From Wikitravel

Mae Sariang is a town in Mae Hong Son Province, Northern Thailand. Located near the Myanmar border, the town is slowly becoming popular with those wanting to trek away from the crowds of Pai and Chiang Mai.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By bus

There are 4 or 5 mini-buses a day from Chiang Mai.4 hours. Buses also run along Route 108 from Mae Hong Son. 5 hours. There are regular orange sangtheaw from Mae Sot 5-6 hours.

[edit] By car

Coming from Mae Sot (south) just follow the 105. It's about a 240km drive. There are no official gas stations on the way. So either fill the tank before you leave Mae Sot. Or if you almost run out of fuel, drive into one of the villages on the way and ask for a shop where they offer fuel by hand pumps. The road is pretty good, though at some parts there are a few bumps and holes (probably due to the heavy rains in the wet season).

Coming from Chiang Mai (west) take the route 108.

[edit] Get around

Mae Sariang is not very big, so you can easily get around walking or renting a bicycle from one of the local guesthouses. Motorbikes are available for 200 baht a day as well.

[edit][add listing] See

Mae Sariang, beyond offering visitors areas of exceptional natural beauty and insights into traditional tribal ways of life, has some notable ancient holy sites; where tourists are welcome to join the locals in paying their respects for good fortune and prosperity. These sites are together called the Phra That Sii Chom (The 4”Chom’’ reliquaries)

• Mae Sariang Museum : Locate near the turning to Ban Chom Chaeng at the intersection of Highway 108 and Highway 105 the museum is a single-story raised wooden building in a design which blends traditional Thai Yai wood-carving with northern Thai architectural styles. The museum is a center for the display and sale of One Tambol one Product (OTOP) products, and features presentations about the way of life of tribal people s including Lua, Thai Yai, Karen, Lawa and Hmong along with local history. It also has plenty of information for tourists about sites throughout Mae Hong Son.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Lawa and Karen Hilltribe Villages

• Thailand Hilltribe Holidays [1] offers cultural and authentic tours and homestays at hilltribe villages, nestled in mountains nearby. 1 or 2 Day tours are offered to nearby Karen and Lawa hilltribe villages where you interact and experience true hilltribe culture and way of life. Based on responsible tourism principles they aim to allow hilltribe communities to benefit from tourism

[edit] Trekking

There are far, far fewer tourists making it to Mae Sariang than Pai etc, so you can be sure that you wont run into any other tourists, and there are no "ethnic shows". For the moment anyway, a much more genuine Hill-tribe experience. The local villages are much less visited so you may not be able to find a tour leaving during your time in town. Most operators require a minimum of 4 customers per trek. Also be prepared to pay a little more than you would in Chiang Mai or Pai. The cost is overshadowed by a much better trekking experience.

• Salawin Tours is a trekking agency in town. Run by the charming Salawin out of his "office". They can organise single or multi-day treks, elephants, and rafting.

• Along the Banks of the Salawin (www.banksofsalawintours.com[2]) is an independent trekking enterprise offering small group or individual tours through the Salawin National Park. Personalised trips of between 1-3 days featuring trekking through the jungle, long tail boat trips, elephant riding, waterfalls and overnight stays in Karen hill tribe villages.

• Some of the hotels and guesthouses have also started organising single day trips- North West Guest house[3], tel 0897009928/0866704286, has great tours for 1, 2, or 3 days. Kitti and Tukta are the local tour guides at North West. They know Mae Sariang well and will show you all the local sites. Very friendly people!

• A day trip to Mae Sam Laeb is worthwhile. An hour away by Song Thaeu or motorbike, it is a border village overlooking Burma and the Salaween river and is home to Thai and Karen and Burmese alike. 600 baht gets you a one hour boat trip up the Salawin.

