'''Mae Hong Son''' (??????????) is a provincial capital (pop. 7000) in Northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar.

Get in

By plane

Nonstop 30 minute flights from Chiang Mai are available from [http://www.thaiairways.com Thai Airways], [http://www.nokair.com Nok Air], and [http://www.sga.co.th SGA].

By road

There are two road options from Chiang Mai, both taking 5-6 hours by car. Route 1095 via Pai (280 km) is the more scenic drive, while route 108 via Mae Sariang (350 km) is an easier drive.

'''Mae Hong Son''' is located 924 kilometres from Bangkok. Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then choose the following routes to Mae Hong Son: Chiang Mai, Hot, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son (Route 108) with 1864 curves, a distance of 349 kilometres. Chiang Mai, Mae Malai, Pai, Mae Hong Son (Route 1095), a distance of 245 kilometres. [http://www.budget.co.th/travel_worldclass.aspx]

By bus

Regular bus services connect Mae Hong Son with Chiang Mai (Arcade bus terminal) and the entire trip will take at least 7-8 hours. A better option is the minibus, also leaving from Arcade in Chiang Mai, which only take 5.5 hours but cost 250 baht. If you're going by bus, you can choose the northern (Pai) or southern (Mae Sariang) route. The northern route is a little faster. The new bus station is about a 15 minute walk from the center of town to the southwest. The bus station is set on a seemingly deserted street that runs parallel to the main road in town.

There is also an overnight bus to Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) which takes about 16-17 hours.

[http://www.sombattour.com/html/route/961.php Sombat Tour], operates an air-conditioned bus which runs directly from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son every day. The bus departs from Chatuchak (Mochit 2) Bus Terminal at 8:30 p.m and arrives in Mae Hong Son at 10:30 a.m (14 hours) with a fare of 718 baht.

By train

The nearest train station is at Chiang Mai.

One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by rail and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus. For more information, call 1699, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit [http://www.railway.co.th]

Get around

This is a small town so walking is the way to get around. There are bicycles for rent from Titan internet shop (across from the 7-11 and post office). To do anything in the surrounding areas a motorbike (at least a bicycle) is needed.

The new bus station seems like it is in the middle of nowhere and the tuk-tuk and motorbike taxi guys love that. But really it's only a 10-15 minute walk to the center of town. You should just turn left out of the bus station and walk straight until you hit the golden statue. Walking up next to the statue, the station is just a bit further towards the city center.

See

Walk around the picturesque lake and visit the surrounding wats. Wat Phra That Soi Kong Mu (aka Wat Phai Doi) overlooks the town from the west and offers superb views. [http://www.tourismthailand.org/destination-guide/maehongson-58-1-1.html Tourism Authority of Thailand]

Do

  • '''Trekking''' - one of the main reasons for tourist to go to Mae Hong Son is to go trekking in the surrounding mountains and visiting hilltribe villages. Nearly every guest house offers tours. There are also many other tours on offer.
  • '''Thampla - Phasua Waterfall National Park''' ?????????????? ?????? - ???????????? : This national park is in Mae Hong Son province, covering more than 488 km' of the "Thanon Thongchai" range that separates Thailand from Burma. The "Doy-Larn" is the highest plane in the area, with its altitude of about 1,918 meters above the sea water level. '''Points of Interests'''...
  • '''Fish Cave''' (Thumpla) - near the village of Huay Pha, about 17 km from Mae Hong Son (Highway 1095), this is a beautiful spot to escape the heat. A water channel that leads its way out of a amall submerged cave. What is inside the cave is still unknown to us, but it astoundingly draws thousands of the "Pluang-Hin" fish into the cave, with only a small number of them coming back out.
  • '''Pha Sua waterfall''' - 26 km from Mae Hong Son on the road to Pai, this waterfall consists of six levels and offers some fine walks. This waterfall is about 20 meters high and 30 meters wide. It is said to be the most beautiful waterfall in Mae Hong Son province. On rainy season, the plentiful water makes the waterfall looks like a rolling mat.
  • Buy

    There is an interesting night market at the lake where you can buy art and handcrafts from hilltribe people.

    Eat

    Many restaurants are along the main road and the night market where there are also many food-stalls.

