Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HILLTRIBE MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER
Museum
Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun)
This museum and handicrafts centre is a good place
to visit before undertaking any hill-tribe trek. The centre, run by the nonprofit Popu-
lation & Community Development Association (PDA), is underwhelming in its visual
presentation, but contains a wealth of information on Thailand's various tribes and
the issues that surround them. The curator is passionate about his museum, and
will talk about the different hill tribes, their histories, recent trends and the commu-
nity projects that the museum helps fund. The PDA also runs highly recommended
treks.
WAT PHRA KAEW
Temple
tery) in the local dialect, this is the city's most revered Buddhist temple. Legend has
it that in 1434 lightning struck the temple's octagonal
chedi,
which fell apart to re-
veal the Phra Kaew Morakot, or Emerald Buddha (actually made of jade). After a
long journey that included a long stopover in Vientiane, Laos (see boxed text,
Click
here
), this national talisman is now ensconced in the temple of the same name in
Bangkok.
Activities
Nearly every guest house and hotel in Chiang Rai offers trekking trips, typically in
the Doi Tung, Doi Mae Salong and Chiang Khong areas. Rates at the places below
range from 2500B to 4300B per person for two people for a two-night trek.
The following agencies have a reputation for operating responsible treks and cul-
tural tours, and in some cases profits from the treks go directly to community-devel-
opment projects.
MIRROR FOUNDATION
( 0 5373 7616;
www.themirrorfoundation.org
;
106 Moo 1, Ban Huay Khom, Tambon
Mae Yao)
Although its rates are higher than others', trekking with this nonprofit NGO
helps support the training of its local guides. Treks range from one to three days,
and traverse the Akha, Karen and Lahu villages of Mae Yao, north of Chiang Rai.
Trekking
