The Golden Triangle in Thailand

The Golden Triangle in Thailand and why come here

The famous Golden Triangle is a famous historical district at the junction of the borders Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, one of the most popular attractions in the north of Thailand and a very "popular" tourist destination in general throughout Thailand. The area is geographically quite large (950,000 sq.km.) and includes not only the junction of the borders, but also the mountainous areas around it. The very center and place that tourists visit in most cases is the junction of the borders and the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers. Here, on the territory of Thailand, is the village of Sop Ruak, which is usually visited as part of trips to the Golden Triangle.

It is believed that the Golden Triangle is the most famous "tourist trap" of Thailand, i.e. a place that is very famous and popular among tourists, but there is not much to see and do there. This is partly true. There are still such tourists who go to the north of Thailand just for the sake of visiting the Golden Triangle under the impression of the interesting past of this place. And they leave here very disappointed, because there is nothing left of that story. But it's quite another matter if you come to the north of Thailand to visit Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Mae-hong-son, hike in the mountains, get through the jungle to exotic tribes, make rafting on the northern rivers, get acquainted with the temple architecture of the kingdom of Lanna and much more. In this case, a visit to the Golden Triangle will be a great addition to your route to the north.

Well, it is worth saying that the center of the Golden Triangle does not stand still, and, fueled by a large number of tourists, it is gradually developing. There are already good restaurants here, some entertainment for tourists, cozy hotels. And it may well be that in the near future this place will no longer be the most famous "tourist trap", and a real tourist area in which you can not only see a couple of attractions, but also spend a few days quite well.

If desired, directly in the center of the Golden Triangle, you can stay for a few days, staying in one of the hotels. There are plenty of hotels in the center of the Golden Triangle and you can get all the necessary information, read reviews, see the position of hotels on the map and book one of them using the hotel search form below.

The hotels of the Golden Triangle belong to the city of Chiang Saen, which is located a few kilometers from the center. Using the map in the search results, you can choose a hotel directly in the center of the triangle, or a little further away in the city of Chiang Saen.

You can find and book accommodation in Chiang Rai on these reliable, trusted sites or through the search form. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language support for travelers, reviews of real guests.

• 🛌 Search hotels in Chiang Rai on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Chiang Rai on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

A little history of the Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is known for the fact that in the not so distant past there was an "opium paradise" here. Here, on the territory of all three states, opium was grown in large quantities. They tell a story that there is an island on the river, which then appears, then hides under the water, depending on its level in the river. Smugglers used this island in order to make deals and exchange illegal grown goods, because it (the island) as if it did not exist, and it did not belong to any of the three states. Whether this is true or not, you may be able to find out when you visit there yourself.

At the end of the 20th century, the government of Thailand strenuously took up the fight against the production and planting of drugs on its territory. And this struggle continues quite successfully. Of course, it is still premature to talk about a complete victory. After all, there are still huge territories and entire factories in the border areas of Myanmar and Laos, smuggling is still flourishing. But, in general, from the former rich historical past of the narcotic Golden Triangle of Thailand, only the history and a couple of opium museums remain.

How to get to the Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is located in the far north of Thailand on the border of Changrai province, 80 kilometers from the provincial capital (Golden Triangle on the map). You can go here for one day by rented transport from Changrai, with excursions from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and you can also come by bus with an overnight stay in the village, there are several hotels and state-owned houses.

The easiest way to visit the Golden Triangle is with a group tour. As we mentioned above, to go on an excursion ONLY to the Golden Triangle from Bangkok, Pattaya and other cities not in northern Thailand are not worth more than a thousand kilometers. But from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, visiting the center of the triangle on a group tour is the very thing. From Chiang Mai there are one- and two-day tours to Chiang Rai Province with a visit to the center of the Golden Triangle. The most popular one-day group tour from Chiang Mai includes a one-day visit to the White Temple in Chiang Rai, the center of the Golden Triangle, hot springs and tribal villages, costs from 1500 baht (45.01 USD). This price does not include a boat trip along the river to the Lao island, but it can be paid on the spot.

You can get to the center of the Golden Triangle by bus yourself, but you will have to do it with transfers. But you can't get out of Chiang Mai in one day like that, only with an overnight stay in Chiang Rai. Regular service in the form of fixed-route taxis Songthaew connects the center of the Golden Triangle with G. Mae Sai and Chiang Saen:

• From Mae Sai, minibuses depart approximately every 40 minutes from 8:00 to 13:00 and cost 45 baht. The shipment is made from the city center, near the border crossing to Myanmar.

• From Chiang Saen, minibuses depart every 20 minutes from 7:00 to 12:00 and cost 20 baht.

Mae Sai and Chiang Saen, in turn, can be reached by regular buses from Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and other cities in the north of Thailand. The bus schedule from Chiang Mai is here - http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/, from Chiang Rai here - http://www.tourismchiangrai.com/ (the site does not open well on the territory of the Russian Federation, and it is better to open it through a proxy server or a Tor browser).

But to be honest, moving by bus looks like a little expensive in money, but inefficient in time. To save time, it is better to hire a tuk-tuk or minibus in Chiang Rai for the whole day and go around the main sights of the province.

You can get to Chiang Rai by bus or plane, and rent a motorbike or car right here, or you can make such a trip from Chiang Mai. You can get to the Golden Triangle via Highway No. 1 via Mae Sai or Chiang Saen. The road through Mae Sai is a little longer, but you can make a small detour with sightseeing in Mae Sai (possibly with an overnight stay), and go back through Chiang Saen. Both roads are in very good condition, there are signs everywhere, navigators are working.

