We entered Thailand by the northern border, and first spent a few days in tthe city of Chiang Rai. The most interesting activity there is trekking in the mountains nearby, home of many different ethnic groups, including the Akha tribe. One really rewarding option is to arrange sleeping over at the Akha Hill House, located in a little authentic akha village an hour away from Chiang Rai. The scenery is stunning, and you can walk by organic tea plantations run by the Akha’s themselves.