Chiang Mai and Golden Triangle

Chiang Mai and Golden Triangle Overview

Explore Northern Thailand with this three-day tour. Visit a training centre for young elephants , then float through the forest on a bamboo raft, exploring the local flora and fauna including orchids and butterflies. Travel through Akha and Yao villages to the northernmost province of Chiang Rai and the notorious Golden Triangle

Chiang Mai and Golden Triangle Tour

Explore Northern Thailand with this three-day tour. Visit a training centre for young elephants and join these amazing creatures as they take their morning bath. Then float through the forest on a bamboo raft, exploring the local flora and fauna including an amazing array of orchids and butterflies. Travel through Akha and Yao villages to the northernmost province of Chiang Rai and the notorious Golden Triangle area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge.

Touring Style: private tour with your driver and professional English speaking guide.

Best time to travel: November to April

Day 1: Chiang Mai - Thaton - Chiang Rai

Depart from Chiang Mai by road to Fang and Thaton visiting an elephant training camp, Chiang Dao. After lunch depart by original motor boat for a 4-hour journey passing through the jungle along the banks of the river. A stop is made at Mae Salah, some hill tribe villages, and a cave housing many sacred statues of Lord Buddha before arriving into Chiang Rai.

Distance and journey times:

Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao: 90 km, 2 hrs

Chiang Dao to Chiang Rai: 4 hrs by boat

Day 2: Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle

After breakfast visit a local market before proceeding to the Akha village of Ban Soen Chai and a Yao hill tribe. Continue onwards to Mae Sai, the most northern town in Thailand for lunch. Afterwards, proceed to Chiang Saen, the first Thai capital, located on the banks of the Mekong River. Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jon Kitti climbing 383 steps to the top and Wat Jedi Luang before taking a short boat ride to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge.

Distance and journey times:

Chiang Rai to Mae Sai: 64 km, 1.30 hrs

Mae Sai to Chiang Saen: 68 km, 1.30 hrs

Day 3: Chiang Saen to Chiang Rai

After breakfast transfer to Chiang Rai.

Distance and journey time: 80 km, 2 hrs