It sounds better than the Bermuda Triangle, doesn`t it? And you are definitely not going to witness any disappearances over here! No, the Golden Triangle in Chiang Mai province is much safer, however you are going to breathe a rather mystical air and feel something special when you get there. Briefly, the Golden Triangle is an area lying between Laos, Myanmar and Thailand and between the Ruak and Mekong rivers, renowned for the opium that had been made there, in the past, but nowadays, it`s rather a touristic area, a paradise for the explorers, the lovers of culture and scenery, as you can`t see anywhere else in the world…

In the old days poppies had been grown here, for people to get the famous” sleeping pill”, but they had been gradually replaced by vegetables, grown by the native tribes. This thing was due to the king who managed to clear the poppy cultures from the area and remove  the habitual drug dealers, thus, the villagers, as well as the hill tribes could have a source of income, by tilling the land.

 If you spend a day in the Golden Triangle, there are lots of things for you to do:

Colored list Chiang Rai:

1. Visit the hill tribes: Karen, Akha, Lahu, Miao, Yao, Lisu.

2. Go to the Chiang Saen market

3. Walk into at least one of the temples in the area (where you can bring an offering and a Buddhist priest will bless you.)

4. Don`t miss Opium Hall, one of the most popular museums in Thailand ,in which, you can obviously learn each and every detail, concerning the history of opium, and moreover…you can even smell it, as there is a small plantation inside.

5. Enjoy going shopping at least one hour (the handicrafts over here are absolutely won-der-ful: handmade dolls, a colorful little umbrella, silver bowls and jewels.)

6. If you want some organized activities, you can easily find tours with local guides, who know how to make you feel the atmosphere of the place, who can show you the most beautiful and special things, from architecture to gastronomy, or safaris; they also make sure that you are safe and sound and that you enjoy the experience to the full.

7. Anantara Golden TriangleResort & Spa and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle are two exceptional spots, some really special concepts that offer you  all the services of the top hotels, combined with elephants riding, spa in the bamboo forest, unforgettable dinners in the ravishing nature and so on. A dream!

And if you happen to be here, visit the White Temple in Chiang Rai, you won`t regret it!