Imbued with a sense of mystery and with a hint of illicit adventure linked to the opium trade, Sop Ruak Golden Triangle, in the northern most corner of Thailand, has acquired a reputation that appeals to most visitors. On the confluence of the Nam Ruak and the Mekong Rivers, it is also the place where the borders of three countries meet; Thailand on the south of the Ruak, Myanmar on its north and Laos east of the Mekong. Many signs around town proclaim Sop Ruak to be the real Golden Triangle. But the ‘Golden Triangle’ is a name for a far bigger area extending deep into Myanmar and Laos and is well known for its opium trade and other illicit activities. Busloads of tourists end up in the town intrigued by the mystery and of course for an opportunity to peek into all three countries at once.
The town’s main road along the river is lined with souvenir shops and the most interesting place in town is probably the House of Opium. Exhibits trace the history of opium around the world and in the area. The whole process of cultivation and processing, the impact of opium smoking and campaigns to eradicate it are explained here and all kinds of opium-related paraphernalia are on display. The look-out on the hill adjacent to the museum is worth a visit to see bits of all three countries. By the hill, there is a 1,200 year old temple, Wat Phrathat Phu Khao, meaning “temple on the hill”. Other attractions include a giant golden Buddha statue on a ship and elephant statues with palanquins where visitors can pose for photos. Sop Ruak also has a pier from which long-tail boats set out on trips down the river to Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong and to hop over to Don Sao, a small island on the Lao side where there are souvenir shops.
The most common way for large groups of people to visit Sop Ruak is by tour bus. Independent travelers have a choice of hiring a private car, a trishaw, or sharing a songthaew, which are converted pickup trucks that run regularly from Mai Sae and Chiang Saen till 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Wonderful is the word used most often to describe the Anantara Golden Triangle Thailand which is located in the northern-most region of the country amidst rainforests. Offering well-equipped spacious rooms and suites with delightful views reaching far away into Myanmar and Laos, this hotel Chiang Rai offers pampers its guests with some of the best experiences. Getting up close and personal with elephants, Lanna cooking classes, rejuvenating spa treatments are some of the extraordinary experiences this fine selection of the Chiang Rai hotels offers.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+
