Chiang Rai has lots of marvelous wild areas remaining. If you don't have local language skills, a guide to help you visit them is well worth the small cost.

At Guest Houses:

Chat House 3/2 Soi Sangkaew, Trirat Rd (on the north side of Wat Pra Kaew) Tel 711481.

Ya House - 163/1 Banpaprakan, tel 712352.

Chian G.H. - 172 Sri Boon Ruang Rd. Tel 713388.

Ben House - 351/10 Sangkongnoi Rd Soi 4; tel 761775

T.P.K. Tours and G.H. - 122/12 Mengrai Rd., across the highway from the statue, behind the Police box. Bicycle rental, daily sightseeing tours.

On Pahonyothin or Pimawipat (Paymawipah) just south of Si-yak Pratu Siri:

TeePee Bar - 542/4 Pahonyothin at PratuSiri eight years now

MaeSalong Tour-712515

FahLuang - 717976

Mekhong - 752536 (half-day specials)

Oasis Tour and Trek (1 to 7 days) 713535 or 714752

P.D. Tour - 712829

Nui Trekking and Tours - 717088

T.P.K. Tours, 1102222/3 Prasopsuk Rd

At Si-yak Tanalai: Chiang Rai Travel Service. Tel 712789 (trekking 1 night/2 days or 3 nights/4 days) South of the airport turnoff along the highway are several more tour & travel places (closed Sundays).

Easy to find guide services are offered in Wawi Valley, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong.

To get a good idea of physical Chiang Rai Province:

Just north of Wat NangLae, behind a series of small sculptured and gardened lakes are two seminar buildings. At the front of the 1st is a display with excellent relief and topographical maps of Chiang Rai Province, and information about soil projects. It's just south of Ban Den and the turn off to Ban Tha Khao Pluak, on the west side of the road.