[edit] Muay Thai lessons

Private Muay Thai (aka Thai boxing) lessons can be followed in town (3km north of the center, very near the 108 road). The teacher -Meopar - is a former Thai boxer himself. He's an incredibly patient teacher and is very flexible in his teaching hours. Just give him a call and you can probably show up one hour later. Best hours are in the morning though (to avoid the heat later). His English is basic but just enough to understand each other. The lessons are held in his garden on a Thai Boxing mattress. Boxing gloves are provided but bring your own (short) pants, towel and a bottle of water. Address: Meopar, aka Mr. Suphachai Sawakgul; 311/7 M.1 Bantakam; T. Bankad A.; Mae Sariang (GPS-coordinates: N 18° 11.386 E 97° 56.109), ☎ 085-7126422. 200B per person per hour.

[edit] Hot Springs

To get to the Hot Springs outside of Mae Sariang, you'll need your own transport. Drive east on the highway n°108 to Chiang Mai, turn left after about 18km (GPS: N 18° 09.699 E 98° 01.987), drive another 13km on a okay-road until the signs (GPS: N1 8° 12.290 E 98° 00.620) indicate to leave the road to the left (it's right in a steep corner to the right if you'd continue on the road). Then drive another 2km on a track (not too good) and when the road splits into two, turn right to the track that leads down. There you can park your vehicle and walk over the bamboo bridge to the hot springs. The people are friendly and speak barely any English. Bring your own towel. You can buy a few basic snacks and drinks. You'll get a remote feeling of the place. The setting and scenery is maybe the most special about the place.

[edit] Run

The Tribe-to-Tribe Marathon is a standard length marathon that takes runners all throughout the town center and the surrounding rice fields, and the proceeds benefit local Karen children. The race is on July 4, 2010.

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is a market twice a week selling all the usual suspects of fruit and cheap clothes.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Inthira The largest and most popular restaurant in Mae Sariang. Large variety, great portions and superb food. The owners are lovely. Ti, the main cook, makes a great red curry. The Tom-Yum Goong (prawn soup) is also particularly good. Very laid back atmosphere, fast service, and can accommodate large groups! Highly recommended!!!

• Sawadee, overlooks the river is excellent AND they stock Beer Laos for only 80b a bottle (33 cl). The owner has excellent English and she cooks a good, if slightly small American breakfast. If you like, or want to try, Isaan style Som Tam, Sawadee is the place to try it. Ask for it 'pet nid-noi' if you are afraid of it being too spicy.

• North West Guest House has great food, made by the lovely owner Tuk-ta. All of their food is delicious - expecially good if you want to try some Thai specialties such as pad pong curry, satay chicken, and salawin fish cake. If there is something you would like - they will make it. And she love to teaching you to cook her Thai food also!

• "Tukki's Riverside Restaurant" Sits on the opposite bank of the Yuam River right across the bridge on the south end of town. Great Thai with the best river view in town and the price is very decent. Newly remodeled in August it now has a pool table, new bar, and expanded menu.

• Pretty much every hotel has a restaurant. The best of these is probably the River House hotel. They do a truly excellent steak for 180b, and the open-air restaurant there overlooks the river.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Everywhere worth drinking in is along the river. Sawadee is the place if you like Beer Lao (who doesn't?). Northwest Guesthouse also has a lovely bar and kichen open until 23.00 a night

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Riverside Guesthouse. Dingy rooms and a veranda on the river. Be aware that the rooms smell like urine and there are many mice in the rooms. You may find that it is difficult to sleep with the sound of scurrying critters on your belongings. 100-200 baht.  edit

• North West Guesthouse, 81 mu 12 Bankad (From bus station; go out, turn left, take first right, and right at the end of the soi. It's 20 metres up on your right.), [4]. Lovely, wooden, if basic, guesthouse situated near the river, and run by an enthusiastic and welcoming Thai couple, that has fan and air-con rooms. Great value for money, simple, clean, rooms. Very friendly staff and great atmosphere, a pleasure to stay in Rooms priced variously: 150 for double fan room, and up to 400 for double air-con with bathroom and internet PC in the room.  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

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