See the Thai Meteorological Weather forecast for Chiang Rai
Picture fredalix - อาลิกส์The little town of Thaton and the Kok river. The river come from Burma and flows to Chiang Rai.
Boat from Thaton to Chiang Rai:
The Mae Kok Boat Service Company departs at Thaton every day at 12.30 pm (350 Bath). The trip takes around three hours. The Mae Kok River runs through dense jungle. You will see hilltribe villages on the banks - for example the Karen village of Ruammit, where the Karen keep elephants and use them for tourist rides or transport to other villages. In the late afternoon the elephants bath in the river. Read blackntan210's adventure on the river. Around 20 minutes up from Ruammit you reach Phasoet hot springs บ่อน้ำพุร้อนผาเสริฐ.
Boat from Chiang Rai to Thaton: Departure 10.30 am
Charter a boat: You can visit Shan or Lahu villages along the river.
Bamboo House Rafting on Mae Kok River:
Picture fredalix - อาลิกส์
Picture ArgenbergMae Kok River
Picture ElectrostaticoBamboo Boat
Picture ArgenbergElephants bathing in Mae Kok River
Info about Thaton: Read thaton.info
Map of the Valley: With small villages: iGuideTRavel.
Stay in Thaton
Garden Home Nature Resort: From 200 Bath. Bungalows right on the river. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com
Ban Suan Riverside Resort: 134 Moo 4. Wooden bungalows with terraces on the river and more rooms in a building and bungalows away from the river.
Thaton River View Resort: Along the banks on Nam Kok River. Basic, as described by Chiang Mai To Thaton
Thaton Chalet: From 1400 Bath.
Old Tree's House: From 1200 Bath. 323. Ban Rumthai
M. 14. Guesthouse with five bungalows and little pool run by Paulo and Nid, a French/Thai couple, who engage with a school project for Chan people, refugess from Burma living nearby. Excellent guesthouse according to reviews on tripadvisor.com
Picture fredalix - อาลิกส์View from Old Tree's House
Apple Guest House:
Khun Mai Baan Suan Resort: On the banks of Mae Kok River. See video by openchiangmai.com
Mae Kok River Village Resort: From 3250 Bath. On the banks of Mae Kok River. A good place for birdwatching from the resort. With Maekok River Village Outdoor Education Centre
Huai Khum Resort: From 1600 Bath. In the forest, surrounded by Mae Kok River and the mountains, near a traditional village. Bamboo bungalows with straw roof. With swimming pool.
Wat Thaton
Wat Tha Ton (วัดท่าตอน):
Picture Argenberg
Picture fredalix - อาลิกส์
Picture isriya
Picture isriya
Picture isriyaView from Wat Thaton
Hilltribe people around Thaton
Picture EdwardAkha village Ban Lor Cha
Picture All Points East (The South East Asia SpecialistsAkha woman weaving in Ban Lor Cha.
Ban Lor Cha Also: Lorcha. Here you find a community-based Tourism Development project in an Akha village. You pay a fee. The income goes into a village development fund. See map of village tour. Read more about the Akha people and this project here. See pictures of Akha women and man and child. See videos of Ban Lorcha. Read a study by Deena Rubuliak about Ecotourism in Northern Thailand.
How to go to Thaton
Bus vom Chiang Mai to Fang and Thaton: 7 am and 3.30 pm. (From Chang Pheuak Bus Terminal)
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