Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is the northern most province of Thailand, located 800 km from Bangkok on the borders with Loas and Myanmar, 68% of the land is mountainous 32% valleys. This city is the cross-roads of the famous Golden Triangle and its opium legend along with the remarkable scenery. With the towering mountains,craggy limestone peaks, great forests and waterfalls, Chiang Rai offers trekking adventures to open the gate to the northern way of life along with exotic hilltribe people.The mountains of Chiang Rai are the settlements of hilltribes,Thais and Chinese with beautiful plantation of rice,corn, tea and coffee on the slopes of these hills.

The city was founded by King Mangrai in 1262 and became the capital of the Mangrai dynasty. However, it lost this status soon after to a new city built by Mangrai at Chiang Mai. Subsequently, Chiang Rai was conquered by Burma and remained under Burmese rule for several hundred years. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became Chiang Mai vassal. After Siam or Thailand annexed Chiang Mai in 1899 Chiang Rai was proclaimed a province of Thailand in 1933.