Mae Hong Son
Thailand's most remote province, on the Burmese border. Misty valleys, Shan temples, tea villages and the 1,864 curves of the road from Chiang Mai.
The loop
The Mae Hong Son loop — Chiang Mai, Pai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang — is 600km of mountain road and one of the best drives in Southeast Asia. Allow four days minimum.
What to see
Wat Jong Kham and Jong Klang on the lake, Ban Rak Thai's tea terraces, the Tham Lod cave with its bamboo raft, and morning mist over the valleys that gives the province its nickname.
Getting there
There are daily one-hour flights from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son airport, or a four to five hour drive from Chiang Mai via Pai. The direct route 108 takes three hours and is far less winding than the Pai road.
Who it suits
Repeat visitors to Thailand, photographers, and anyone who wants the north without tour buses. It is not a first-trip destination and not for anyone who needs a beach — the nearest coast is a day's drive.
Things to see in Mae Hong Son
Village
Ban Rak Thai
A Yunnanese Chinese village on a reservoir near the Myanmar border, surrounded by tea terraces.…
Cave
Tham Lod Cave
A river cave with three chambers, bamboo rafts and swifts that stream out at dusk.…
Temple
Wat Jong Kham & Jong Klang
Two Shan-style temples on the lake in the middle of Mae Hong Son town, white stupas reflected in the water.…
Tours that include Mae Hong Son
Experiences here
Add Mae Hong Son to a longer trip
Most travellers combine it with two or three other places. Tell us your dates and we will suggest the route.