What to see in the Golden Triangle

Despite the popularity of this place, in fact, the range of activities and entertainment in the Golden Triangle does not shine with variety. If you stay in one of the hotels of the Golden Triangle for a few days' rest, then you can spend time sunbathing by the pool and strolling around the village surroundings. There is no entertainment here. That is why travelers visiting the Golden Triangle on their own or with an excursion most often follow the standard one-day route: visiting one or two opium museums; photographing the confluence of rivers from the observation point at Wat Prathat Pukhao Temple; an hour-long boat cruise along the Mekong with a visit to the Lao island. These places are where the "entertainment program" of visiting the Golden Triangle usually ends.

We will tell you more about each of these places, and you decide for yourself what to include in your itinerary.:

• Lao Island Don Sao

  

  Visiting the Lao island of Don Sao is probably the most interesting thing to do in the center of the Golden Triangle. You can get to the island by boat on the Mekong River, while you will also get a small cruise along the river with a tour of the coastal beauties (although do not expect too much from these beauties). Access to the island is carried out without obtaining a visa for all tourists without exception, for a nominal fee of 20 baht. There is not much to do on the island: there is a market of many shops where you can buy inexpensive goods and souvenirs from Laos (there are a lot of leather bags on sale, traditional tourist souvenirs, bottles with a snake on alcohol, Lao banknotes, etc.); from the post office on the island you can send yourself a postcard from the territory Laos (60 baht per stamp + 10 baht postcard); you can buy Lao beer. Usually tourists walk a little around the market, buy souvenirs and go home, especially since a standard boat trip limits their stay on the island to 60 minutes. Although, of course, you can always negotiate with the boatman for a longer time for an additional fee. Learn more about the Lao island of Don Sao and how to visit it here ...

  

  

  🕐Working hours: during daytime.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the island is 20 baht, boat rental for an hour and a half - from 800 baht (24 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: Don Sao Island is located on the opposite bank of the Mekong River from the Golden Triangle (Don Sao on the map). You can get there from the Thai side by pleasure boat from the pier next to the Big Buddha in the Boat. The boat ride lasts 1-,15 hours, costs from 800 baht for the whole boat, the price is negotiable.

• Opium Museum Hall of Opium

  

  This opium museum is the world's largest thematic opium museum, and probably one of the most interesting museums in Thailand. The museum's modernly constructed exhibition shows the history of opium, clearly demonstrates the process of production, use and consequences of taking the drug. It even has its own small opium plantation. The exposition is made using modern multimedia technologies and, according to the plans of the creators, is not only entertaining, but also informative and instructive. If you have an hour or two of extra time, you should definitely visit this place.

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:30 to 15:30, Monday is a day off.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 120 baht (3.6 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: located near the center of the Golden Triangle (Opium Museum Hall of Opium on the map).

• Opium Museum House of Opium

  

  Another small opium museum is located right in the heart of the Golden Triangle. This museum is private and it is much more modest than the Hall of Opium museum, but it pursues the same goals and we are talking about the same thing. If you did not manage to get into the Hall of Opium due to its working hours or high cost, then you can safely go here, especially since the cost of visiting it is only 50 baht, and it works daily from 7 am to 7 pm. In addition to exhibits related to the history of opium in these places, on the second floor you can see an exhibition dedicated to the life of local tribes.

  🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 50 baht (1.5 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: Opium Museum House of Opium on the map

• Giant Buddha (Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin or Golden Triangle Buddha)

  

  Not far from the Opium Museum (House of Opium) and the pier of boats going on cruises to the Lao island, a giant statue of a happy or laughing Buddha sits in a boat on the banks of the Mekong River. Most likely, he is happy, considering what kind of treasure ship he is sailing on. If you go on a boat cruise, you can take a picture of the Buddha from the side of the river.

  In general, this place is quite interesting and ... funny. You can go on the boat and see the Buddha from all sides, but apart from that, there are several "attractions" on the boat to collect donations. For example, you can throw a coin along a long chute that leads into the belly of a contented Buddha, and when the coin hits him in the stomach, he will laugh merrily and thank you. Or you can donate a bill by hanging it on the money tree to your sign according to the Chinese horoscope. And before entering the boat, do not forget to rub a large metal gong for good luck.

  

  

  🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: a giant Buddha on a boat is located almost in the very center of the Golden Triangle giant Buddha on the map.

• Wat Prathat Pukhao Temple (also Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao) and observation deck

  

  This ancient temple is located on a hill, and is known and popular for the fact that at the top of this hill is the most famous observation deck, with the bark offering the best view of the center of the Golden Triangle – the confluence of three borders and rivers. This site is marked everywhere as the center of the Golden Triangle, and to some extent this is true, because no visit to these places takes place without being photographed from here. However, it is worth saying that the view from here is not stunning. The green mountain ranges are far away and usually hidden in the haze, and the view of the yellow water of the Mekong Rivers and the deserted island is rather dull. Tourists with excursions are brought to the site directly by buses, so you don't have to climb up on foot. In the shops on the site there is a brisk trade in souvenirs with the symbols of the Golden Triangle at inflated prices.

  Unfortunately, groups of tourists are often transported past the oldest temple, which is located about halfway up the hill. And this place is quite interesting and with deep historical roots, dates back to 1302, and according to some estimates as much as 759. The temple building itself looks very ancient and mysterious. Women are not allowed to enter it, but they can inspect it from the outside.

  At the very top, where the observation deck is located, there are several more ancient ruins. Tourists rarely go there either, but in vain. There is also a small cemetery where Japanese soldiers who died during World War II are buried.

  

  

  🕐 Working hours: the observation deck is available around the clock, the temple is open during the day.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Wat Prathat Pukhao Temple on the map. It is easy to climb to the site and to the temple on foot, the mountain is not so high.