Private Tour: A Glimpse of Myanmar and the Golden Triangle Trip from Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Get a taste of Burmese culture with a private tour from Chiang Rai across the border to Tachileik, Myanmar (Burma). Stop for glittering temples, local food and a bustling market before returning to northern Thailand to visit the Golden Triangle. Your expert guide explains the history of this region and its former role as a global supplier of opium.

Your experienced guide picks you up from your Chiang Rai hotel by private car and takes you to the Thai-Myanmar border. Once you cross into Tachileik, Myanmar, zip around in a tuk tuk – a three-wheeled unenclosed taxi –to see several temples and glimpses of Burmese life.

At your first stop, the Temple of the Enrobed Elephant, marvel at the intricate gold-trimmed building as your guide explains the architectural details. Next you’ll see the Maha Muni pagoda, a fine example of typical Burmese temple architecture.

Continue to Tachileik’s replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda – a famous gilded stupa in Yangon, Myanmar. The temple grounds showcase sculptures of mythical creatures, statues of Buddha’s disciples flanking a large golden Buddha and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Afterward, visit a Long-neck Karen Hill Tribe village. Traditionally, the womens' elongated necks, adorned in heavy brass coils, represented beauty and tribal identity. Please be respectful as you walk the village grounds by limiting photo ops. If you wish to purchase handicrafts, local artisans have their wares for sale and the income helps support the community.

Enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant where your guide helps you select delicious Burmese dishes to sample. After lunch, browse through the market area for an array of goods (own expense) ranging from modern clothing and DVDs to crafts and thanaka – a yellowish face powder commonly used as makeup by Burmese women and girls.

Cross back into Thailand and take a scenic drive to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Once the world’s top producer of opium, this region is now known for tea production. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Golden Triangle as you visit the Hall of Opium, an excellent museum that details the history of the opium trade. On Mondays the Hall of Opium is closed; in that case, you visit another opium museum and take a boat trip on the Mekong River.

After your daylong private tour of Tachileik and the Golden Triangle, your guide will return you to your Chiang Rai hotel in the late afternoon.

USD $94.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Christina R,    June 2017
This tour was fantastic. Tony our guide was extremely knowledgable, spoke very clear English and was really enthusiastic about making sure we saw as much as possible. I was slightly nervous about the tour because I could only find it on Viator and there were only 14ish reviews, but all were good. I am glad I took the leap and booked anyway. Since we went on a Monday, the opium museum that is normally a part of the tour was closed this is stated in the description, so we went to a smaller museum and then Tony took us in a boat to a market in Laos. The market in Laos is very touristy and does not really give a good example of Laos culture, but it was fun to be in 3 countries on one day, nonetheless. I highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   Michelle H,    May 2017
Exactly as described in the web, 2nd time using viator services, very pleased. This package is well recommended for those who wants to do 1 day trip, money worth while for private tour. Tour Guide Tony green trails very well informed, engaging and he didnt rush us.

Review by:   Giovanni Escobar,    April 2017
I really enjoy the trip the guide was amazing it was a private tour , I recommend this tour its a good option

Review by:   kimberly.irene,    December 2016
My friends and I had a wonderful time on our day trip to Myanmar and the Golden Triangle! We LOVED stopped at the tea plantation in Chiang Rai-- wow! It was beautiful and the tea and snack that we had were delicious. Our guide, I'm not sure how to spell his name but we pronounced it like Chucky he spoke great English and he was very knowledgeable about everything we did on our tour. Tip: Don't forget your immigration card when you bring your passport to cross the border into Myanmar- you will need that. We loved the food, the temples in Myanmar, the shopping, and the views were beautiful in the Golden Triangle. Our guide was great with photos and everything. Opium museum wasn't my favorite--- but I'm not really big into museums. I would highly recommend this private tour!!

Review by:   Shannon M,    October 2016
Fun to cross the border into Myanmar and see the Golden Triangle! Really enjoyed our guide Tony, who was super informative and friendly. My favorite part was probably the visit to the long-neck women and other tribes. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. Can be muddy and a bit of uneven terrain.

Review by:   chantal d,    July 2016
Very informative, great guide and totally worth it!

Review by:   Catriona M,    July 2016
This tour was fantastic. Our guide was amazing and knew everything and anything about the tour and Thailand in general! The tour makes a lot of amazing stops, long neck hill tribe was fascinating, many interesting and beautiful temples in Myanmar, delicious lunch in Myanmae. Highly recommend

Review by:   kirsten.hopkinson,    March 2016
This tour was fantastic!! It was myself, my partner and two friends and we all had an excellent time with our private tour guide! Tony was excellent and it was sad leaving him at the end of the day!_br/_ The visit to the Karen tribe was fantastic and not something we'd have been able to see if we didn't take the tour! The visit into Myanmar was great too - seeing all the beautiful temples!_br/_ If you do one tour in your time in Chiang Rai - make it this tour!

Review by:   Jenny G,    February 2016
Best ever tour. Guide was fantastic and full of information.

Review by:   Tom A,    January 2016
This was a great tour. Tony was a great guide and we saw and did everything as advertised. If you just want a quick trip to Myannmar, I highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   Brad F,    May 2015
A real treat. The tour provided a full day of sightseeing supported by a dedicated driver and a personal guide who was very approachable and spoke excellent English. Although the tour into Myanmar is limited to the border town of Tachileik, the visit provided a glimpse of the local culture including the contrasts and similarities of the neighbouring countries. The visit to the Golden Triangle at the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak Rivers provided a perspective on how the geography and politics have shapes the events of trade including elicit drugs. Although the information provided at the Opium Museum was informative, the facility and displays are rather dated and in need of a refit. We opted for the motor boat ride across the Mekong River to Laos where there are tourist shopping stalls and great views the area. Although it would have been nice to venture further into Laos, that is beyond the scope of this tour. This is an excellent 'taster' tour and one that left me wanting to explore the region further.

Review by:   Patrick,    February 2015
This tour was amazing!

Review by:   Hilary H,    June 2014
Good tour. Although controversial, I enjoyed the Karen tribe tour. It was good to learn their history and the reasons why they have moved into Thailand and allow people to visit their camps. I also enjoyed the walk across the border I to Myanmar and then zipping around in the tuk tuk from temple to temple.

Review by:   Glenn W,    April 2014
The guide and driver were excellent. The guide was very knowledgeable about the places we visited. The restaurant was very average compared to some other ones that we have been taken to on other tours. Overall a very enjoyable day. Would recommend this tour.

Review by:   Arvind,    January 2014
The guide was very good and knowledgeable and helpful. But the vehicle provided was inadequate for 6 people. People in back seat were very tight and uncomfortable !

Review by:   Louise S,    January 2014
This tour was fabulous! Guide was knowledgeable and tour was interesting. Guide was flexible when we didn't like the first choice of restaurant he found another one that met our needs. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is guide showed up late at our hotel and we were worried that there was a problem with the arrangements.

All Traveler Reviews...