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Mae Hong Son is a picturesque, mountainous northern province bordering Myanmar to the west and the north. Hill tribes, Burmese-style temples, rugged mountains, waterfalls, caves and pristine forests lend the province much of its unspoiled charm.

Mae Hong Son province covers an area of 14,244 sq, km, and is administratively divided into 6 districts, and 1 subdistrict namely: Muang, Mae Sa Riang, Mae La Noi, Pai, Khun Yuam, Sop Moei and Pang Ma Pa Subdistrict.

Mae Hong Son province can be reached from Chiang Mai either by Highway No. 108 or via Pai, which shortens the distance to some 274 kilometers.

Attractions:
Thai Yai Architectural Style Although a part of the Lanna region, indigenous Thai Yai or Tai people living there are faced with very cold weather during winter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the whole year. Not surprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment. As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different from other Lanna communities. Their living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing according to one's social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity of the area.

Phraya Sihanatracha Memorial commemorates first Chao Muang (governor) of Mae Hong Son. A Thai Yai native from Burma, he was regarded by the people as the governor of Khun Yuam, which as to the south of Mae Hong Son. Later, he was officially installed as the Chao Muang of Mae Hong Son by the King of Lanna in 1874.

Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu located on a hill to the west of town, is a major provincial landmark. There are two Burmese-style Chedis. The larger one was built in 1860 while the smaller one was erected in 1874. A panoramic view of Mae Hong Son can be enjoyed from the site.

At the foot of Doi Kong Mu is Wat Phra Non which houses a 12-metre long Reclining Buddha in the Thai Yai style cast in 1875 by Phra Nang Miah, wife of Phraya Sihanatracha. Another main feature of the temple is the two large sculpted lions lying side by side presumably providing the passage for those going up to pay homage to the Kong Mu Holy Relic on the hill.

Opposite Wat Phra Non is Wat Kam Ko an old temple built in 1890. A special architectural feature is the cover over the entrance arch to the Burmese-style Wihan. It also stores text in Thai Yai script chronicling the Thai Yai history.

Wat Hua Wiang or Wat Klang Muang on Sihanat Bamrung Road next to the Morning Market was built in 1863. It houses the Phra Chao Pharalakhaeng, a Buddha statue dressed in beautiful attire. It is a replica of a major statue in Mandalay, Myanmar.

An old temple, Wat Chong Kham is located on the bank of the swamp Nong Chong Kham and was built in 1827 by Thai Yai artisans. The pillars are gilded in golden flakes. The temple houses a large Buddha statue with a lap width of 4.85 metres cast by Burmese craftsmen. The principal statue is another statue which is a replica of the statue in Wat Suthat in Bangkok.

Next to Wat Chong Kham is Wat Chong Klang where a replica of the Phra Phutthasihing is installed on an altar. There are several interesting items such as wooden figurines of human and animals depicted in the Phra Vejsandon Jakata (pronounced Cha-dok which means one of odd stories of former incarnations of the Buddha) created by Burmese craftsmen and brought over in 1857, paintings on glass about the Jakata and on Prince Prince Siddhartha, as well as on the ways of life of the time. The captions are in Burmese. There are also notations that the paintings were by Thai Yai artisans from Mandalay.

Out-of-city Attractions:
The Pha Bong Hot Spring is located on Highway No.108, about 11 kilometres from town. There are facilities for mineral water bath for health purpose.

About 17 kilometres from town on Highway No. 1095 (Mea Hong Son-Pai) is Tham Pla Forest Park The surrounding areas are books and cool hilly forests suitable for relaxation. A special feature is the hollow cave filled with fish fish. The fish are quite safe from being caught as believed to belong to the goods.

Namtok Pha Sua is in Tambon Mo Champae about 17 kilometres from the provincial seat on Route 1095 to Pai district with a left turn at Ban Rak Thai village. The waterfall is a further twenty kilometres from the village. It is a large fall with its water source in Myanmar. Pha Sua runs full during the late rainy season (August-September).

Another five kilometres further on along the path to high hill are the hilltribe village of Na Pa Paek and Mae Or on the Thai-Burmese border.

The Tham Lot Forest Park is situated in a forest in Pang Mapha district some 77 kilometres from town. Here nature has created an exotic subterranean wonder of darkness and mystery. A brook runs from the cave mouth through to the other side of the mountain. It is a route where visitors may travel by raft or by foot to explore the 1 kilometre-long cave along which can be found beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Also discovered are 2,000 year old remains of utensils and coffins. There are services provided by villagers to guide visitors in their exploration.

Another site where stalactite and stalagmites can be found is the Mae Lana Cave. The stream inside the cave is habitat to eyeless and colourless fish that live in a dark environment.

Rafting along the Mae Pai is an exciting and delightful recreation. Mae Pai itself is the longest river of Mae Hong Son originating from mountain ranges in Laos which flows through Pai district of the province and eventually joins the Salawin river in Myanmar, a total distance of 180 kilometres. With an average depth of some 7 metres, the river bed is mainly pebbled. There are several sectors eminently suitable for rafting past rapids and natural scenery including beautiful waterfalls. Tour operators in Mae Hong Son town or in Pai district can provide the necessary service, some are also able to provide elephant rides. The best time for rafting is from October to March.

Mae Ngao River is a good water route for shooting the rapids. Adventure travel tourists can enjoy the unspoiled scenery along the river banks. Services available from tour operators in Mae Hong Son.

At Km. 65 on the Pai-Mae Malai route (No. 1095), there is a turning leading to the headquarters of the Huai Nam Dang National Park. Visitors can spend the night in tents to wait for the spectacular views of sunrise and mist-shrouded mountain views in the morning. Cherry blossom during January adds charms to the attraction.

