Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations

Explore the heart of the Golden Triangle on this five-day journey through northern Thailand and neighboring Laos. Where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge in Chiang Rai province, you'll experience the region's rich cultural blend and dramatic landscapes. From scenic mountain drives to Doi Ang Khang and tuk-tuk rides through lively border towns, to longtail boat cruises along the mighty Mekong River, this diverse tour offers something for every curious traveler.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • River Cruise: Coast down the Mekong River on a longtail boat to reach Don Sao Island in Laos.
  • Dark History: Delve into the historic underbelly of the region with a visit to the Hall of Opium Museum in Chiang Saen.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Thaton

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Chiang Mai. Begin the day with a visit to the Bai Orchid & Butterfly Farm in Mae Rim, then drive approximately three hours to Mae Ai, a border town near Myanmar. Along the way, stop in Pong Hai village for a unique jungle-style lunch with the Lahu hilltribe. Enjoy a traditional meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients and served in bamboo vessels. After lunch, take a leisurely walk through the village to learn about the Lahu way of life, including a visit to their animist temple. Your journey continues to Wat Thaton, where you’ll take in panoramic views of the surrounding border region. Finally, head to the nearby town of Thaton to check in at the Maekok River Village Resort.

Hotel Options
About

Welcome to the Maekok River Village Resort, located in the hilly northwest corner of Thailand, hugging the Myanmar (Burma) border. This comfortable resort provides a picturesque place to lay your head – and enjoy lush garden views – while soaking in the history and culture of the city of Thaton.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Chiang Rai

Begin the day with a refreshing boat ride along the Kok River. Disembark at the Lahu village Pha Thai and continue by car to Santikhiri, on Doi Mae Salong. After a guided tour, enjoy lunch and continue to Chiang Rai, enjoying the scenic drive. Check in to Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort. Enjoy the hotel’s fantastic facilities, staying in and relaxing, or ask the guide for a tour of the city’s vibrant, bustling night bazaar.

Hotel Options
About

The perfect little hideaway, Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is the ideal oasis for travelers in northern Thailand. This luxurious resort, sprawling over 10 glorious acres, is situated on the Mae Kok river and boasts an outdoor pool, spa and children’s center for ultimate relaxation.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai

Day 3

Chiang Rai

Begin your day with a visit to the iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), followed by a tour of Chiang Rai’s vibrant art scene. Continue on to the vivid Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) and the enigmatic Black House (Baan Dam Museum). Afterward, visit a Long Neck Karen village (Union of Hill Tribe Villages) to learn about their unique cultural traditions. Enjoy a local lunch before heading to Chiang Saen, one of the earliest Lanna capitals, known for its rich historical heritage. Then, take a scenic boat ride along the Mekong River to Don Sao Island in Laos. After the boat trip, return to Thailand and head to your hotel in the Golden Triangle area for check-in and relaxation.

Day 4

Chiang Rai

Start your morning with a visit to the picturesque Mae Fah Luang Botanical Gardens, part of the Royal Project, known for its diverse collection of plants and vibrant flowers. Then, continue to a Thai military base at Doi Pha Mee, where you'll gain insight into the region’s strategic location and historical significance. Next, explore Pha Hee Village, renowned for producing some of Thailand’s finest Arabica coffee. Savor a freshly brewed cup while enjoying the stunning mountain views, followed by a delicious local lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Mae Sai border market—the northernmost point of Thailand—where you can browse for unique local and cross-border goods. End the day with a visit to the Hall of Opium, an insightful museum that provides an educational overview of the Golden Triangle region’s complex history with the opium trade.

Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai

Day 5

Departure

Enjoy breakfast before you are transferred to the airport in time for the next leg of your journey, either home, or to your next destination.

Suggested Hotel For Day 1

Maekok River Village Resort

Maekok River Village Resort

Welcome to the Maekok River Village Resort, located in the hilly northwest corner of Thailand, hugging the Myanmar (Burma) border. This comfortable resort provides a picturesque place to lay your head – and enjoy lush garden views – while soaking in the history and culture of the city of Thaton. Every room has its own patio or balcony to enjoy the fresh mountain air after a day of sightseeing. Guests can also spend their days participating in one of the many on-site activities, from archery to high ropes to rafting to Thai cooking. Enjoy fresh, local cuisine from the nearby Wa Wee hills and breathe in Northern Thailand – it is an experience to remember!

Suggested Hotels For Days 2–4

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Preferred Hotel

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

The Anantara is a chic luxury retreat perched atop a high mountain ridge overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers, and close to Thailand's borders with Laos and Myanmar. It has 58 guest rooms and 19 suites decorated in a style that blends the best of the area's rich fabric and woodcarving traditions with contemporary design. The resort includes a sybaritic spa, an infinity pool that looks over the tree canopy to the Mekong River and up towards the hills of Myanmar and Laos, a fitness center with steam rooms, saunas, squash and tennis courts, a Thai cooking school, and an elephant camp, where you can learn about the importance of the elephant in Thai culture and arrange a ride through the surrounding jungle. The Anantara is also home to three food and beverage establishments: Sala Mae Nam (international buffet breakfast and Northern Thai specialties for dinner), Baan Dahlia (authentic Italian cuisine with a wine selection from vineyards around the globe), and The Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace, the perfect setting for a night cap.

Four Seasons Tented Camp
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Tented Camp

An exotic getaway reached by riverboat, the Four Seasons Tented Camp is set in a bamboo jungle at the meeting point of three countries: Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Fifteen freestanding, luxurious tents are spaced along a half-mile-long hillside trail over the Muak River, each with a large outdoor deck to take in the lush surroundings and the sounds of the forest. The rooms are outfitted with hand-hammered copper bathtubs, and custom-made furnishings that hearken back to the style of 19th-century explorers. The spa offers simple luxury with traditional Thai massages in open-air salas that seem to float in the air amid the trees. The treatments include mountain botanicals and warming spices for a unique and restorative experience. Private yoga classes are also available. A variety of dining experiences are offered and are shared by the small group of guests: breakfast is served at Nong Yao, the camp's restaurant; lunch might be a picnic in the jungle with folding tables, stools and linen napkins; dinner could be a barbecue, a five-course formal meal or a dinner by the campfire. There is a pool and attached whirlpool at the camp that has been integrated into the landscape, surrounded by granite boulders and lush plants. The camp is 90 minutes from Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI).

Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort

Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort


The perfect little hideaway, Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is the ideal oasis for travelers in northern Thailand. This luxurious resort, sprawling over 10 glorious acres, is situated on the Mae Kok river and boasts an outdoor pool, spa and children’s center for ultimate relaxation. With close proximity - and a complimentary shuttle bus - to nearby popular sites, the resort can be used as a home base for touring or a retreat from the road. With the option of nearly 160 rooms, spanning from Deluxe Room to Grand Deluxe Room to Grand Suite Rooms, and four on-site dining options, including a poolside bar, guests may never want to leave the premises. 


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