8.7 Mae Hong Son and Pai

Mae Hong Son and Pai both lie to the north of Chiang Mai and make an excellent starting point for a short add-on to a longer stay in Thailand. For an authentic experience add a 2-5 night stay in the Mae Hong Son region to the end of an itinerary after visiting Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son takes up to five and a quarter hours by road but again there are also twice-daily Kan Air flights between the two airports.

Pai, often known as a backpackers’ paradise, is up to four hours away from Chiang Mai depending on the bus but there are also 30-minute flights by regional airline Kan Air although they don’t operate every day. Other travellers might like to consider a minibus or motorbike hire.

The Mae Hong Son province has a driving route referred to as the Mae Hong Son Loop. For tourists who love to drive and travel independently this is a great option. The roads are quite steep and winding, but there isn’t a lot of traffic. There are also public buses available. A typical itinerary to this region would include the following:

Day 1 - Chiang Mai to Mae Sariang via Doi Inthanon National Park

Day 2 - Mae Sariang to Mae Hong Son

Day 3 - Mae Hong Son to Pai

Day 4 - Pai to Chiang Mai

Alternatively, short itineraries out of Pai and Mae Hong Son to Ban Muang Pan and Ban Muang Pon give a real insight into rural life in northern Thailand.

For tailor-made itineraries, local operator Tour Merng Tai specialises in community based tourism. They offer itineraries that includes rice planting, cycling, trekking, caves, green homestays, local temples and visiting the hilltribes in Mae Hong Son. For more information visit: http://www.tourmerngtai.com