Mae Hong Son
From Wikitravel
Contents
Mae Hong Son (แม่ฮ่องสอน) is a small outpost town (pop. 7000) in Northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
The most comfortable but also most expensive option is a 30 minute flight from Chiang Mai with Thai Airways (about 1000 baht one-way). Nonstop jet service from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son is also available from PB Air.
[edit] By road
There are two road options from Chiang Mai, both taking 6-7 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[1]
[edit] By bus
Regular services connect Mae Hong Son with Chiang Mai (Arcade bus terminal) and the entire trip will take at least 7-8 hours. There are also several minibus services catering for tourists which are a little bit more expensive than the regular buses. Buses go via Pai or Mae Sariang so take the one you like. The bus station is at the northern part of the main road (Thanon Khunlum Praphat).
There is also an overnight bus to Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) which takes about 16-17 hours.
Som Bat 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 6 p.m. The trip takes about 17 hours.[2]
[edit] 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 [3]
[edit] Get around
This is a small town so walking is the way to get around. If your feet get cramped take one of the many tuk-tuks.
[edit][add listing] 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. Mae Hong Son Travel Information site about Mae hong son, Thailand. Friendly local guide to travel, tour and general information, with details maps. tour agency,bus and flight table, restaurants, and more...[4]
[edit][add listing] 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 the so-called hill-tribes. Nearly every guest house offers tours. There are also many other tours on offer.[5]
- Thampla - Phasua Waterfall National Park อุทยานแห่งชาติ ถ้ำปลา - น้ำตกผาเสื่อ : 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.
[edit][add listing] Buy
There is an interesting night market at the lake where you can buy art and handcrafts from the hill-tribes.
[edit][add listing] Eat
Many restaurants are along the main road and the night market where there are also many food-stalls.
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] 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 a little bit out of town. Take a look before checking-in because there are always changes...
[edit] Budget
- Friend House, 20 Phaditchongkam Road, tel: (053) 620 119 - near the lake and town centre. 13 rooms, 100-350 baht.
- 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 [6]
- 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 bah***
- Greenwood Garden, Location; Huei Unn, Ban Kungmaisak, Muang, Mae Hong Son - Eco-Adventure camp & Retreat center - [7]
[edit] Mid-range
- Panorama Hotel tel: (66) 0-5361-1757-62 [8]
- Soppong River Inn [9]
[edit] Splurge
- Fern Rim Tarn Resort tel: (66) 0-5368-6110-1 [10]
- Imperial Tara Mae Hong Son tel: (66) 0-5368-4444 [11]
- Maehongson Mountain Inn tel: (66) 0-5361-1802-3, (66) 0-5361-2285 [12]
- Maehongson Riverside tel: (66) 0-5368-4143, (66) 0-5368-4145 [13]
- Rooks Holiday Hotel & Resort, 114/5-7 Khunlumprapas Road, tel:(66) 0-5361-2324-9, (66) 0-5361-1390 [14] - one of the more upmarket places in Mae Hong Son and offers wooden cottages as well as standard hotel rooms (starting at 1400 baht). 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.
[edit] Get out
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
