Places to Explore

• Ban Sop Ruak

  Ban Sop Ruak, a village in the heart of the Golden Triangle, was once the domain of the opium warlord Khun Sa. More than a decade ago, government troops forced him back to Burmese territory, but his reputation... (more)

• Chiang Dao

  The dusty, rather delapidated village of Chiang Dao has two claims to fame: Thailand's third highest mountain, 7,500-foot Doi Chiang Dao, which leaps up almost vertically from the valley floor, and the... (more)

• Chiang Khong

  This small Mekong River town is gearing up to become a main waystation on the planned Asian Highway, and a bridge is being built across the Mekong River to the Laotian harbor town of Houayxay. Until its... (more)

• Chiang Mai

  Chiang Mai's rich history stretches back 700 years to the time when several small tribes, under King Mengrai, banded together to form a new nation called Anachak Lanna Thai. Their first capital was Chiang... (more)

• Chiang Rai

  Once again, an elephant played a central role in the foundation of an important Thai city. Legend has it that a royal elephant ran away from its patron, the 13th-century king Mengrai, founder of the Lanna... (more)

• Chiang Saen

  On the banks of the Mekong River sits Chiang Saen, a one-road town that in the 12th century was home to the future king Mengrai. Only fragments of the ancient ramparts survived the incursion by the Burmese... (more)

• Doi Ang Khang

  Ang means "bowl," and that sums up the mountaintop location of this remote corner of Thailand. A tiny, two-street settlement shares the small valley with the orchards and gardens of a royal agricultural... (more)

• Lampang

  At the end of the 19th century, when Lampang was a thriving center of the teak trade, the well-to-do city elders gave the city a genteel look by buying a fleet of English-built carriages and a stable of... (more)

• Lamphun

  Lamphun claims to be the oldest existing city in Thailand (but so does Nakhon Pathom). Originally called Nakhon Hariphunchai, it was founded in AD 660. Its first ruler was a queen, Chamthewi, who has a... (more)

• Mae Hong Son

  Stressed-out residents of Bangkok and other cities have transformed this remote, mountain-ringed market town into one of Northern Thailand's major resort areas. Some handsome hotels have arisen in recent... (more)

• Mae Sai

  From Ban Sop Ruak you can travel west on a dusty road to Mae Sai, a town that straddles the Mae Sai River. At this market town the merchants trade goods with the Burmese.... (more)

• Mae Sariang

  The southern route of the Loop runs through Mae Sariang, a neat little market town that sits beside the Yuam River. With two very comfortable hotels and a handful of good restaurants, the town makes a... (more)

• Nan

  Near the border of Laos lies the city of Nan, a provincial capital founded in 1272. According to local legend, Lord Buddha, passing through Nan Valley, spotted an auspicious site for a temple to be built... (more)

• Pai

  Disastrous floods and mud slides in the surrounding mountains devastated this very popular tourist haunt in 2005, but the town rapidly recovered and now the only reminders of the catastrophe are a few... (more)

• Phayao

  Historic Phayao slipped in importance as its former rival cities, Chiang Mai and Lampang, increased their economic clout in Northern Thailand. Today, it's a quiet backwater, a convenient stop on the route... (more)

• Phrae

  A market town in a narrow valley, Phrae is well off the beaten path. It's a useful stopover on the 230-km (143-mi) journey from Lampang to Nan, but has little to offer the visitor apart from ruined city... (more)

• Tha Ton

  North of Chiang Dao lies the pretty resort town of Tha Ton, which sits on the River Kok right across the border from Myanmar. The local temple, Wat Tha Ton, is built on a cliff overlooking the town. From... (more)