05 Sep 2022
A friend recommended Ton for a tour in Chiang Rai and as a woman traveling solo who wanted to get out of the city for the day, I was a little nervous about hiring a stranger, but also was not interested in joining a tour group with set attractions. Ton was absolutely amazing and I am so happy that I took this day trip. He speaks English very well and also helped me practice my Thai. He even walked around the temples and different places I had chosen (one was a farm off the beaten path) with me, so it felt like having a friend to pal around with rather than simply a driver or a "tour guide". Ton is very knowledgeable about the local history and plant life, which I appreciated, and he would stop for me to take photos without my even having to ask. We stopped for lunch at a delicious, small, local khao soi restaurant which I am still craving more of. While my time in Chiang Rai was overall a great experience, my day trip with Ton was the highlight and a wonderful experience. Ton is a very warm and genuine person as well as a safe driver. If I get back here, I will definitely hire him again because he felt like an old friend from the first moment we met.