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Golden Triangle

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SeenThat
SeenThat
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5 out of 5
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Golden Triangle

  • January 12, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SeenThat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Golden Triangle

Few places have such a potential to stir our imagination: dense jungles, wide, low-flowing rivers, soft light through green branches opium smugglers and Burmese Pagodas. Reality is different, the jungle gave way to an opium museum and boats cross the Mekong River to a tourists’ market in Laos.

The best way to reach the Golden Triangle from Chiang Mai is with one of the direct buses leaving often during the day from the Arcade Bus Terminal to the town of Mae Sai or with the help of a rented vehicle. Beginning early would allow to make the whole circuit and to include in the trip the towns of Mae Sai, Tachilek, Ban Sop Ruak, the Don Sao market and Chiang Saen.

The towns of Mae Sai and Tachilek are the Thai-Burmese interface in the area; there it is possible to renew the Thai visa, join the Thais shopping in the Burmese Market and get an awesome view of the area from the Scorpion Temple.

Ban Sop Ruak is the closest point to the triple border; from there it is possible to take a boat tour along the Mekong and reach the Don Sao Market in Laos. For the first timers in Laos, the market is an impressive experience taking the visitor back in time to a place of basic huts, undersized farm animals and hand made souvenirs. It is not possible to continue from Don Sao further within Laos, since the market is on an island and there are no roads in the nearby mainland. The only open option is from Chiang Khon, the first town south from Chiang Saen, trucks doing the fifty-three kilometres way cost thirty baht and leave from 07:30 from the post office in Chiang Saen. Across Chiang Khon is the town of Huay Xai.

The Opium Museum is in Ban Sop Ruak and provides an intriguing look into that dark side of the area’s past. Chiang Saen played a key roll as a fort during the endless wars between the Thais and the Burmese. Nowadays the ruins are the main attraction, with a wonderful and almost unique circular gate. From the new port it is possible to navigate all the way north to China through the Mekong River.

Trucks from Mae Sai to Chiang Saen leave from the Top Charoen Optical shop near the Seven Eleven at the main road; they cost thirty baht whether you go down at Ban Sop Ruak or Chiang Saen. From Chiang Saen to Mae Sai or Ban Sop Ruak you can catch them in their way back at Chiang Saen‘s northern exit. Ban Sop Ruak is only eleven kilometers north of Chiang Saen; the way is suitable for a delightful walk along the river, but small trucks do the way for B10.

If the day ends too quickly, the best place to stay over in the area is Chiang Rai, which is easily accessible from all the towns in the area.

From journal North of Chiang Mai

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