Flowers and Opium of the Golden Triangle Tour

Flowers and Opium of the Golden Triangle Tour

Doi Tung, the “Flag Mountain”

Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Chiang Rai for your Flowers and Opium of the Golden Triangle Tour. This is a private tour. First, we drive to Doi Tung, the “Flag Mountain”. Doi (“Doi” means mountain in Thai) and “Tung” is the Thai word for flag. In the past local, predominantly tribal people grew opium on the mountain’s slopes. HRH The Princess Mother established the Doi Tung Development Project in 1987 under the management of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, which was also established by the Princess Mother.

The project aimed to eradicate opium cultivation and help the hill tribe people of Doi Tung to earn their livelihood from cash crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts. Because she traveled to remote areas by helicopter, people gave her the name “Mae Fah Luang” (“Royal Mother from the Sky” in Thai). The Royal Project turned a troubled mountain into a beautiful tourist destination. We will visit the magnificent Mae Fah Luang Gardens and learn about the Royal Project. Taste some of the delicious Doi Tung coffee, if you want.

The Golden Triangle and the Mighty Mekong River

We will continue to the infamous Golden Triangle. This region used to be the main opium-growing and -trading region in Southeast Asia. The Triangle is where the borders of the three countries Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Traders used to pay for opium or heroin with gold, hence the name Golden Triangle. The Mekong River forms the border here between Thailand and Laos. We will have lunch at a riverside restaurant to enjoy the view of this might river.We’ll proceed to the geographical spot where the three borders meet.

We will visit the small but fascinating House of Opium Museum. The museum tells the history of the use of opium, poppy cultivation, and the opium trade in the Golden Triangle. It also exhibits opium pipes and the traditional dress of the ethnic groups of North Thailand. Beware: this is not the nearby Hall of Opium, which is much larger and more time-consuming to visit. Then we will continue to the boat landing, where a fast local boat is waiting for us. It will take us to Chiang Saen, a small town down the river, and the trip will take only 15 minutes.

Ancient Chiang Saen and Wat Phra That Pha Ngao

Chiang Saen is one of the oldest cities in North Thailand. It has impressive, well-preserved city walls and some beautiful, centuries-old ruins. We limit ourselves to our favorite temple ruin, Wat Pa Sak. Then we will follow the city walls back to the Mekong River and head for Wat Phra That Pha Ngao. Few foreign visitors make it to his extensive temple complex, which is a pity. It is a very active temple with lots of things to see.

Many local people visit this temple. There is a small but exciting weaving center, a textile museum, and a viharn with marvelous wood carvings. The main attraction is the white chedi on top of a hill and the so-called Sky Walk, an iron-and-glass construction, created for photo opportunities.   This chedi is called Phra Borommathat Putta Nimit Chedi. We drive up to the chedi because of our majestic view over the Mekong River and Laos. This view is so much better than the view at the actual Golden Triangle. Return to your hotel in Chiang Rai late this afternoon. It is the end of your Flowers and Opium Golden Triangle Tour. Look here for other things to do in Chiang Rai! We have another day tour of the Golden Triangle if you are interested. Please also look at this two-day tour of the Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen.