The Kok River or the Mae Kok is a 160km-long tributary of the mighty Mekong with its source in the Shan State of Myanmar. It enters Thailand at Thaton and runs through the Chiang Mai Province. This iconic water body exhibits a stretch of whitewater between Thaton and Chiang Rai.
Taking a long tail boat ride on the Kok River from Chiang Rai to Thaton is one of the best ways to experience northern Thailand. To begin with, the passing riverside scenery are of valleys with rice fields, rural houses, and of people living on the banks at their daily chores of washing clothes, fishing and farming, while children and water buffaloes enjoy the water. The 900-year-old temple Phra That Sop Fang is a distinct feature on the river bank. From the village of Mae Salak, the river enters hilly terrain and meanders past wooded mountains. The villages along this stretch can be identified from the banana groves around them, and water buffaloes and children burst through the reeds on the river bank in delightful play and frolic.
Past Thaton, the river gets a bit rough due to rapids and the landscape on either side become rockier. When the water level is low, passengers may be asked to get off the boat here and join it upstream to avoid the boat scraping the bottom. The Lahu hill tribe village and the Karen village of Ruammid are on the river bank past the rapids as are the hot springs of Hui Mark Lium, and visitors can get off at these sites to take a peek at their way of life and to enjoy a refreshing soak within these welcome hot springs.
The best time to make the trip is towards the end of the year, when the river is higher, the banks are lush with new vigour after the rains, and the rapids are rendered more exciting. Embark on the boat from Thaton pier that leaves at 12.30 pm, but know that it only makes the trip once a day. The long tail boats can be noisy and their exhaust fumes can bother some people. The recommended way to cruise the river, if time permits, is on a bamboo raft, which is a quiet, very eco-friendly way to make the journey.
Explore the furthest reaches of a famed and mysterious area of northern Thailand from the comfort of Anantara Golden Triangle Thailand. Among the many up-market facilities and amenities at this prominent hotel Chiang Rai has to offer leisure-seekers, look forward to spacious, comfortable accommodation with views of green hills and gardens, delightful dining options that offer interesting culinary experiences, a spate of adventurous leisure activities, and relaxing spa treatments. Guests at one of the popular Chiang Rai hotels are provided access to the hotel’s own elephant camp and have the opportunity to experience time with elephants that will definitely form some very special memories.
