Mae Hong Son

City

City tour is a key program. Mae Hong Son is named as the city of three misty season (Muang Sam Mok) located in the embrace of mountains. Here is just a small city with a few road. It is all great in many aspects, natural or cultural. The center of the city is starting point of many tour program. Cultural tour in the city e.g. temples with mixed style of Thai and Myanmar. Adventure tour along the river, elephant riding and trekking e.g. Pai and Salawin. Spending your holiday time here, drive and admire the sights. Taste northern food in many restaurants at your style. Thai Yai, Karen, Myanmar and traditional Thai foods can be found in the city along the main road, Khunlumprapas. Here you may fly from Chiangmai or rent a car from Chiangmai and enjoy sight seeing interesting places, taking hot spring bath at Pai, visit Lod cave, and head for the city. What is the interesting place in Mae Hong Son (city)? Below are the details I have discovered for you.

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Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu

The temple (wat) is situated in the west of the city, on hillside. Previously called Wat Plai Doi, it is regarded as the city institution. It is prominent with two pagodas. The big one was built by Chong Tong Su 1860 and the other one by Phraya Singhanat Raja in 1874. Todate, a good road is ready to the temple with 5 kms. There are crowded people in annual festivals e.g. New Year, Songkran and Aok Phansa.

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Wat Chong Kham - Wat Chong Klang
The temples, built in 1827 in Shan arts, are located around Nong Chong Kham Public Park. In the image hall, Luang Pho To is enshrined as the main buddha image. Opposite to the temples, a bar beer is recommended for beer lovers especially during the winter's evening the temples will be decorated with colorful lights reflecting on Nong Chong Kham. Such relaxing feel is hardly found at any places.

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Wat Phra Non (Reclining Buddha Image)

On the way to Phra That Doi Kong Mu, the templet is located on the foothills. A large reclining Buddha Image of 12 feet long is enshrined. Cast in Shan's art under the support of Phranang Miah, Phraya Singhanat Raja's wife, the image possess finest Buddha characteristics. In entrance, two large lion statues were built by Phraya Singhanat and his wife. This antique statues is as old as hundred years. Inside the viharn, you may find little images, namely Phra Bua Khem. If you want to see the images you may ask a monk to show you.

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Wat Kam Ko
Opposite to Wat Phranon, the temple (wat) has its own unique construction e.g. roofed passage stretching from the arch to the pavillion. Its age is over 110 years old. Old textbooks telling the history of Shan and King Anoratha Mangcho are found inside the temple.

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The monument of Phraya Singhanat Raja

So up to here, you may want to know who is Phraya Singhanat Raja. Chan Ka Le, a Shanese name who later the first governor of Mae Hong Son, had gathered people to settle a village called "Ban Khun Yuan", which gradually grew and was established as a city. Later in 1874 the city was renamed Muang Mae Hong Son, and the Prince Inthawichayanon of Chiangmai promote Chan Ka Le to be Phraya Singhanat Raja and appointed him the first governor of Mae Hong Son. The monument is located on the way to Phrathat Doi Kong Mu on the foothills.

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Ban Nam Phiang Din (Long-necked Karen's village)

The village is on Pha Bong sub-district is the only village of this kind to be reached by cruising for about an hour along the Pai River, both sides of which are made up of fine scenery. It is the village by Thailand - Myanmar border. Here you will find long-necked and long-eared girls. Handicrafts made by them are available. Price is not so expensive, so did I buy one. If you want to visit here one of the hotels recommended: Mae Hong Son Riverside. The hotel is located by the same river. Downstairs of the hotel is the pier, you may hire a long-tail boat to the village.

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Ban Nai Soi (Karen's village)
Here is another popular Karen's village that can be easily reached by car, about 33 kms away from the city of Mae Hong Son. The Karens here migrated from Ban Nam Phiang Din because of no peace by the border. Handicrafts are also avaiable like the other.