The Tha Pai Hot Spring two kilometres off Route 1095 at KM. Marker 87, has an average temperature of Celsius. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights. The area is also rich in teak woods and suitable for overnight camping.

The Khun Yuam lndigenous Cultural Centre located at Km. 200 on Highway No 108 has a considerable collection of Thai Yai and other hilltribes handcrafted products. lt also displays military accessories and equipment of the Japanese army which entered Khun Yuam district during World War ll.

Wat To Phae is located 7 kilometres from Khun Yuam having a large beautiful Burmese-style Wihan. According to the legend it is said that raft assembling people used to gather up in this area prior to making a teak trees raft trip to the marketing places.

The Dok Bua Tong on Doi Mae U-kho blooms during November painting the entire Khum Yuam district in brilliant yellow drawing flocks of visitors to the area. A camping site is located about 26 kilometres from the district town on Highway No 1263. A little further on is a huge waterfall, the Mae Surin cascading one hundred metres down below. Here camping can also be set up.

Covering an area of 721 square Kilometres the Salawin National Park is on the bank of the Salawin river on the Thai-Burmese border about 164 kilometres south of Mae Hong Son. Transport can be hired to travel to Mae Sam Laep village and proceed on hired boat to reach the park headquarters. Scenery along the Salawin banks is captivating with forest and mountains and dotted with small hamlets. On the sandy beach in front of the headquarters camping is permitted.

Major Events:
Poi Sang Long Procession is in fact the celebration of novice ordination which the Thai Yai tribe people hold to be a highly meritorious occasion. Traditionally, the candidate-novice, his head cleanly shaven and wrapped with head-cloth in the Burmese style, will don a prince-like garment and put on valuable jewels and games, and ride a horse or be carried over the shoulders of a man to the city shrine. Then he will visit abbots of various monasteries to beg for forgiveness. On the ordination eve, a procession of offerings will be paraded through the town streets and then placed at the monastery where the ordination will take place the next day. It is usually held during March-May before the Buddhist Rain Retreat period.

Chong Phara Procession The Chong Phara in the Thai Yai dialect means a castle made of wood. Covered with colourful perforated papers and decorated with fruits, flags and lamps. It is placed in the courtyard of a house or a monastery as gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving sermons to his mother in heaven, according to traditional belief. The rite is held during the post rain retreat season from the full-moon day of the 11 the Lunar month (around October) to the waxing moon night of the same month.

Other activities to celebrate the occasion include dances where performers are dressed in animal costumes. This is based on the belief that during those long-gone days, both humans and the animal kingdom were equally joyful of the return of the Lord Buddha and therefore joined in a jubilant performance as tribute of the Enlightened One.

Bua Tong Blossom Festival Each year in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang districts are filled with a host of golden Bua Tong Blossoms. As gay as a daisy and almost as large as a sunflower, the Bua Tong only blossoms for a month.

At Doi Mae U-Kho, the blossoms appear profusely. Finally, the golden blooms become part of the scene. Some specialists have classified these Bua Tong as weeds and because of this, they may be cleared to make way for cash crops. Fortunately a group of researchers have discovered the flower's insect-repellent properties. And perhaps that is why the Bua Tong, a symbol of Mae Hong Son, is still preserved on the hillsides.

Loi Krathong Festival is held on the full moon night in the month of November every year. Villagers make "krathongs" to float in rivers. At Nong Chong Kham, various entertainments and a contest of large krathongs are held near the central pond. Lamps and candles are lit all around the area. Moreover, at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, there is a ceremony of releasing candle-lit krathongs bound with balloons to the sky (known as "Loi Krathong Sawan")

Local Products:
Being in a cool valley Mae Hong Son is suitable for tea-growing. The main area of tea plantations is at Ban Rak Thai, a border village. In February, a Tea-Tasting Fair is held. Visitors can ride on horses to view the surroundings and performances by the villagers who are descended from Yunnan Chinese. The traditional headgear called "Kup" worn by the Tai is wide-brimmed with taper top. Together with bamboo blinds and Karen woven fabrics, they are quite popular items to buy among visitors.

How to get there:
By Bus
From Bangkok
Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometres from Bangkok. Muang Nua Tour (Tel: 01 441 6871) operates an airconditioned bus which runs directly from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son. The bus departs from Mochit II Bus Terminal at 18.00 hours every day. The trip takes about 17 hours.

There is no direct flight from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son. Tourists may take the Bangkok-Chiang Mai flights which connect with the Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son flights. Reservation should be made in advance through Thai Airways, Tel: 0 2280-0060, 0 2628-2000 or call 1566 for current schedule.

From Chiang Mai
Mae Hong Son can be reached from Chiang Mai either by Highway No. 108 via Mae Sariang, or Highway No. 1095 via Pai which shortens the distance to some 274 kilometres. Regular buses are operated by Prem Pracha Transport, Tel: 0 5324 4737, 0 5324 2767.

Buses depart from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station daily to Mae Hong Son by two different routes:-

Southern route
Buses leave frequently from Chaing Mai to Mae Hong Son via Hot, Mae Sariang, and Khun Yuam districts from 6.30-21.00 hours. The journey takes 8 hours.

Northern route
Buses leave frequently from Chaing Mai to Mae Hong Son via Pai district from 07.00-12.30 hours. The journey take 6 hours.

There are 4 daily flights from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. Tourists are advised to book tickets at least 2 days before departure. Contact Thai Airways Tel: 0 5321 0043-5, 0 5321 1044-7 (Chiang Mai), or 0 5361 1297, 0 5361 1194 (Mae Hong Son).

By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Ayutthaya, Ang Thong and Sing Buri and then proceed along Highway No. 1 to Kamphaeng Phet, a total distance of 358 kilometres.

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