Experience The Golden Triangle, Thailand

The Golden Triangle: Where Thailand Meets Laos and Myanmar

Locally known as Sop Ruak, the Golden Triangle marks the joining point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar amid forested hills and winding rivers. Once fought over by Thai, Lao, Khmer, and Burmese empires – and later infames for opium production – it is now a peaceful around of coffee plantations, traditional villages, and one of Thailand’s most renowned elephant sanctuaries.

From the riverside town of Chiang Saen, a former capital of the Lanna kingdom, you can explore ancient battlements and a 13th-century chedi boasting a gleaming Golden Buddha. Stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort on top of a hill for far-reaching three-country views, and an immersive experience at the resort’s Elephant Camp, where you can walk with mahouts, or discover more of their conservation efforts.

While in the Golden Triangle you can also visit the Hall of Opium, if you’re curious about the region’s historical perspective, but there are plenty of opportunities to cycle, boat, and temple tour as well. You can broaden the journey and include a visit to Mae Sai, the border town next to Myanmar, and enjoy the mountain communities of the Akha and Mien (Yao) tribes. With scenic caves, forests and trails, and a fusion of cultures and history, the Golden Triangle provides a unique experience of heritage, nature, and borderland.

Best time to visit the Golden Triangle, Thailand

The Golden Triangle enjoys cooler weather than Thailand’s southern lowlands. From November to March, expect warm days, cool nights, and clear skies, though slash‑and‑burn farming can bring haze in February and March. April ushers in hotter temperatures and the rainy season.