Golden Triangle Tour 3 Days

Early morning pick-up from your Chiang Mai-hotel or airport to start your trip north. Heading on into a wide river valley with forests on both sides. The lime stone hills are full of caves like near Chiang Dao where you will visit a temple complex was formed around one of the deeper caves you will explore. You could ask for an extra stop to see trained elephants demonstrating their formidable and valuable forestry skills, taking a bath and you could optionally experience a jungle tour on elephant’s back. Up a hill sits the Akha village of Ban Lorcha, a tribe well presented in these parts. The village is preserved authentically and worth a tour on foot. Learn the ritual of the ‘giant swing’ see the weaving techniques that produce their colorful cloth by hand and peak into a house and especially the kitchen. Higher up it gets cooler and different produce becomes possible. In the past this area was home to Chinese Kuomintang refugees who brought tea cultivation with them from China. Learn the process and smell the tea bushes on the rolling hills before continuing along the narrow back roads toward Chiang Rai. This town is the centre of tourism in the far north. It has a lively and tasty night market too.

Meals: Breakfast
Tour guide: English Speaking Guide

Outside Chiang Rai the hills there are many local tribes and all you will see all shades of green jungle. Up a hill sits the Akha village of Ban Lorcha, a tribe well presented in these parts. The village is preserved authentically and worth a tour on foot. Learn the ritual of the ‘giant swing’ see the weaving techniques that produce their colorful cloth by hand and peak into a house and especially the kitchen. Higher up it gets cooler and different produce becomes possible. In the past this area was home to Chinese Kuomintang refugees who brought tea cultivation with them from China. Learn the process and smell the tea bushes on the rolling hills before continuing along the narrow back roads for a look into Burma from the border market in Mae Sai. An interesting mix of people can be found; business men from China, day trippers from Burma, Thai families looking for cheap Chinese products. This area has a great climate and the many rivers make it very fertile. Fields of corn and rice are mixed with cassava and patches of forest. The soil has the color of chocolate. Float along by boat on the mighty Mekong River that descents from the Himalayas and reaches the ocean in Vietnam, learn all about opium.

Meals: Breakfast
Tour guide: English Speaking Guide

You are now in the Golden Triangle, a former opium smugglers paradise where the borders of Laos, Burma and Thailand come together. The Opium House not only houses the relics belonging to the historical Golden Triangle but also the painting and some handicraft items that are related to the cultural heritage of the Chiang Rai province. The Chiang Saen National Museum is situated at the ancient city of Chiang Saen. One of the most important cities of Lanna Kingdom, amidst large numbers of archaeological sites, both prehistoric and historic periods. On the way back to Chiang Mai we will visit Wat Rong Khun & Hot spring, Wat Rong Khun or ‘the white temple’ is quite a different sight from the usual Wat. Construction is ever ongoing making it interesting to see the workmen busy with their special techniques. The mostly white color stands for the purity of the Buddha.

End of services.