Chiang Rai, in the far north of Thailand has been inhabited since the 7^th Century and was the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

Today it is a paradise for travellers with attractions ranging from ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to mountain scenery and hill tribe villages. 

It is a fascinating area filled with cultural and natural wonders, here is the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Burma meet, an area which was once the hub of opium production, a trade that had much influence on the lifestyle and culture of the people.