To the northeast of town is a sports stadium, reached from Rob Koh Road, north of Hwy 1232. There one can watch or play soccer ('football'), takraw, volleyball and tennis, jog swim, lift weights or use a punching bag. There're showers, and cold drinks for sale. Low monthly rates.

There's a sport's club to the southeast of town, with exercise room and pool, membership rates or single use (30 baht to swim; joining with a group is cheapest). It's behind the city vehicle depot, on the road going behind Wat Doi Prabhat.

Evenings, many people tend to gather for recreation at the north end of the old runway. There's basketball, volleyball, takraw, jogging, golf, aerobic jazzercize and t'ai chi.

The schools have recreational facilities; both the Dusit and Country Home have pools and equipment available for nominal fees. Sintanee Village by Big C, Ing Doi Resort and another housing estate east of town have their own swimming pools. The Dusit has a monthly rate for utilization of its sauna and sports equipment. Country Home charged 40 baht to swim (the facilities are nice; there's an exercise room and sauna; the pool is large with a diving board, water slide and children's pool. But it's presently closed for lack of interest). There are also pools at Chiang Rai Condotel (the town's tallest building, B30 to swim, 20 for children), Chiang Guest House and Rimkok Resort (B70).

Swimming at Chiang Rai Beach (Pattaya Noi) is mostly confined to children, but there's wading and floating on large inner tubes.

Below Doi Jom Tong (Hom Doi) to the south side, east of the electric plant, is a Thai boxing stadium, on Pratu Chiang Mai Road. Well east of Sri Simon on 1233, just past the klong and to the right, is a new ring for young boxers. As yet there is no seating.

The tennis club on the north side of Rachyotha between Soi 4 and Pratu ChiangMai Rd once had an English instructor (Brian of Ban Bua Guest House).

Takraw and badminton are played wherever and whenever, usually evenings. Ping-pong is popular. too. Rock-climbing was occasionally arranged, in years past, at Loi Kong Kao (Rice Box Hill, after Bamboo sticky rice containers).

Further along the Kok towards Tha Ton (mostly from Ban Ruam Mitrapap) is river rafting (journeys can last up to 3 days). There's boating, swimming and fishing at Chiang Saen Lake, and sometimes at the reservoirs.

Two famous golf courses are at Santiburi Country Club (on 1020 past 1306 & 1190 or 1181, before 1128, east side, tel. 718038) and the Waterford Valley Lodge (on Rt 1173 past Wiang Chai, tel 953425). About 6 kilometers south of Mae Sai is a driving range. There are a few holes by the old runway, and an army course open to the public, to the west of Hom Doi - 300B/18 holes, a caddy for 9 holes is 80B plus tip. Clubs can be rented, there's a pro shop and also a driving range. For club rental, also try Chiang Rai Golf Svc, once at 782/3 Singkhlai (Soinghaklai), tel 711242, or opposite Edison on Paymawipat.