Children’s Activities
Featuring the Mekong River and Chiang Sean Lake, many adults choose to entertain their kids in Chiang Saen by spending an afternoon on the water. Boat rides along the river are always fun and interesting, and the lake makes a fine spot for a picnic and running around. An elephant trek into the jungle is another good choice, though these excursions usually take place outside of the city.
 Chiang Saen Lake A little way south of the city is this large lake which serves as a popular spot for hanging out, fishing and playing along the shore. There are a few shops at the lake which rent outdoor recreation gear like kayaks as well as a couple of places to stay if you want to prolong your time here. Sunsets at the lake are wonderful, and there’s enough food to keep your family fed and watered.
 Elephant Trekking You may have to travel a couple of hours outside of Chiang Saen to get to the region’s trekking areas, but it’s well worth the effort. Riding on the back of an elephant as you trek over hills and through the jungle is a special experience, and northern Thailand has a fully developed trekking industry. There are a few tour shops in town which can arrange a trek of your liking, from pure nature visits to those incorporating stops at remote hill tribe villages.
 Mekong River Boat Rides The Mekong River provides a special experience for those that take a boat cruise along its waters. Southeast Asia’s most famous river is a beehive of activity with transport barges, passenger boats and fishermen coming and going all day long. Head upriver to the Golden Triangle or downriver to Chiang Khong for a wonderful half-day excursion. There are lots of rustic villages along the banks, kids playing in the water and wildlife lingering along the shores.
Cultural Activities
It’s the ancient culture that draws most visitors to Chiang Saen. Centuries ago, when the city was the capital of the vast Lanna Kingdom, dozens of magnificent Buddhist temples and chedis were constructed around town. The crumbling ruins of these ancient sites are main attractions, as is the Mekong River, a round-the-clock source of interesting slices of local Thai life. Visiting an ethnic hill tribe village is a popular cultural activity, with more than a dozen different hill tribes living in the area. The main activity in Chiang Saen, however, is attempting to slow yourself down to the languid pace of life which permeates this riverside town.
 Chedi Luang Temple After you finish checking out the exhibits in the National Museum, walk next door and begin your explorations of Chiang Saen’s many important and ancient Buddhist temples. Wat Chedi Luang is one of the oldest, dating back to the 13th century. The impressive main chedi is wonderfully draped in green moss, especially during the rainy season. Rising 88 metres high, this monument is the highest religious structure in the region. At the centre of the complex is a crumbling temple which houses several golden sculptures of the Buddha.
 Chiang Saen National Museum Despite the town’s small size, there’s a decent museum in Chiang Saen that’s well worth checking out. Before you begin exploring the city’s many historic sites, stop here for some background information. The diverse collection here includes ancient sculptures and artefacts which have been excavated from Buddhist sites, as well as a fascinating array of everyday items such as pottery, weapons, and fishing gear. There is also a great section detailing the many hill tribes who call northern Thailand home. Their ornaments, dress, musical instruments and opium accessories are nicely displayed. The museum is located on Phahonyothin road near Chedi Luang Temple. Phone: +66 53 777102.
 Golden Triangle Most people have heard of this famously notorious spot where Laos, Burma and Thailand come together at a point on the Mekong River. Although there isn’t anything particularly impressive about the site, most travellers want to add it to their list of legendary places they’ve been to. A nice vantage point gives sweeping views over the three countries, and a pleasant hilltop temple is lined with small shops selling all kinds of trinkets and snacks.
 Hall of Opium This interesting museum is located in the Golden Triangle, offering visitors an in-depth look at the role opium has played in this region’s life for centuries. The building is set within the 40 hectare Golden Triangle Park, so you can combine the two excursions. Visitors enter through a long tunnel to create an appropriate mood before emerging into the museum. Two main themes are highlighted here: the poppy as a plant and the historic drug production scene in the Golden Triangle. The museum is located 10 miles from Chiang Saen. Phone: +66 53 652 151.
Mekong River The Mother River, as it’s locally known, is the main water artery for Southeast Asia and the source of life for Chiang Saen and hundreds of other towns along its banks. The Mekong starts in the Tibetan Plateau of China and passes through Laos, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before finally spilling out into the South China Sea. The river offers a wonderful look at local life in this town, so be sure and spend some time lingering on its banks. It’s the ideal place in Chiang Saen to watch the sunset and boats pass by as well as sample some local food from one of the street vendors that congregate here.
 Sop Ruak Market Chiang Saen’s most interesting outdoor market is called Sop Ruak, and is located on the edge of town. This is a great place to see locals selling both food and handicrafts, providing a perfect shopping opportunity. Everything from fresh fruit and tasty northern Thai specialties to silk weavings and wood carvings are sold in the modest stalls clustered around the market.
Dining & Shopping
Northern Thailand has some of the best food on the planet, and although Chiang Saen isn’t the culinary centre of this universe, visitors will find a decent selection of local favourites at the few humble restaurants and riverside food stalls scattered around town.
 Single-dish meals based on noodles, rice and soup are a good choice for solo travellers or a quick bite. But a typical Thai meal involves stir-fried dishes, soups, curries and salads served family-style in the centre of the table. Often a whole grilled fish or a piece of barbecued meat is the centerpiece. Each person then has their own plate of rice and everyone digs in.
