Local Sights

There are a great number of interesting places to visit, near to our hotel. Below is a list of some of them.

Less than 20 klms away;

 ◊ Temple ruins around Chiang Saen, some of them 1,000 yers old. The largest at Wat Chedi Luang, a 58m high octagonal chedi. There are 75 ruined temples inside the city walls and another 60 outside the walls.

 ◊ Chiang Saen Museum, a great collection of artifacts and much information about the town and area.

 ◊ Mekong River, just 5klms from the hotel. Watch the river traffic going upriver to China or downriver to Laos. Talk a long tail boat trip on the river to see the sights.

 ◊ Golden Triangle. Famous name comes from the old days of drug growing and trafficking at the border of Thailand, Laos & Myanmar. The hill tribe people now grow coffee, fruits and vegetables under a project of crop substitution sponsored by the King's mother. See the new giant Golden Buddha statue at the riverside. A good place for souvenirs.

 ◊ Opium Museum at the Golden Triangle. A modern museum showing the history of the Opium Trade.

 ◊ Silk farm. See how the local people raise the silkworms and weave their beautiful silk material. You can buy some direct from the people who make it.

 ◊ Elephant Riding and Mahout training at the Anantara Hotel, also at the Golden Triangle.

 ◊ Pah Raht Waterfall, 12 metres high. Best seen at the end of the rainy season, August to December.

 Less than 50 klms away;

 ◊ Mae Chan Hot Springs. Feel invigorated after a dip in the hot spring water.

 ◊ Tam Ruang Cave. This one is for the adventurous... a guided tour down a 7 kilometre deep cave. Only available in April to June, after the rains have drained out of the cave system.

 ◊ Visit Burma from the border crossing at Mae Sai. Cross over on a day pass to Tachilek. Some unusual souvenirs available.

 ◊ Take a road trip up to Doi Tung and visit the Kings Mother's Palace and gardens. Continue on the road up to the Arboretum and Doi Chang Mub at 1,500 metres high. Spectaculur views on a clear day.

 ◊ Karen tribe of long-neck women and several hilltribe villages.

 ◊ Wat Rong Khun, a stunning new, white and mirrored temple being built just south of Chiang Rai.

◊ Oub Kham Museum. www.oubkhammuseum.com/ A private museum in a quiet garden setting in Chiang Rai city. This museum is well worth a visit as it holds a fine and valuable collection of original artifacts used in the royal courts of the ancient Lanna Kingdoms.

Other trips;

 ◊ A boat trip can be arranged from Chiang Saen to Luang Phrabang in Laos. This can be a one day long tail boat ride, or a more leisurely two day ferry boat ride. Luang Phrabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to it's many old temples.