After pickup at your Chiang Rai hotel by air-conditioned private vehicle, travel north with your private guide on a scenic 1-hour drive to the Golden Triangle, the notorious border area where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet.

Stop at a viewpoint at the Golden Triangle and learn from your guide about the history of the region, which has been one of the world’s top producers of opium since the 1950s. The Thai government has spent years combating the opium trade, encouraging small farmers to grow food products, including tea, rather than opium poppies. Hear how the region has changed, then continue to an opium museum to learn more about this fascinating history.

Spend an hour at the excellent Hall of Opium, where detailed displays and videos delve into many aspects of the global opium trade. Learn about opium use and suppression efforts in Thailand, and gain a historical perspective of the industry, including why Britain and China fought the Opium Wars in the 1800s.

Next up, hop aboard a boat for a short ride along the Mekong River. Take in the thick jungle on the riverbanks, small towns and the wide slow-moving expanse of the Mekong as it makes its way from the Tibetan plateau through Southeast Asia to the South China Sea. The river is the seventh longest river in Asia and a life-sustaining part of the countries that it passes through.

After a relaxing spin on the mighty Mekong, return to your vehicle for the drive to Chiang Rai where your guide drops you off at your hotel.