    '''Salween River Restaurant''', near the traffic light- from the 7-11 go to the light and turn left, it's about 40 meters up on the right, 053 612 050. Great food, people and atmosphere. Nan, the Shan owner, can cook up some amazing Shan/Thai/Western dishes. Try the Khao Soi, burmese green tea salad, guy oup, or the green curry. Also good is the bread, pizza, and burgers. They have cable (CNN, BBC, Premier League games) and wireless internet.

    '''JiJi Restaurant''', a larger restaurant just 30m from the gates of the city airport is the best value for your budget money when you want to order vegetarian western food. Of course the owner Lek is also fantastic about cooking Thai food. Usually closed on Sunday.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Mae Hong Son has a broad range of guest houses, mainly located around the lake. There are several hotels within the city. If you've got your own transport there are several more resorts farther out of town. Take a look before checking in because there are always changes.

    Budget

  • '''Friend House''', 20 Phaditchongkam Road, near the lake, next to Chili bar. tel: (053) 620 119 - near the lake and town centre. 13 rooms, 100-350 baht. Owned and operated by a very nice Shan family, its simple and cheap. The downstairs can be a bit loud if you're sleeping late and others are talking over their breakfasts. Great fruit salad.
  • '''Johnnie Guest House''', 5/1 Udomchawnitech Road, tel: (053) 611 667 - located next to the lake, but you'll have to walk about two blocks to get to it. 8 rooms, 100-250 baht.
  • '''Palm House''', 22/1 Chamnansahait Road, tel: (053) 614 022 - 14 large clean rooms near the lake with TV/UBC, 350-600 baht.
  • '''Pana Huts''' tel: (66) 0-5361-4331 [http://www.panahuts.com]
  • '''Piya Guest House''', 1/1 Khunlumphrapat Soi 3, tel: (053) 611 260 fax: (053) 612 308. Clean rooms, many with TVs and all with aircon. Good location. AC private bedroom 600 baht. 14 rooms.
  • '''Yok Guest House''', 14 Sirimongkol Road, Tambon Chong Klum, tel: 6653-611523, 611318 - 9 rooms, rates 200-300 baht***
  • '''Greenwood Garden''', Location; Huei Unn, Ban Kungmaisak, Muang, Mae Hong Son - Eco-Adventure camp & Retreat center - [http://greenwoodgarden.page.tl]
  • Mid-range

  • '''Panorama Hotel''' tel: (66) 0-5361-1757-62 [http://www.panorama.8m.com]
  • '''Sang Thong Huts''' 250 Moo 11, Bang Moo tel: (66) 0-5362-0680 [http://www.sangtonghuts.com/navigation/indexe.html]
  • Splurge

  • Fern Resort. km from the center of Mae Hong Son town. 66 (0) 53-686110 or +66 (0) 53-686111. nfo@fernresort.info. 66 (0) 53-686111. 500-3500 baht, includes taxes and breakfast. ttp://www.fernresort.info/. Well appointed 2-bed bungalows dot the expansive and attractively landscaped grounds of the resort. Hire a guide for a hike in adjacent Mae Surin National Park, chill out in the pool, or open your laptop in the lobby and hop on the (slow) wi-fi connection. No televisions in the rooms, so bring a book or your portable DVD player if you need some light entertainment.

  • '''Fern Rim Tarn Resort''' tel: (66) 0-5368-6110-1 [http://www.fernresort.info]
  • '''Imperial Tara Mae Hong Son''' tel: (66) 0-5368-4444 [http://www.imperialhotels.com]
  • '''Maehongson Mountain Inn''' tel: (66) 0-5361-1802-3, (66) 0-5361-2285 [http://www.mhsmountaininn.com]
  • '''Maehongson Riverside''' tel: (66) 0-5368-4143, (66) 0-5368-4145 [http://www.mhsriverside.com]
  • Rooks Holiday Hotel & Resort. 14/5-7 Khunlumprapas Road. 66) 0-5361-2324-9, (66) 0-5361-1390. 400-9000 baht, internet discount available. ttp://www.maehongsonholiday.com/?MPage=1. One of the more upmarket places in Mae Hong Son and offers wooden cottages as well as standard hotel rooms. It's a little bit out of town but within 10-15 minutes walk of the night market / city centre. Some of the cottages are in need of a little refurbishing so take a look before check-in.

    Get out

  • Pai
  • Pangmapha
  • Muang
  • KhunYuam
  • Mae Lanoi
  • Mae Sarieng
  • Sob Muei