From Wikitravel

Thaton (ท่าตอน, also spelt Tha Ton) is a small village in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand with a number of hotels and guesthouses of variying prices.

[edit] Understand

Thaton is located between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It is a small town on the banks of the river. It has a relaxed atmosphere, and some people hang out for a few days before moving on. There are a number of guest houses along the banks of the river and more in the town itself.

[edit] Get in

Thaton to Chiang Mai is about 180km by road and takes about 3 hours, but with some excellent scenery along the way.

You can take the boat from Thaton to Chiang Rai, which takes about 3 hours. There is a government boat at 12.30 and cost 350 baht minimum 4 people ( May 2012). You can also charter private boats.

From Chiang Rai to Thaton is an upriver trip, and takes about 5 hours.

The bus station is near bridge. Buses depart from/to Chang Phuak Bus Station in Chiang Mai several times a day with the journey takeing about 3 or 4 hours (prices are around 90 Baht). The buses are usually easily identifiable with English information on them. Buses to Chiang Rai and Bangkok also run albeit less frequently, a journey to Chiang Rai takes a couple of hours and to Bangkok about 12 hours (890km). In May 2012 there was only one bus to Chang Rai that left at 3pm and you had to change in Mae Chiang.

From Thaton you can also go to Mae Salong, and on to the Myanmar border at Mae Sai (where you can extend your visa).

[edit] Get around

Thaton is a small (~2000 people) village and can easily be explored on foot. A songthaew can easily be hired if you need to travel out of the village.

[edit][add listing] See

• Wat Tha Ton (วัดท่าตอน), [1]. Large monastery bordering the village, occupies an area of more than 160 acres with nine levels or hills. Each hill has something on it to visit, like a big Buddha image or a stupa. Level 4 has a meditation center, where they teach vipassana meditation, also in English. The temple is situated on the bank of the Mae Kok river and offers beautiful scenery. The temple also houses a school for monks, novices, and youths as well as a drug rehabilitation centre and a hilltribe support unit.

[edit][add listing] Do

Tha Ton is the launching point for river trips to Chiang Rai. You can make a half day long tail boat trip to Chiang Rai from here.

Within 20km of Tha Ton you can visit local villages, inhabited by Pauang, Black Lahu, Akha and Yunnanes. Treks and raft trips can be arranged through guest houses and hotels in town.

[edit][add listing] Buy

On the grounds of Wat Thaton (level 2) there is the occasional open air market where the hilltribes would hawk trinklets and snacks.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are a number of small roadside restaurants, stalls and bars serving Thai and some western food. Many also offer internet services as you eat. As always western drinks are easy to find.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The cheapest beers are from the shop - 40 baht a big bottle.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are a couple of guesthouses beside the river, near the jetty. .

Apple Villa Opposite the boat launch - go over the bridge towards Chang Rai and turn right. Has a range of bungalows, bigger ones with balconies and air-con overlooking the river smaller ones at the back with a fan with small veranders overlooking a pleasant garden. All extremely well maintained and very clean. Prices start from 350 in the the low season. The attached restaurant serves decent quality Thai food and passable Farang food.

Old tree's house (Charming Hotel on the hill), 323. Ban Rumthai (Thaton), ☎ +6685-7229002, [2]. checkin: 12; checkout: 12. Just out of Thaton, on a hill with a great view over the Mae Kok river, the mountains and the rice fields.Includes breakfast, internet acces + WIFI, Laundry, swimming pool 35 $.  edit

Others

Crossing over the bridge -towards Chiang Mai - take the second road on the right (with the sign for the Mosque). There are at least four guesthouses strung along this road. They are of varying standards from extremely basic and so presumably cheap to rather grand.

[edit] Stay Safe

There is a tourist police station nearby and it is a good idea to register with them before you stay, although there is no major crime problem in Thaton it is best to be safe rather than sorry

[edit] Get out

• Doi Ang Khang - mountain resort
• Mae Salong - village of Kuomintang guerrillas and opium farmers who now brew tea

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!