Mae Hong Son Attractions 
Mae Hong Son
The principal attraction of Mae Hong Son township, high in the mountains of northern Thailand on the Burmese border, lies in the rugged scenery and dense forests of its mist-shrouded valley, but it has another, more sinister claim to fame, which the Thai government would rather forget, and that is its proximity to the "Golden Triangle". As the authorities have increasingly clamped down on the opium growing and drug dealing in Chiang Rai's part of the "Golden Triangle" so the smugglers and dealers have turned to new routes in the mountainous frontier country behind Mae Hong Son.
By car: Highway 107 north from Chiang Mai, turning onto Highway 1095 before Mae Taeng (130 km (81 mi.)); Highway 108 from Mae Sarieng (about 170 km (106 mi.)). Anyone who appreciates breathtaking scenery should follow the rather more difficult "horseshoe route", 380 km (236 mi.), from Chiang Mai via Hot and Mae Sarieng.
By bus: a 7-8 hour journey from Chiang Mai.
By air: 2 or 3 times a day from Chiang Mai (flights last about 30 minutes).
The mountain scenery around Mae Hong Son is among the most beautiful in Thailand, as already becomes evident on the way there. Mae Hong Son is a good base for trekking and rafting, whether for one or more days on an organized trip or as an individual.
The town is also a good place to see people from the hill tribes, especially when they come in for the daily market in the early morning between 5.30 and 8am. Meo, Karen, Lawa, Lisu and Lahu all sell their handicrafts there, along with locally-grown produce - fruit and vegetables, tobacco, betel nuts, etc.
The principal attraction of Mae Hong Son township, high in the mountains of northern Thailand on the Burmese border, lies in the rugged scenery and dense forests of its mist-shrouded valley, but it has another, more sinister claim to fame, which the Thai government would rather forget, and that is its proximity to the "Golden Triangle". As the authorities have increasingly clamped down on the opium growing and drug dealing in Chiang Rai's part of the "Golden Triangle" so the smugglers and dealers have turned to new routes in the mountainous frontier country behind Mae Hong Son.
By car: Highway 107 north from Chiang Mai, turning onto Highway 1095 before Mae Taeng (130 km (81 mi.)); Highway 108 from Mae Sarieng (about 170 km (106 mi.)). Anyone who appreciates breathtaking scenery should follow the rather more difficult "horseshoe route", 380 km (236 mi.), from Chiang Mai via Hot and Mae Sarieng.
By bus: a 7-8 hour journey from Chiang Mai.
By air: 2 or 3 times a day from Chiang Mai (flights last about 30 minutes).
The mountain scenery around Mae Hong Son is among the most beautiful in Thailand, as already becomes evident on the way there. Mae Hong Son is a good base for trekking and rafting, whether for one or more days on an organized trip or as an individual.
The town is also a good place to see people from the hill tribes, especially when they come in for the daily market in the early morning between 5.30 and 8am. Meo, Karen, Lawa, Lisu and Lahu all sell their handicrafts there, along with locally-grown produce - fruit and vegetables, tobacco, betel nuts, etc.
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Buat Luk Khaeo Festival
The three day Buat Luk Khaeo Festival celebrates young boys becoming ordained novice monks.
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Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu
Located atop a hill, Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu can be reached after a 250 meter climb. At the top, beautiful views of Mae Hong Son and the countryside can be seen.
Burmese Temples
The two Burmese temples, Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang, stand next to one another by the little lake in the south of the town. The Wat Chong Klang wiharn holds over 30 statues, brought here from Burma around 1860.
Mae Hong Son Surroundings
Fish Cave
The Fish Cave (Tharn Pla), on Highway 108, 17 km (11 mi.) north of the town, holds a pool - fed by a small river nearby - full of various kinds of exotic fish.
Mae Aw, Thailand
The village of the Kuomintang, here called the Mae Aw, is 20 km (12 mi.) north-west of Mae Hong Son (Highway 108). The Chinese who live here are the direct descendants of General Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist troops who after losing the war against Communist China fled to Burma, and then Thailand, where the government tolerated them, instead of following their leader to Formosa, now Taiwan. Many of the men work for the Thai police or as guards and officials along the Thai-Burmese border.
Shan Villages
For decades, although without much success so far, the Shan peoples have been fighting for their independence from Burma and from Thailand. They can still give visitors a hostile reception, so anyone going there should be accompanied by a local guide who is also known to be acceptable to the Shan.
