Mae Sai:The markets are filled with Burmese, Lao and Chinese goods, and famous for jade, rubies and saphires. A few stores have interesting antiques. Only the small Mae Nam Sai, more a creek than a river, separates it from Tachilek, Myanmar, just to the north. Nightlife doesn't amount to much, though one might expect it could. Look for accomodation to the west of the main road (Pahonyothin), near the bridge. Short trips into Shan State and be arranged, but expect extensive annoyance, even exasperation. There's a mosque, the Ah Nul (and a newly constructed one in Tachilek). A meditation center is at Tham Pha Jom, the cave just west of town.

North of town, between Ban Jong and Ban Pong, and the base of the mountains where the caves are, is a Chinese village with mosque and Mahayana Buddhist Temple, beautiful pavallion-type grave monuments, some with remarkable paintings, and an Akha church.

Chaing Saen: a sleepy old town full of ancient ruins and dark, mysterious history (long ago it may have been Nagapan-Singhonawat, and then Yonok Chaiyaburi and Hiram Ngernyang; its Lawa, Khmer and Burmese histories have been obliterated). One can see riverboats from Yunnan unloading almost every day. There are a couple of guesthouses just north of town, a modern hotel, and a main street where friendly little restaurants are easy to find. The Golden Triangle confluence, about 11 km. north of town, offers rather much more exciting shopping, but don't miss the Chiang Saen National Museum! Just outside the city wall is beautiful Wat Pa Sak, with towering teak trees.

Chiang Saen Lake, 2 km. from Hwy 1016 at K. 27, is a lovely spot, with migratory waterfowl during winter months.

Chiang Khong: step-off into Laos (Ban Houie Zai). The town is full of cheap rooms - 40 guesthouses! The area has Tai Lue and many traditional Hmong and Yao villages. The dock area offers a pleasant place to sit and enjoy great river views. Nearby is Bamboo G.H., at 71/1 Mu 1 Huaviang, tel 791621 or 791629. Pretty rooms B250, rooms with shared bath B150 and a dorm B70. The Sophaphan is the most expensive in town, at B500. Cheapest dorm space is B40. My House Resort, with the only bar in town, offers rooms with hot showers for only B100 a night. Bicycles can be rented for B20/hr or B100/day. Internet access is a baht a minute or B50/hr, ten baht minimum.

Mae Salong, or Santikiri: see Parks and Gardens. This is a fresh and friendly place; for most there Thai is a second language. For the Islamic, there's the Dah Rul Ahman Mosque. Lots of tea shops offering free samples, and beautiful views. Akha and Chinese vendors offer natural medicines, Chinese goods, tea accessories, honey with comb. Mae Salong Resort (B500-800) offers rooms with TV and fridge, restaurant and karaoke. Sin Sane bungalos are B200/night, or B100 with shared toilet.

Ban Thoed Thai (Hin Taek): not much for the Western tourist, but famous as the old base of the infamous opium warlord Khun Sa. Rim Tan Guest House has gas water heaters in private baths off rooms right on a fast-flowing stream, little tables outside and lots of beautiful natural color (B300/night). There's a Chinese hotel and another guesthouse (Gret Petch) also. It's really two towns, but they're close. Close enough, also, to the border to sometimes be affected by fighting there.

Thoeng: at the southeast corner of the provincewhere Rts. 1020 and 1021 meet. The Ing River flows through.

Mae Chan: halfway between Muang Chiang Rai and Mae Sai is the small town of Mae Chan. The Mae Chan area offers a variety of resorts, frequented mostly by urban Thais in the cool and hot seasons. It has a good hotel and hospital (tel 053-771056, but is not oriented to Western tourists. There are exquisite temples, very nice people, and pretty hills, but the town itself is not much of a tourist attraction. Many colorful Akha and other tribal peoples in the area.

Mae Suai: where the Mae Suai River enters the Mae Lao, by Wat Pratat Jom Jaeng. There's little in the town, but to the north, in the river valley between two mountain ranges, are wonderful Chinese and tribal villages. Some interesting public lodging is available, and there's a cave 5 km north by dirt road.

Ban Wawi - north of Mae Suai, a popular start-off place for trekkers. It's a mostly Chinese Moslem (Jeen Haw) village, where green tea, oranges and lynchee are grown. Mountain bikes for rent.

Mae Khajaan: Chiang Rai's southernmost town of much of any size at all, byu the Rt 120 turn-off from 118. Before the Lampang line is the ancient city of Wiang Kalong, and just across the line a spectacular highway view to rival any. This is the halfway bus rest stop, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Some interesting antique crafts-shops, and good forest Camping near KhunJae Waterfall.

Wiang Pa Pao: has the oldest church in Chiang Rai (Church of Christ), and a hospital. Just North of Mae Kachan on 118.

Doi Luang: a district center, northeast, near Pong Noi at 1098 and 1271. Excellent camping area.

Wiang Kaen: a district center in the corner of Chiang Rai where the Mekhong exits Thailand. Nearby is a Khamu village, Huai Iam (Rt 1155 k 80). There's a Wiang Kaen G.H. at 1155 k.67. Scenic mountain area with Chinese, Hmong and Yao. Not found on all recent maps! Cherry blossoms & mists, Jan & Feb.

Other important towns include Wiang Chai, Kuntan, Pa Daet, Phaya Mengrai, Wiang Chiang Rung and Phan.