We have one day unplanned in Chaing Rai and are considering our options. A longboat ride down the Mae Kong River sounds like a good option - but we would be open to other ideas. Advice, experiences anyone?
We are most interestd in seeing the hilltribes, if at all possible.

You only have one day unplanned? Do leave it unplanned, then you can decide what looks interesting when you get there!

We did the long boat ride on the river last year. Our driver took us over to an island that is actually in Laos where we shopped at a small market and picked up a few oddities. They had snake whiskey which you can sample. I skipped the sample but bought a bottle, everyone back in the states gets creeped out when we show them the whiskey with a hooded cobra standing up in the bottle.

where and how did you find the driver, please?

I actually booked it after we arrived at our hotel. We stayed at the Anantara and they arranged the excursion for us the same day. We paid the hotel, they arranged all the details and times.