Mae Kok River

The Mae Kok (Kok River) runs about 285 kilometres from the Daen Lao mountains in Myanmar’s Shan State to its confluence with the Mekong at Sop Kok, near the Lao border in Wiang Chai district — the river that gives Chiang Rai much of its water and, historically, its trade access. It crosses into Thailand at Tha Ton, a small border town in Chiang Mai’s Fang district, then flows east through Chiang Rai city before reaching the Mekong.

The river has anchored settlement along its banks for centuries, and it’s part of the reason Chiang Rai’s old town sits where it does — the Rim Kok riverside area, just outside the modern city centre, was a trading and settlement point long before the current provincial capital took shape. Fishing, small-scale farming, and riverside temples still line the banks through town.

Two very different boat trips run on the Kok. The well-known one is the multi-hour run between Tha Ton and Chiang Rai, roughly 100 kilometres downstream — a public canopied longboat departs Tha Ton daily around 12:30, taking about four hours and costing a few hundred baht per person; private charters cost considerably more but allow stops at riverside villages and hot springs along the way. Closer to Chiang Rai itself, short longtail rides from the Rim Kok pier are typically quoted around 900-1,000 THB for a boat holding up to eight people, roughly an hour on the water — a smaller-scale trip aimed at visitors staying in the city rather than travellers doing the full Tha Ton run.

Insider Tip: If you only have an afternoon, book the short Rim Kok ride rather than trying to squeeze in the Tha Ton run — the longer trip needs most of a day once transport to Tha Ton is factored in.

Watch out: Water levels on the Tha Ton-Chiang Rai stretch vary with the season; the river runs low late in the dry season (March-May), which can affect departures and pricing.

Kayaking is also available on quieter stretches near Chiang Rai, and a short run of small whitewater sits roughly halfway between Tha Ton and Chiang Rai for those doing the longer trip. Bring sun protection either way — most boats are open or only partially covered.