Chiang Rai Trips & Tours

Not to be confused with its ritzier older sister, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is about as real and authentic as it gets. Tucked into the northernmost point of Thailand against the borders of Myanmar and Laos, the province is a place of bounty in looks, culture and scenery. Highlights range from the rugged mountain-scapes that hide iconic hot springs and waterfalls, to the Buddhist shrines and scattered hill-tribe villages. A trek is the best way to take it all in, and just about everyone who ventures up here dons a pair of walking boots, be it for a multi-day romp complete with white-water rafting, or a simpler, shorter jungle trek. And then there’s the elephants. This is the home of the elephant sanctuary, and thankfully there’s not a whiff of tourist-trap rides or shows in the air. Most are run by wonderful NGOs and you’ll learn the tricks of the trade with the mahouts and then follow the gentle pachyderms through the forest and bathe beside them in crystal-clear waterfalls.