7.2 Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son is a remote, mountainous province in northern Thailand, bordering Myanmar (Burma) and is the leading area in Thailand for Community Based Tourism. Though sparsely populated, it's ethnically diverse and home to hill tribes such as the Shan and Hmong. Mae Hong Son is an ideal location for trekking, soft adventure travel and for those who simply love to admire sweeping valley vistas.

The province’s capital, also called Mae Hong Son, is a gateway to the region's hills. The town is overlooked by Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu, a Burmese-style monastery with two ornate white chedis (stupas) built in the 19th century.

Burmese style temples, a picturesque lake, a hilltop vantage point and a bustling morning market make it an excellent base for excursions into the surrounding countryside.

The terrain of Mae Hong Son makes it one of Thailand’s most remote provinces and thus retains its own separate identity. Whilst there is no direct flight from Bangkok, it is a simple flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and the direct connection on Kan Airlines to Mae Hong Son.

A local bus from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son takes 17 hours. The most popular route is from Chiang Mai. Travellers often do the Mae Hong Son Loop by car hire, minibus or motorbike. The Loop includes Pai and Mae Sariang, is approximately 600km long and needs a minimum of 4 days to complete. Given that this excludes time for sightseeing and activities along the way so adding a few days for this is recommended.

The Mae Hong Son Loop is a circular route which starts from Chiang Mai and takes you through the Mae Hong Son province ending back up at Chiang Mai. The Loop can be taken clockwise (Chiang Mai-Mae Sariang-Mae Hong Son-Pai-Chiang Mai) or anti-clockwise (Chiang Mai- Pai- Mae Hong Son- Mae Sariang- Chiang Mai).

ANSWER