Private Tour: Golden Triangle, Hall of Opium and Mekong River Trip from Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai, Thailand

See the highlights of the Golden Triangle with an expert guide on a private half-day tour from Chiang Rai. Check out the scenic tripoint border area of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, then stop at the Hall of Opium museum and take a boat ride on the Mekong River. You'll learn about the history of the region and its notoriety in the world's opium trade, both past and present, as you explore with your guide on this morning or afternoon tour.

After pickup at your Chiang Rai hotel by air-conditioned private vehicle, travel north with your private guide on a scenic 1-hour drive to the Golden Triangle, the notorious border area where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet.

Stop at a viewpoint at the Golden Triangle and learn from your guide about the history of the region, which has been one of the world’s top producers of opium since the 1950s. The Thai government has spent years combating the opium trade, encouraging small farmers to grow food products, including tea, rather than opium poppies. Hear how the region has changed, then continue to an opium museum to learn more about this fascinating history.

Spend an hour at the excellent Hall of Opium, where detailed displays and videos delve into many aspects of the global opium trade. Learn about opium use and suppression efforts in Thailand, and gain a historical perspective of the industry, including why Britain and China fought the Opium Wars in the 1800s.

Next up, hop aboard a boat for a short ride along the Mekong River. Take in the thick jungle on the riverbanks, small towns and the wide slow-moving expanse of the Mekong as it makes its way from the Tibetan plateau through Southeast Asia to the South China Sea. The river is the seventh longest river in Asia and a life-sustaining part of the countries that it passes through.

After a relaxing spin on the mighty Mekong, return to your vehicle for the drive to Chiang Rai where your guide drops you off at your hotel.

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Brian W,    March 2017
Great trip - very good guide and safe/cautious driver made for an interesting tour. Only suggestion we would have is to make the trip by the small uncomfortable, difficult to get in and out of, unsafe speed boat to the river market in Laos optional, with visiting the city of Chiang Sean as the other possibility. We found the visit to the market a waste of time - we are not in to buying illegal Cheap imitations and we do not believe you should be promoting the sale of them either by promoting tours to the area. We made a separate trip back the following day to see the interesting and historical town of Chiang Sean - something that could have been achieved the previous day as the tour to the Golden Triangle passes through the city.

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