The Mae Kok River flows from near Chiang Mai into the Mekong

Chiang Rai is a town of around 62,000 people in the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar (or Burma) and Laos, and its position makes it a great base to explore the region or as a point of entry or exit to Laos.

Many visitors to Chiang Rai take the opportunity to go trekking in the hills, to learn more about the hill tribes, or to discover the famous Golden Triangle where the three countries meet.

On Buffalo Horn Hill you can get a splendid view back over Chiang Rai - it is easily reached on a motorbike, and the view is particularly spectacular, especially around sunset. 30 km from Chiang Rai is the Khun Kon Waterfall, which at 70 metres high is the highest in the province and is definately worth a visit.

There are also a number of hot springs in the area, where you can sit and soak in naturally hot water, and in the hills are a number of caves, many of which have become Buddhist shrines.

Hills in Northern Thailand near Chiang Rai

In and around town there are some beautiful Buddhist temples to visit, such as the Wat Phra Kaeo which in the 14th Century was home to the Emerald Buddha - one of the most famous images of the buddha in Thailand, which is now housed in Bangkok.

The town also holds wide range of museums and art galleries, making Chiang Rai a great cultural destination too. At night the streets come alive with a Night Bazaar, a great market full of traditional crafts such as weaving, carving and jewellery. Open from sunset to 11.30pm, its a great chance to see the handicrafts of the region.