The area earned its name due to the wealth that opium trading used to bring. Nowadays the opium has gone but the area still retains an allure. The mountains of Myanmar and Laos are easily visible and ruined cities such as Chiang Sean and The Hall of Opium Museum offer evidence of a long and checkered history. The area around the museum is a bit touristy but once you are on a boat trip on the Mekong River you can dream away while closely passing Burmese and Laos countryside and even make a stop on the Lao side of the river and sip Beer Lao or send a postcard from Laos before heading back to the Thai side.

The area around Chiang Rai has been cultivated using organic, sustainable agricultural techniques and is farmed by the hill tribe people of the area. It is a great place to explore on an elephant's back, and is the picture-postcard vision of verdant Thai rice terraces and orchid-clad hillsides.

The Mekong River forms the border with Laos for a few hundred kilometers from the Golden Triangle to the south offering a scenic route to access the beauty of northern Laos and the city of Luang Prabang by river. From the border town Chiang Khong, there are several boat options to cruise the Mekong River, allowing you to sit on the deck and enjoy one of the most stunning views in the world surrounded by blue sky, brown river water and lush jungle on both sides of the river. Take a look at one of our tour modules featuring Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle or ask your travel consultant to include a few days in your tailor made tour.

Where to stay in Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle?

In Chiang Rai we really like the stylish The Legend Resort, which is located on the river but still in the city. La Lunna is also charming and offers very good value. The Golden Triangle area at the far north of Thailand is home to the very top-end Four Seasons Tented Camp, where guests can enjoy fabulous excursions during the day and luxurious tents to return to in the evening. The delightful and also deluxe Anantara Resort and Spa has a great elephant camp nearby.

Touring Pai and Mae Hong Son

Heading west towards Myanmar, the delightful towns of Pai and Mae Hong Son are picturesque and charming. Pai is the hot new destination for backpackers and travelers looking for that essential 'Thai travel sensation'. It is a charming town in a scenic valley with lots to do during the day: biking, rafting, trekking and cafes and bars to enjoy in the evenings. There are now daily flights from Chiang Mai if you don't want to brave the four-hour drive up winding roads in the mountains.

The delights of Mae Hong Son are a very under-rated and often missed part of the Thai tourist trail. The town has interesting Burmese and Shan architecture in many monasteries as well as wonderful countryside and trekking opportunities. A drive to Nai Soi Village, where you can meet the Padaung, or long neck people, is a highlight and an educational experience for many travelers. The ideal tour is to spend two days driving along one of the most scenic roads in Asia with an overnight stop in Pai and then fly back after a night in Mae Hong Son. If you are traveling between June and December, a rafting trip on the Pai River is a highly recommended experience for adventurous travelers.

In Pai stay at Belle Villa Pai or Baan Krating Pai, both a little out of town with nice rural ambiance or the new town centre hotel The Quarter. In Mae Hong Son we use the eco-friendly Fern Resort for almost all our clients.

Adventurous travelers can continue to Mae Sariang, which is deep in Karen country and close to the Salween River. The scenery here is rugged and beautiful and the people are especially welcoming. Then drive back to Chiang Mai via Doi Inthanon.

If you are feeling independent why not try and drive the northern loop yourself? We will deliver the car to you, book your hotels, supply a map, road book and provide directions for you.

Further afield to the Unseen Thailand

For more intrepid travelers the stunning scenery and natural charm of Nan and Loei are definitely worth visiting. The mountains of the north-east are home to many charming towns, each with a laid-back atmosphere and constitutes a fascinating part in the history and culture of the region. Phrae and Nan are particularly alluring and the surrounding mountain scenery around Loei is simply outstanding, but the real reward for the traveler in this region is in meeting the smiling, friendly people who live here.

Accommodation in the more remote destinations is not as varied or luxurious as it is around Chiang Mai, however, that does not mean you have to suffer backpacker standard guest houses either. We always use the best available hotels and will do our best to reserve the best rooms in the house. Sometimes even in the most remote areas we can find a true hidden gem such as Bo Klua View Resort in Nan province or Phu Phu Nam Resort in Loei. If you want to see the real Thailand you really should make the effort to see places like Nan and Loei where the modern world has not yet arrived and neither have the tourists. A million miles from Phuket and Pattaya, it is in places like these where you will find those special and memorable experiences that live with you forever.