The tiny riverside town of Tha Ton is located just south of the Burmese border, on the banks of the Kok River.
There’s little of interest in the town itself, but some travelers pass through here on their way to Mae Salong and Doi Tung in Chiang Rai Province, or more commonly, to take a boat trip along the Kok River to Chiang Rai city. However, the popularity of these boat rides has dwindled in recent years and daily departures are not guaranteed.
Tha Ton is essentially a one-street town lined with shops, relaxed restaurants and a smattering of guesthouses. Most visitors come here to take a long-tail boat ride of a few hours to Chiang Rai, or to make the same trip by bamboo raft, which takes a couple of days.
There are also several hill tribe villages tucked into the mountainous countryside surrounding Tha Ton. With a guide, it’s fairly easy to visit Palaung, Akha, Black Lahu, Mien or Karen villages and see how they go about their lives.
As for sights in Tha Ton, the only real attraction is the hilltop Wat Tha Ton. This Buddhist temple has some interesting features and offers panoramic views over the river valley.
Where to Go
- Wat Tha Ton: the town’s main Buddhist temple sits atop a hill overlooking the town and surrounding valley.
Things to Do
The main reason for most people coming to Tha Ton is to take a boat ride along a 100-kilometer stretch of the Kok River to Chiang Rai in either a long-tail boat or on a bamboo raft.
Long-tail boats leave daily at 12.30pm and take about three hours to complete the journey for a fee of 350B per person. They require a minimum of four people, and outside the high season (Nov-Feb) they do not operate every day. They leave from the boat jetty on the south side of the river, just 50 meters east of the bridge.
Though the trip is somewhat touristy, with stops at hilltribe villages along the way for photos and refreshments, the boat ride opens a window on the Northern countryside and the small rapids that the boats pass through add a bit of excitement.
A more adventurous boat trip is by bamboo raft, which takes a couple of days to drift downstream, with a couple of locals at the front and back steering them with bamboo poles. If you’re interested in such a trip, ask at any resort or guest house in Tha Ton or at the long-boat jetty, but be prepared to pay around 6,000B for the experience.
Getting There
The bus from Chiang Mai to Tha Ton takes about 3 hours, but to really enjoy the mountainous scenery along the way, rent a car.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Only if you plan to take a boat trip down the river or are looking for a sleepy riverside town to relax in.
- What to do: take a boat trip down the Kok River, climb the steps to the inspiring Buddhist temple and enjoy the views.
- Best time to go: the cool season from November to February is ideal for good river conditions and clear weather.
- How long? You can easily unwind for a few days in Tha Ton