4-day trip to Thailand – the Golden Triangle area
Visiting the city of Chang Rai, Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), the Rai Mae Fah Luang Cultural Park, the border town of Mae Sae, the “Temple of the Roosters” the village of Sop Ruak, the ancient town of Chiang Saen with its ancient temples, the village Doi Sahgo, the Royal Palace and the gardens of Doi Tung, a tea plantation and the village of Doi Mai Salong.
Hotel The Legend of Chang Rai, White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)


Wat Rongkoon
ThailandRai Mae Fah Luang Cultural Park with Haw Kham (Golden Pavillon) known as “Queen’s Garden”
Then, we visited the Rai Mae Fah Luang Cultural Park, in which the Haw Kham (Golden Pavilion) stands out for its beauty. It is also known by the name of ”Queen’s Garden” because it was donated to the Queen on the occasion of her 84th birthday.


Queen's Garden
Thailand“Temple of the Roosters”, view on the Golden Triangle, Temple Wat Phra That Phu Khao
Along the road that brings to Mae Sae, at the border town with Burma, we met a very strange temple, not mentioned by the guides, to which we gave the name ”Temple of the Roosters” (see photo gallery).


Temple of the Roosters
Thailand

Wat Phra That Phu Khao
ThailandSop Ruak village on the bank of Mekong river, boat ride
We visited Sop Ruak, a village with a large temple built on the bank of the Mekong. We made a boat tripand could enjoy scenes of local life: fishermen and fisherwomen, both on the shore and on the boats. Finally, we saw a series of small wooden houses on the shore. We thought they could be everything but restaurants as, in fact, they were.


Sop Ruak
ThailandChiang Saen with temple Wat Phra That Cham Kitti
We went to the ancient town of Chiang Saen to visit the important temples that surround it.
The first temple that we visited is the Wat Phra That Cham Kitti which dates back to the tenth century and is situated on top of a hill from where we could enjoy great sights.


Temple Wat Phra That Cham Kitti
ThailandChiang Saen, two other temples: Wat Pa Sak and Wat Chedi Luang
Another interesting temple is the Wat Pa Sak located within a teak trees forest. The Chedi dates back to 1295 and is the oldest temple in the city.
The temple Wat Chedi Luang is the largest one, dating back to the twelfth century, and is surrounded by a small market where they sell fabrics and foods.


Chiang Saen - Wat Pa Sak
ThailandDoi Sahgo village reached by “e-tan”(local vehicle); greeted by children in local costumes


Doi Sahgo Village
ThailandRoyal Villa (house of the Mother Queen) of Doi Tung and garden with play of water and floral display
We visited the Doi Tung Royal Villa set, in 1988, on the top of a mountain, in an excellent panoramic position, with the aim of making the area a touristic one and, above all, of trying to eliminate the opium production. The Villa is surrounded by beautiful flower-beds.
Not far, we visited a large garden with ponds, play of water as well as magnificent and spectacular floral displays.


Queen Mother's Residence
Doi TungTea plantation and tasting of local tea, visit of the market of Doi Mae Salong village
We visited the most important tea plantation in the area where we could admire both the cultivation and the processing of tea. We concluded tasting a local tea preparation.


Tea plantation
Doi MaesalongWe went to the village of Doi Mae Salong to see the town market. We met numerous women dressed with the typical costumes of their ethnicity.


Market of Doi Mae Salong
ThailandIgnazio MarconiMy name is Ignazio and my motto is Travellingforever
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