Marvel Overland Holiday

Through the 1960s to 80s, the infamous Golden Triangle referred to wide stretches of mountainous areas in northeast Burma, northwest Laos and the upper regions of Thailand: primarily Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces. It was called “golden” because of the wealth of the region—derived from “black gold”, or opium.

These days the Golden Triangle has been tamed and narrowed down for tourism purposes to the small riverbank town of Sob Ruak lying at the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers where Burma (Myanmar), Laos and Thailand meet. The Thai government and Tourism Authority of Thailand have then successfully converted their slice of this once wild region into a highly profitable tourism hotspot.