Chiang Rai Day Trip: Golden Triangle, White Temple, Long Neck Tribe

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Free cancellation

1/9

Duration12h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Twelve hours, four landmarks, one guide: Mae Kachan Hot Spring, White Temple, Golden Triangle, and a Karen tribal village

A full-day guided tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai covers the White Temple's distinctive white architecture, the Golden Triangle at the Thailand-Laos-Myanmar border, Mae Kachan Hot Spring, and the Karen Long Neck tribal village, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, Thai lunch and all entrance fees included. A boat ride across the Mekong to the Laos border costs extra (300 THB); bring your passport if you want to take it. The return to Chiang Mai takes around three hours and arrives between 8 and 9 p.m.

12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Chiang Rai sightseeing tour

Pick up from Chiang Mai hotel
Drive to Mae Khachan Hot Spring
View highest geyser at hot spring
Visit White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
Travel to Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen
Explore Golden Triangle area
Optional boat ride on Mae Khong River
Visit Laos border and boat ride
Visit Karen Long Neck tribal village
Return drive to Chiang Mai
Drop off at Chiang Mai hotel

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Chiang Mai hotel between 7 and 7:15 a.m., then a one-hour drive north to Mae Kachan Hot Spring. The stop gives you a chance to see Thailand's highest geyser and use the facilities before the main sightseeing begins. From there, the route heads to Wat Rong Khun—the White Temple—where the architecture is the draw: a gleaming white building adorned with glass, sculptural pieces and murals all designed by a single Thai artist. The temple's distinctive look makes it one of the most photographed sites in northern Thailand.

Next comes the Golden Triangle, the northernmost point where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong Rivers. The guide takes you to Chiang Saen to see the panoramic views over the Mekong, and you can add a boat ride across the river to the Laos border for an extra fee (around 20 minutes on the water, passport required). Wat Prathat Phu Khao sits in this area as well. After the Golden Triangle, the tour moves to the Karen Long Neck tribal village, where you see the community and its traditions. Lunch happens at a local restaurant partway through the day.

The return journey to Chiang Mai takes roughly three hours, with arrival between 8 and 9 p.m. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, and your guide speaks English and handles the route, timing and all entrance fees so you don't have to coordinate any of it yourself. Small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai.
English-speaking guide for the full day.
entrance fees to all four main sites.
Thai lunch at a local restaurant.
air-conditioned vehicle.
bottled water.
boat trip fees to the Laos border (the boat ride itself is optional and costs 300 THB extra if you choose to take it).

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunleisure World

Is this one for you?Pick the shared group tour to meet other travelers and share costs; choose private if you want your own guide and vehicle to move at your pace and linger at stops without coordinating with others.