chiang rai means "The City of King Mengrai." Here is the first capital of the Kingdom of Lanna. It was founded in 1262 by King Mengrai, 30 years before he built Chiang Mai. Later it was conquered and occupied by the Burmese until 1786 and became Thailand's province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910. Chiang Rai province covers some 11,678 sq. km., and is bordered by Myanmar to the north, and Laos to the north and northeast. The provincial capital is 785 km. north of Bangkok, 180 km. northwest of Chiang Mai and is 580 m. above sea level. The province contains Thailand's northern most point at Mae Sai. The well known "Golden Triangle" in Chiang Saen, the area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converges and its notorious opium-producing activities in the past.

Located north of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is in part swathed with verdant mountains dotted with pockets of hill-tribe settlements and the fertile cultivated flood plains of the Mekong River, Once linked to the Golden Triangle's previously shady reputation as it was its gateway, Chiang Rai has since emerged as a tourist destination in its own right. And for a good reason, as the province has much to offer: picturesque scenery, elephant treks to colorful hill-tribe villages, riverine adventures, Buddhist temples and visits to the nearby border towns.

Apart from its temples and night bazaar, Chiang Rai, which has a good selection of hotels, resorts and daily excursion packages, offers tourists a convenient base to explore the vicinity - by trekking or by car. Treks to hill-tribe villages, inhabited mostly by the Akhas, can be arranged as a day trip or longer. The Akkas is one of Thailand's many colorful tribes, distinguished by their ornate headdresses of plumes and old silver coins, leggings and masses of silver jewelery on their necks and arms