Unlike larger northern Thai cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Chiang Saen offers only modest dining options. Most restaurants form the front of someone’s home or fill the bottom floor of a shop house. Some eateries are little more than open-air pavilions along the roadside or river bank. That doesn’t mean the food isn’t good; this simple restaurant design is the norm in rural Thailand. As a rule, wherever you see locals eating, you can bet the food is good.
In Chiang Saen most of the places to eat line the town’s single main road or lie just off it along the smaller side streets. The road which runs along the Mekong River also has a few places which are popular as the sun goes down – a favourite time for the locals to stop by for a cold beer and barbecue. Most guesthouses also serve items from basic menu, but their quality is hit or miss. The more upmarket resorts in the area have international menus catering to tourists.
 Among the most popular northern Thai dishes which deserve to be tried at least once is the incredible noodle curry called khao soi. This rich and creamy curry is topped with crispy fried noodles and rarely found outside of Lanna. Other northern curries unique to the region include gaeng hunglay, gaeng som, and young jackfruit curry.
Also hugely popular and delicious are the many snack-like foods served in most restaurants or along the road. Sticky rice and sai ooua (northern sausage) go great with a cold Thai beer. Also be sure and try the chili dips like naam prik ong and naam prik num to go with your sticky rice and grilled chicken. They are spicy, but true local specialties. Another essential northern dish is laap, minced meat fried and served with mint and chili.
 The shopping options in Chiang Saen are limited. There are no dedicated boutique shops or stores that sell northern Thai handicrafts, due to the low number of tourists who actually stay in the town. This means visitors will have to do most of the leg work themselves to find interesting buys in Chiang Saen. Occasionally, hotels and guesthouses here have a small handicraft corner in the reception area where they sell typical souvenirs. Some of the local shops sell everyday utilitarian items like sticky rice holders, bamboo mats, baskets and other interesting things which can make good souvenirs to take home.
 The closest thing to a market near Chiang Saen is the Sop Ruak Market located a few miles north of town at the Golden Triangle. This part-local, part-tourist market sells everything from food and cheap clothes to a modest array of regional arts and crafts. Visitors can find good quality silk weavings, wood carvings, Buddhist motifs and other quirky things like musical instruments. But the quality and selection of the handicrafts on sale in Sop Ruak and in Chiang Saen itself pale in comparison to the options in neighbouring Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. It's suggested that you save your shopping adventures for the wonderful shops and markets of these larger Lanna cities.
If you are in the mood for a little adventure, make the 22 mile (35km) drive to the Thai border town of Mae Sai. This is a major trading hub for merchants bringing goods in and out of Myanmar (Burma). Much of what is on sale is useless junk, but there are some excellent finds if you are willing to dig around in the dusty, cluttered shops. Cross the border into Myanmar's Tachilek town and you'll find an even more fascinating shopping scene. Chinese name brand rip offs, pirated DVDs and rice whiskey with snakes in it are mixed in with beautiful wood carvings and unusual Burmese antiques.
Outdoor Activities
Northern Thailand is one of best regions in the country for outdoor excursions. Chiang Saen doesn’t have as big an industry as neighbouring Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai, but most outdoor activities can be arranged in town. With the Golden Triangle and plenty of mountains, rivers and remote hill tribe villages within an hour or two of Chiang Saen, visitors can have both active and cultural experiences. Trekking, river rafting and motorcycle touring are all great ways to experience the beautiful countryside of Lanna.
 Motorbiking
If you enjoy riding motorcycles or scooters, the region around Chiang Saen offers some of the greatest motorcycling terrain in Asia. The paved roads are in good condition, pass through amazing scenery and are rarely crowded. If you prefer to go off road, there are miles of decent dirt roads that lead to remote villages and natural sites. The most popular way to do this fun excursion is to rent a small motorbike from one of the rental shops in town. They are easy to ride, cheap to rent and offer one of the best ways to see the region around Chiang Saen at your leisure.
 National Parks A respectable percentage of northern Thailand is protected by national parks and forest preserves. These managed areas are the ideal place to experience the natural beauty of Thailand’s mountains and valleys. One of the closest parks to Chiang Saen is the Nam Khun Kon Forest Park along Highway 1. Among the highlights here is the 70 metre high Khun Kon Waterfall, the highest and most scenic waterfall in the area.
River Trips Northern Thailand is covered in rivers big and small, providing a great environment to see parts of the land inaccessible by road. Chiang Saen lies right on the mighty Mekong River, offering a chance to take a long-tail boat upriver or downriver to check out the riverside towns. Smaller waterways like Chiang Rai’s Kok River offer a quieter and mellower boating experience where you can stop at Akha, Lisu or Karen hill tribe villages. On the smallest rivers you can ride a handmade bamboo raft or go kayaking.
 Trekking One of the most popular excursions for visitors to northern Thailand is to go trekking in the lush mountains that cover the region. There are countless variations on the trek, depending on your level of fitness and interests. Most treks are half-day or overnight trips involving walking or riding an elephant to a remote hill tribe village. Other treks simply take you deep into the natural realm of the national parks to enjoy the scenery, and some incorporate activities like rafting, kayaking, mountain biking or rock climbing. There are a couple of trekking companies in Chiang Saen which can arrange your trip. Otherwise, head to Chiang Rai which has a more developed industry.
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