From Wikitravel

Pangmapha is an Amphur (district) located in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Located within Pangmapha district is Soppong, a small town with a predominantly ethnic Shan and hill tribe population on the road between Pai and Mae Hong Son. Pangmapha is less touristy and has a more traditional feel than Pai.

[edit] Understand

Pangmapha is a district in northwestern Mae Hong Son province, along the border with Burma. Better known is Soppong, a small village located in a small valley in Pangmapha. Soppong is on the main road, between Pai and Mae Hong Son town on the Mae Hong Son loop. The village is a trading and market centre for the many hilltribe villages that populate the area. There is a total of about 300 homes in the whole village area. The population is about 40% hilltribe (mostly Karen, Lisu and Lahu), 40% Burmese Shan, 20% Thai, as well as few Haw Chinese muslim families.

Pangmapha (Soppong) does not presently attract many tourists, in contrast to Pai, located 45 kilometres away, which now contains more than 200 guesthouses and hotels. There are several guest houses and restaurants in Pangmapha, but very few tourist oriented businesses and shops, thus lending a genuine traditional feel to the area. The area offers fantastic DIY trekking amongst the abundance of mountains, caves, rivers and jungle.

Information on what to do and where to go is offered at "Border Bar" (see Drink) in the centre of the village, across from the market and bus stop.

[edit] Get in

Buses depart from Chiang Mai throughout the day, and are available as either a bus or mini-bus. The buses cost 95 baht, are fairly cramped, fan only, and take about 6-7 hours. The mini-buses, in contrast, cost 250 baht, have much more comfortable seats, air-conditioned, and take 4-5 hours. The schedule for the two are as follows:

Minibus: 06:30/ 07:30/ 08:30/ 09:30/ 10:30/ 11:30/ 12:30/ 13:30/ 14:30

Regular bus: 7:00/ 9:30/ 12:30

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

Tham Lot cave features the largest cave opening in SE Asia with a river passing through the cave that can be explored with local guides (1-3 persons 150 baht) on bamboo rafts (1-3 persons 300 baht). At the exit you can walk back (12 minutes), or you can book the return trip for 400 baht. When you get to the exit at sunset (18:00) you can see hundred thousands of swifts returning to the cave, followed by equal numbers of bats exiting for the night, a spectacular view! You don't have to pay for that (yet), just walk outside to the exit (12 minutes). Bring a torch for the walk back! Also, Phi Man cave contains many stone age coffins inside the cave.

The area also features some of the best tropical forests in Northern Thailand with many day walks possible to explore the jungle, do some birdwatching, and see dozens of varieties of wild orchids.

Many hilltribe villages are located around the area, including Lisu, Red and Black Lahu, Karen, and Hmong. Many can be reached on foot from the main village of Soppong.

A traveling market is set up every Tuesday morning along the road in the main market area, with hilltribe people coming down from the mountains to sell their produce and wares.

[edit][add listing] Do

The Cave Lodge [1] offers numerous caving tours to surrounding caves, at a variety of skill levels. Their most popular tour costs 450 baht/person. In addition, Cave Lodge offers kayaking through Tham Lot and through the following rapids for 600 or 850 baht depending if it is dry or wet season. Kayaking can be combined with cave tours in Tham Lot.

• Flying Turtle Cooking School, Soppong-Tham Lot Road (1.5 km towards Tham Lot. Driveway is just before the Chinese temple on the right.), ☎ +66-89-485-7596, [2]. 0900-1530. Thai cooking classes with an organic garden situated on a lovely hillside just outside Soppong.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

The hill tribe people set up in most public areas, and are eager to sell their crafts. Tuesday is market day, and one can find a colorful display of hill tribe people selling their wares up and down the main road and near the market.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Jungle House, (300m north of the bus station on the left side of the road). Restaurant attached to the Jungle Guest House providing home cooked Thai meals and bread baked by Da on premises. Shakes and hot tea available to sip on the deck while overlooking the garden.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Border Bar (next to Lemon Hill guest house, opposite the day market) - recently opened (Sept.2006) bar/coffee shop. Offer free backpackers-oriented travel information, also scooter tours and 4x4 treks in a 1957 Army Jeep.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Soppong River Inn [3] Tel. 66-053-617-107 Offering unique, natural accommodations in tropical gardens along the Lang River with a teak deck overhanging the river. Bungalows range from 700-1200Baht per night.
• Cave Lodge [4] Basic dorms start at 100Baht a night, with private bungalows also available. Cave Lodge is located approximately ten kilometers from the Soppong bus stop, and transportation is available via motortaxi. Located in the middle of the forest, with close proximity to Tham Lot.

[edit] Get out

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Motorbike rentals for 200 baht per day are available at the Castrol Bike Point shop. There is a fleet of motorbike taxi drivers located right in front of the market, and they have established set fares to most possible locations. There is no two-tiered system of fares, one for Thais and a double price one for foreigners.

As of November 2011, the fare to Tham Lot cave, a trip of 10 kilometers, is 70 baht, one way.