Chiang Rai: The Frontier of the 3 Lands - A Travel Video

Chiang Rai, the northern frontier where three lands (Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar) meet, is known for its beautiful temples, creative art scene, and as the location where 13 boys got stuck in a submerged cave and were subsequently rescued 10 days later.

That said, Chiang Rai was also home to something much darker and more sinister. Due to its remoteness and peculiar geography, dubbed the Golden Triangle, the drug trade, opium poppy cultivation, and deforestation used to be prevalent in this region until the princess mother of the monarch, who was born here, came up with several royal projects to reforest the area and educate the locals on the impact of drugs.

Nowadays, thanks to her actions, the forest covers more than 30% of the province, and creativity and industry flourish here. Chiang Rai is now one of the best travel destinations to visit in Thailand.

With the history of Chiang Rai as pillars, I have decided to create a travel video of my journey in Chiang Rai that is both inspiring to watch and educational.

This travel video not only highlights the beautiful temples and mountains but also showcases the local creative scene, the diversity of cultures, the opium trade in the past, and the cave rescue that shook the entire world in 2018.

From the beautiful White and Blue Temples to the top of Phu Chi Fa mountain, I hope you will enjoy this travel video of Chiang Rai as much as I enjoyed making it.

Location: Chiang Rai City, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, and Phu Chi Fa

Camera Gear: Sony a6500 Camera + 16-55mm F2.8 Lens and Sigma 56mm F1.4 + DJI Mavic Mini

Music: Can't Stop Me by Bamtone (Licensed Through Artlist.io)

Further Reading for Northern Thailand

Looking for more information for your trip to Northern Thailand? Here is a collection of articles about Thailand that you might find useful:

• First time in Northern Thailand? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in Northern Thailand.
• Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Looking for an itinerary for Thailand? Check out the 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
• More often than not, your journey in Thailand will begin in Bangkok. Here is a 12-Hours Guide to Spending Time in Bangkok.
• Not sure where to begin your journey in Northern Thailand? How about an old capital with a Complete Backpacking Guide to Phitsanulok?
• Did you know that the cradle of Thailand began in the ancient city of Sukhothai north of Bangkok in the 13th Century? If you are interested in the history of Thailand, here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Sukhothai.
• Sukhothai has a twin city that had prospered together since the first founding of the Siam Kingdom. The ancient city is called Si Satchanalai, 60 km north of Sukhothai and there are many less-traveled ancient ruins there waiting for you to explore. Here is A Complete Backpacking Guide to Si Satchanalai.
• Kamphaeng Phet, which translates to "The Wall of Diamond" was an outpost town that had played a role in protecting the Siam Kingdom from invasion for several decades and you can still see the remnants today. Here is A Complete Backpacking Guide to Kamphaeng Phet.
• Lampang is low-key, one of the most laid-back places in the north with a northern-vibe similar to Chiang Mai but much quieter and more authentic. If you are looking to go off the beaten path in Thailand, check out The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Lampang.
• Spending a few days relaxing in Lampang? Here are 9 Best Cafes and Restaurants to Try in Lampang.
• There is no need for an introduction to the renowned old capital city of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai. Here are the 26 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai According to the Locals.
• Chiang Mai is a big city. How does one find the best restaurants and cafes, you asked? Check out 25 Absolute Best Restaurants and Cafes in Chiang Mai.
• Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and in order to travel there, you will need a complete travel guide. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Doi Inthanon.
• Have only 3 days in Chiang Mai? Check out the 3 Days Backpacking Itinerary for Chiang Mai.
• Have a day to spare in Chiang Mai? How about going on a day-trip to Lamphun? Here are 7 Best Things to Do in Lamphun.
• Looking to go off-the-beaten-path in Chiang Mai? How about visiting the untouched nature of Doi Ang Khang and the Chinese-influenced towns of Arunothai and Chai Prakan? Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Doi Ang Khang.
• One of the best road trips you can make in Thailand is traversing the Mae Hong Son Loop, here’s a complete backpacking guide and a 10 days itinerary for Mae Hong Son Loop
• Looking to start the Mae Hong Son Loop but not sure where to start? How about the city of Mae Sariang? Here are 8 Best Things to Do in Mae Sariang.
• Mae Hong Son City is one of my favorite cities from the entire Mae Hong Son Loop road trip. Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Mae Hong Son City.
• Pai has become a tourist hotspot ever since it was discovered and featured in many travel blogs but what is there to do in Pai? We have the answer. Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Pai, Thailand.
• Chiang Rai is home to not just stunning temples like the White and Blue Temples but also the beautiful mountains of Pho Chi Fan and Doi Pha Tang. Here are the 16 Best Things to Do in Chiang Rai.
• One of the most iconic peaks in Thailand is Phu Chi Fai and you can hike to the top of it among other hiking trails around Chiang Rai's highlands. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Phu Chi Fah.
• Chiang Saen is an ancient walled city full of history and beautiful sceneries waiting for you to explore. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Chiang Saen.
• Phrae is so much more than a stopover destination. Here are the 14 Best Things to Do in Phrae.
• Nan is the upcoming trendy tourist attraction in Thailand that is still pretty much unexplored by foreigners. If you want to travel to Nan, here are the 16 Best Things to Do in Nan.
• Phayao is a beautiful hidden gem of Thailand's north that is waiting for you to explore. It rarely gets any tourists, the more reason to visit Phayao before it is discovered! Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Phayao.
• Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Central Thailand or Southern Thailand?
• Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about you continue on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
• For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
• Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
• You can see all my Asia related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.