more scenic R107 route up via Chiang Dao instead of the main 118, stopping in at a pretty Chiang Dao coffee shop for a refreshing drink.
Outside this coffee shop is great place for a quick bike photo op too, especially when not in Burning Season, which we are in now, sadly. Info on Burning Season HERE.
After a coffee break it was a straight ride up to Fang region and then a right turn onto the R109.
R109
Normally the R109 is a really pleasant ride, and although not exactly unpleasant, the polluted air from the haze/burning and the rising heat of the day made it less of an enjoyable ride than it would normally be in cooler or cleaner months. Still some great twisty sections though and some nice views, although a less clearer than normal.
I had the opportunity to get a great perspective shot, though. (Location HERE)
*TIP FOR THIS PHOTO* – Set up your camera or record a video from the location spot, then ride to the opposite side. Easier if you have a riding buddy with you to take the shot. Best if you have phone reception or Bluetooth, to get the exact position correct. Voila! Interesting perspective shot.
Beautiful Abandoned House
Later on, we came across this amazing abandoned house too (Location HERE).
For more great abandoned places, check out my Urban X Abandoned Places Guide.
Arrived Chiang Rai
The ride was pretty much none stop and arrived at the pre-booked accommodation near to Singha Park in plenty of time for a shower up and rest, before heading to the park to watch the balloons at sunset.
Accommodation: Hearn Him Tong
Knowing that the accommodation around the park would likely book out fast, I booked online a few days in advance (via Booking.com). Even then I was lucky to get a last minute room. Everywhere was booked solid!
When I booked it I wasn’t sure if the accommodation would live up to the images posted online. So, when I pulled up into the area that the accommodation was supposed to be in (an area of rice paddy fields) I saw an absolute run down horrible looking wooden house and my heart sank. I thought I had made a terrible mistake.
But as luck would have it, it turned out to exceed expectations! The small teak home was all on its own (standalone bungalow) right within a rice paddy field. It was absolute bliss! I could not have hoped for better (except maybe a softer bed ^^)
Singha Park Balloon Festival
The park itself is pretty amazing, and when an event is on a lot of work goes into it. I previously attended the International Jazz Festival there (trip report HERE), and it was well put together. The stage and lighting and sound system are great. So thankfully no horrible tinny sound coming through blasting your eardrums.
Detailed information for the Chiang Rai International Balloon Festival is here.
The balloons at sunset looked amazing.
At around 6pm or so the balloons start coming down for a break, before the night show. Time for the pilots to get a break and also to get more gas for the balloons. This gives the perfect opportunity to look around, walk around, eat and drink.
Some great food stalls around at good prices. I also sampled and odd beer made from sweetcorn. Tasted just like a light lager, but with an odd sweetcorn smell which was hard to get used to. Just 80 baht for a huge amount.
Not sure of the alcohol percentage either, but I didn’t drink a drop more after this as my head was spinning!
The Evening Light Show
At around 7pm the balloons started inflating so I found a quiet place to sit and watch away from the main crowds. By 7:30pm the crowds started gathering around the balloons and waterside and by about 8pm the show began. ..and what a show it was!
After the show was over it was straight back to the bike park where I spotted a Royal Enfield Himalayan and an odd bike calling itself a BMW?? o.O What is it?? Is it? I am so confused!
By around 9pm I was already back at the accommodation ready to enjoy a quiet early night (..except that the concert from Singha Park could be heard across the way. No matter though as wasn’t too loud and eventually subsided).
Day 2. Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
In the morning I woke to this glorious view
After a relaxing morning, we packed up and headed off.
Riding to Doi Chaang
Initially I planned a route that would go right up through the mountain from Doi Chaang to around Thaton area. It would have been a great twisty ride over the mountain road. (Looks really fab on google maps). Then planned to ride back down the 107 past Chiang Dao to Chiang Mai.
However, I had a riding partner with me on this ride and they wanted to explore more of Doi Chaang and Doi Wawi area rather than do a lot of km’s riding. So, the initial plan was aborted and more time was spent in Doi Chaang and Doi Wawi. (That also meant heading down the rather boring 118 with its never-ending roadworks, but that was the price to pay for meandering in one zone).
Ang Kep Nam Huai San Dam
First fun stop was Ang Kep Nam Huai San dam and the reservoir crossing. Always feel like a kid when splashing through water, except welly boots and puddles are replaced by motorbikes and reservoirs. The ride through it had me giggling like a five year old.
Doi Chaang Coffee Farm
Next was the fab super twisty ride up through mountain and forestry to Doi Chaang Coffee Farm.
It was great to have a Doi Chaang Coffee, on Doi Chaang Mountain, right at the Doi Chaang Coffee Farm!
The coffee tasted great.
At the coffee shop I spotted an EXTREMELY sleepy dog!
and also some fighting horses…!
Next ride was to the beautiful tranquil Memorial Park
Doi Chaang Memorial Park
The memorial park is beautiful. I took a walk around the stunning bamboo forest down and down to a natural pond area.
The forest area itself is a little bizarre with flashing led lights and Hindu music, but wonderful.
Very peaceful in terms of man made noise, but very alive and noisy in terms of glorious nature sounds.
I also crossed paths with a rather angry pig. Well, he didn’t start out angry, he was sleepy, but he got really irritated by me laughing at him. Oops.
After the pig encounter, we got back on our bikes and followed the path to Doi Chaang mountain viewpoint.
Doi Chaang Mountain Viewpoint
Sadly, the view was a little hazy so not all could be seen, but still beautiful.
After the viewpoint had a ride back and forth around the area, checking out different small roads and getting a little lost. Hunger set in so had a stop at a really great venue. JaDae House Coffee & Food.
Food: JaDae House
JaDae House was a nice find.
…and the food was so fresh and tasty.
The toilet design was a little funny though…
Back Route to R118
After lunch it was time to head towards the R118. On the way there were some sections of bad roadworks going on. It was also super hot by then.
Seeing as the heat was so strong the plan was to make a short stop at Mae Suai Dam for a cool down.
A cool drink and a quick soak in cool water got the core body temperature down. A few locals were enjoying the refreshing cool water too. (Was shockingly cold at first!)
The current was pretty strong too, so had to be careful about where to stand and where to sit.
After roughly an hour of relaxing I was feeling fresh enough to head for the boring and busy main R118..and the horrible road-works there, which seem to taking for ever (years in fact!).
Chiang Mai City
As I was nearing Chiang Mai city I considered stopping at the airplane boneyard around Doi Saket area. It looks interesting and although the light was perfect I decided to just head home. A fun one to stop in for a photo op for sure though. So will do it another day and write up about it then.
Finally home I got to enjoy a nice welcome home from Miss furry pants Nangfa the cat. She is an absolute joy and felt good to be back to her. 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this Chiang Rai Balloon Festival trip report.
Leave a comment!
I enjoy all your trips. Right now I am looking for the big dipper trip. Going north to tomorrow morning for a few days in some of your “paths”
Always love your adventures Per. Safe travels!
I love the accommodation Zed, will consider that as a change for when I ride there next time.
It is beautiful. If you like a bit of quiet away from the main hub of activities, you will love it ! 🙂