Travel and Transport Info for Northern Thailand by Hobo Maps - - - Home

Our Golden North Map covers the area in Northern Thailand south of the Golden Triangle and west of Chiang Khong down to Chiang Rai.

Sop Ruak image below at Golden Triangle:

Golden North Area
Most of this area is relatively flat with extensive rice fields and wetlands. Some smaller hills are scattered around but roadway slopes are gradual. Great for casual bicycling. It’s only about a 3.5 hour bicycle trip from Mae Sai to Chiang Saen or to Sop Ruak at the Golden Triangle and about 6 hours from Mae Sai to Chiang Rai.

Mae Sai - Tachilek Border Crossing
A border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar is at Mae Sai and Tachilek. In 2019, short-term Myanmar visas were available on arrival that allow limited distance travel.

Golden Triangle Border Crossing
New border crossing is now at Sop Ruak to exit/enter Laos at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) directly across the Mekong River. Full immigration procedures are now in place and Immigration hours are 06:00 to 20:00 daily.

A vehicle ferry was operating in 2019 taking vehicles across the Mekong from Sop Ruak to Laos Immigration so maybe it's possible for motorbikes and bicycles to also take this ferry.

If you are going to Ban Mom or Ton Pheung you might charter a speedboat on the Thai side to take you over to Laos immigration at the GTSEZ and have it wait for you to clear immigration and then continue upriver to Ban Mom or down to Ton Pheung.

GTSEZ - Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone
A Chinese entrepeneur Wei Zhao has obtained a 99 year lease on a big section of land in Laos across the Mekong from Sop Ruak referred to as the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ). This was formerly the village of Ban Khwan and the site of the infamous 1967 Opium War. GTSEZ photo below courtesy of Wikimedia Commons..

The older Paradise Resort and Casino on the Myanmar side has been open for a few years now.

Ground Transport
- The excellent Green Bus Company dominates bus transport in Northern Thailand with bus and minivan service. Songtaew buses go the same routes and also can be chartered around town.

Tuk Tuks and motorcycle taxis are common in the towns.

Water Transport
- All kinds of strange boats operate on the Mekong in the Golden Triangle area. There's a boat trip to Laos for shopping at Don Sao Island for only 500 baht and no immigration procedures.

Casino gamblers can take free boats across to the Kings Romans Casino.

Thai people can freely go to the Paradise Casino in Myanmar for day trips.

Speedboats can be chartered for about 600 baht.

Air Transport - a new airport is being constructed inside the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and is expected to open soon mostly for international travel to cities in China
- the closest other airport for the Golden North of Thailand is just north of Chiang Rai. We saw an Airport Shuttle van in Sop Ruak that goes direct to Chiang Rai Airport.

Cycling Around
- motorbikes can be rented in Mae Sai, Sop Ruak and Chiang Saen but peddle bicycles are hard to find for rent. Bbring your own bicycle or rent it in Chiang Rai. Most buses will carry bicycles in Northern Thailand, especially if you arrive at the starting station for the trip when they have time to put the bike on top and tie it down. An extra fee is usually charged. Seems like almost every afternoon there's a breeze blowing towards the north along Hwy. 1 between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai (headwind for those cycling south & tailwind for lucky northbound cyclers).

Birdwatching
- Chiang Saen Lake (Nong Bong Kai) is about 4 km southwest of Chiang Saen town and is a non-hunting protected area for birds and wildlife. The Yonok Wetlands south of there may be even better for birdwatching with more shallow water for waders and many irrigated ricefields around.

December and January are the best months to see migratory birds. These wetlands are under constant threat from agricultural encroachment. More tourism for the area may help local landowners see the value of maintaining the wetlands for wildlife.

The Yonok area is supposedly the birthplace of the Lanna Kingdom.

Opium Museums
- There are two opium museums at Sop Ruak. One is in town, cheap and convenient for visitors (open 07:00-19:00 daily – 50 baht) while the other bigger one is about 3 km northwest of town and sponsored by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation (open Tuesday to Sunday 08:30-16:00 - 300 baht).

Images below of Sop Ruak town and across the Mekong to Laos at the Golden Triangle Feb. 2023.

Laos border post image below at Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone across the Mekong from Sop Ruak town.