Golden Triangle Trip

[tariq]

Hello

Trevelling to LOS end of Feb and would like to visit the golden triangle, take in a boat trip and perhaps cross the border for a trip out of LOS.

Any suggestions on on an itenery? We may have 2 kids with us depending on school holidays. Trip there willprobably be for 3-4 days as I need to get be in Sattahip for a wedding...not looking forward to the drive back!

No problems with driving in LOS so not a problem if that is required.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers

Taz...

[GOGGLES]

I think you would be better flying. Most of your 3/4 days will be spent driving if going from BKK.

Fly to Chiang Mai and hire a car there to the Golden Triangle. Its a nice 3/4 day trip.

I have done this twice. Kindest Regards. Niall

[Dellboy218]

Virtually all route 1290 was dirt road a couple of months ago from Mae Sai to the GT

[BarnicaleBob]

I think you would be better flying. Most of your 3/4 days will be spent driving if going from BKK.

Fly to Chiang Mai and hire a car there to the Golden Triangle. Its a nice 3/4 day trip.

I have done this twice. Kindest Regards. Niall

You could also fly directly to Chiang Rai which is a couple of hours closer to the GT than Chiang Mai. Also the road from Chiang Rai to the GT is not so bad but a few months ago there were two or three kilometers that were under construction as part of a road improvement program. You should be able to rent a car at the Chiang Rai airport and the GT is only about an hours drive from there. The boat trip across the Mekong to Laos takes you to one of the tourist trap villages but I guess it is OK if you want to be able to say been there done that and the boat rental with driver can be had for in the 400 baht range.

[mistakurtz]

Prepare for cold weather this time of year along the mekong.

[Ricardo]

For a short trip like this, I'd include the former-KMT villages of Mae-Salong (visit Martyr's Museum) & Thoet-Thai (visit Khun-Sa Museum), Mae-Sai to walk across the bridge to Tachilek for-the-day, and the 'GT' for the photo-opportunity & the Opium-Museum, perhaps stopping at Chiang-Saen in one of the GHs on-the-riverbanks ?

Anyone have any other must-see suggestions, in that area ?

And given the above itinerary, CR does make a better jumping-off place, than CM. The village-buses & song-theaw travel forms part of the fun, in my own boys' opinions !

[tariq]

Thanks for the replies.

I should have said that I will be based in Kampaengphet hence the drive to GT. Are the roads that bad ...even for a 4x4?

If so, then what kind of prices should I expect to pay for flights from BKK to Chiang Rai. Two adults and two kids aged 14 and 9. Are there any budget airlines or just Thai Air?

Many thanks.

[tariq]

Alternatively, I could go after the wedding in Sattahip and get a flight from Pattaya to Chiang Rai - is that a possibility?

My internet connection is playing up otherwise I would have looked myself... work pc is sooooo slow at lunchtimes!Appreciate any help.