Golden Triangle Travel Essentials
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Ideal duration: 1 Day
Best Time: November to February Read More
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Also Refered As:Sop Ruak
"Where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar Meet"
Golden Triangle Tourism
The Golden Triangle is a mountainous area where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. The landmass is triangular in shape and is precisely located at the confluence of River Mekong and River Ruak. The borders of the three countries consist mostly of densely forested mountains, and the Golden Triangle overlaps with the mountainous terrain. The Thai part of the Golden Triangle is located in the northern part of the country and draws travelers looking for a place closer to nature.
The Golden Triangle of Thailand is often visited as a day trip from Chiang Rai, often as part of guided bus tours. It is particularly famous for its scenic surroundings with rice paddy fields, tribal villages, the confluence perfect for riverboat rides, and mystical mountains in the background. The center of Thailand's Golden Triangle is Sop Ruak, a tiny village located at the confluence point of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers.
The Golden Triangle region was once a leading producer of opium and poppy seeds. The name, Golden Triangle, was given by the CIA because this triangular area dealt with narcotics big time.
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Things to do in Golden Triangle
1. Mekong River Boat Tour
One of the most popular things to do for tourists is a boat ride on Mekong River which covers the territories of Myanmar, and Laos as well. The standard tour includes a speedboat ride and takes an hou (Read More)r. It costs TBH 500 for up to 4 people. A roofed slow boat tour is also available which is a bigger boat costing TBH 1000 for up to 10 people.
2. Hall Of Opium
The Hall of Opium is one of the two opium museums located in Sop Ruak. It exhibits the history of Opium from around the world, the production process, its affect on people, and campigns to eradicate i (Read More)ts manufacture.
Timings: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Ticket Price: TBH 200
Timings: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Ticket Price: TBH 200
3. House of Opium
House of Opium is a smaller museum in the center of Sop Ruak, exhibiting the history of opium trade in the region. It is a privately run museum with a bunch of opium related objects on display.
< (Read More)strong>Ticket Price: TBH 50
< (Read More)strong>Ticket Price: TBH 50
4. Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen is a small town along the Mekong River, located around eight kilometres from Sop Ruak. It houses some ancient ruins from the 13th to 15th centuries and the Sinsombun market. The river (Read More)side fills with food stalls at dusk and is a nice place to stroll around.
5. Boat Ride Across Don Sao
Don Sao is a village in Laos which can be visited on a boat ride from Sop Ruak.This tour is very popular amongst tourists as no visa is required to visit this island in Laos. However, entering into re (Read More)st of Laos from Don Sao is not allowed. The boat ride tour to Don Sao is offered by several local operators.
Must Know Before You Travel to Golden Triangle
How To Reach Golden Triangle: Blue Songthaews, the local blue-colored buses or the Greenbus Minivans, are available from Chiang Rai. The blue buses ply every 15 to 30 minutes from set pickup points while the Greenbus Minivans depart from the Chiang Rai bus terminus. Besides the local buses, one can ride on the tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxis to reach the Golden Triangle.
Getting Around: To see the beauty of the Golden Triangle, hiring a boat is the best option. Boats are available from Sop Ruak along the Mekong River to Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong. The tour takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Getting Around: To see the beauty of the Golden Triangle, hiring a boat is the best option. Boats are available from Sop Ruak along the Mekong River to Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong. The tour takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour.
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FAQs on Golden Triangle
What is the best time to visit Golden triangle thailand?
The best time to visit The Golden Triangle in Thailand is from November and February which are the winter months. The weather is pleasant, dry and the water level of the rivers Mekong and Ruak is safe for boat rides. The mercury level remains between 14ᵒC and 31ᵒC.
From March the temperature starts rising and averages to about 33ᵒC until June (average low remains around 27ᵒC). July onwards, there is a slight dip in the average high temperature and the monsoons arrive. The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1700 mm.
It rains the most in the months of August and September. Since the Golden Triangle is located at the confluence of the rivers, visiting during the rainy season is not recommended due to a drastic rise in the water level and possibilities of floods.
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From March the temperature starts rising and averages to about 33ᵒC until June (average low remains around 27ᵒC). July onwards, there is a slight dip in the average high temperature and the monsoons arrive. The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 1700 mm.
It rains the most in the months of August and September. Since the Golden Triangle is located at the confluence of the rivers, visiting during the rainy season is not recommended due to a drastic rise in the water level and possibilities of floods.
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What is the local food in Golden triangle thailand?
A must-try for travellers visiting the Golden Triangle is the local cuisine. Some of the most recommended dishes one can taste here are Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow (noodles with pork broth), Khao Soy (egg noodles in a spicy curry), Khao Kriep Pak Mo (dumplings), authentic Thai curries, more meat preparations and seafood. The province also has restaurants that serve international cuisine. One can easily find Chinese, European and other Asian dishes to satisfy their food cravings. Some of the recommended restaurants are Rod Yiem Beef Noodle Soup, Salung Khan, The Old Dutch, Baan Chivit Mai and Da Vinci.
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What is the best way to reach Golden triangle thailand?
Within Chiang Rai. travellers can reach the Golden Triangle by Blue Songthaews which are the local blue coloured buses or the Greenbus Minivans. The blue buses ply every 15 to 30 minutes from set pickup points while the Greenbus Minivans depart from the Chiang Rai bus terminus. Other than the local buses, one can take a ride on the tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxis to reach the Triangle.
For travellers flying to Thailand, the nearest airport to the Golden Triangle is the Chiang Rai International Airport. The Thai part of the triangle is located approximately 70 kilometres away from the airport. The route leading to the triangle goes via Route 5023 - Route 1098 - Route 1063 - Route 1290. About 8 kilometres ahead is where the Golden Triangle of Thailand is located.
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For travellers flying to Thailand, the nearest airport to the Golden Triangle is the Chiang Rai International Airport. The Thai part of the triangle is located approximately 70 kilometres away from the airport. The route leading to the triangle goes via Route 5023 - Route 1098 - Route 1063 - Route 1290. About 8 kilometres ahead is where the Golden Triangle of Thailand is located.
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What are the places near Golden triangle thailand?
The top places near to Golden triangle thailand are Chiang mai which is 107 km from Golden triangle thailand, Lampang which is located 48 km from Golden triangle thailand, Hang dong which is located 99 km from Golden triangle thailand, Bangkok which is located 475 km from Golden triangle thailand, Pattaya which is located 575 km from Golden triangle thailand
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