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Pai
Pong Duad Hot Spring
142 kilometers along to highway no. 1095 from Mae Malai to Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province. Pong Duad Hot Spring (Pa Pae Hot Spring) is the first site where tourists are fond of to visit it is one of big site hot spring. That’s one of fascinated the tourists to visit and one important is Pong Duad Hot Spring is located on Pong Duad Ranger Unit area. Therefore, general area condition is decorated to have beautiful shady, variety of facilities services provided to the tourists such as information services camping area.
An interesting characteristics Pong Duad Hot Spring is the Geyser type which has high temperature and high pressure and spouting into soil almost all the time. From parking-lot, there is shady pathway to Pong Duan Hot Spring 500 meters and there is safety area to visit Pong Duad Hot Spring. Sometimes, hot spring will have 2 meters height and have rather strongly our with eight meters height of steam 200 meters not far away, there is also mineral bathe for tourists. Tourists should have at least half day at there, but if you have much time, we can camping or have natural route study which has both half day (2 hours) and two nights overstayed. Travelling: Using 37 kilometers of Chiang Mai – Fang route to Mae Malai Market, Mae Taeng District, and then turn left to highway no. 1095 Mae Malai-Pai, and 42 kilometers turning right, there has a clear singing board of Pong Duad Hot Spring and then 6.5 kilometers turning right. Contract: or Huai Nam Dang National Park Headquarter Pong Duad Ranger Unit Moo 5 Kued Chang Sub-district, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province Tel: 0-5347-7669Huai Nam Dang National Park .

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Huai Nam Dang National Park
Located on the joint border between Mae Taeng District of Chiang Mai and Pai District of Mae Hong Son. Total area covers 179.5 sq.kms Here the scenery is beautiful, especially the sea of flying mist in the morning. Many tourists like to come and pitch tents (there is minor charges for pitching tents), tasting the cold weather at the top of these high mountains whilst awaiting the dawn mists.
Interesting places are: Doi Kiew Lom Viewpoint On the top of the hill, one can enjoy a panoramic scenery, stretching up to Doi Luang Chiang Dao. The view is very beautiful, especially in the morning, when the flying mist fills the whole valley, revealing just a sharp top of Doi Luang Chiang Dao. Be there and imagine how beautiful it would be. Doi Chang Viewpoint The highest spot of Huay Nam Dang National Park. Here is the origin of several waterfalls. Located in the north of Ban Huay Nam Dang, there is a famous viewpoint in the morning. You can look around a sea of mist and mountainous scenery, stretching away for about 20 kilometers. The route is still a laterite one. Huay Nam Dang Waterfall The fall originates from a canal, passing through 3-4 levels. Its height around 50 metres and width 10 metres. Characteristics of National Park Doi Kiew Lom Scenic Viewpoint which is the first point thinking of because beautiful natural especially morning atmosphere. Doi Kiew Lom Scenic Viewpoint, there is a small lawn at front wind and resting area behind and variety of flowers. Doi Chang Scenic Viewpoint is the highest point of this National Park, which can be sight-seeing sround and varies of orchids to admire and it’s suitable for natural study lover. Facilities: Good condition of road, polite of ficer, good atmosphere, having toilet services and exhibition to visit. But must pay for the lodging. Huai Nam Dang arranged 4 housing and can stay in 6-8 person/house. Should be advanced contract at least 2 weeks before and there is also camping area. Please contact at tourist service center to pay for camping fee at 30 Baht / person / night and having welfare shop. Contact: Huai Nam Dang National Park, Moo 5 Kued Chang Sub-district, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province 50300 Tel: 0-5347-1669 How to get there: Using your private car is most convenient along highway no. 1095 “ Mae Malai-Pai”. Between km show the clearly sign of Huai Nam Duag. Pay for fee and then 6 kilometers to headquarter. For the person who visit Pong Duad and already paid for fee, and bring ticket to visit Huai Nam Dang within that day without any additional charges.

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Tha Pai Hot Spring
Beside of beautiful well-know of Huai Mam Dang Waterfall in Haui Nam Dang National Park, it is the location of Tha Pai Hot Spring. Forward driving to National Park at km 87 – 88, turn left about 2 kilometers to the destination.
From highway no. 1095 to convenient concrete road throughly to hot springly up-down hill. Two sides of road is shady with trees, especially Teak Forest. 500 meters walking to Hot Spring when reaching at parking-lot Surrounding area covers with foggy and has strong odour. Tourists can bring tent for camping without any charge nearby Hot Spring. Please arrange things by yourself because of no facilities services provided there.

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Muang Paeng Hot Spring

It is not so believable that there are many interesting in Pai District such as temple, Pagoda, National Park, Waterfall or even though three sites of Hot Spring to visit. It is located on Ban Muang Paeng, Muang Paeng Sub-district nearby Mae Ping Ranger unit. If you would like to visit by your car, using the highway no, 1095 to Mae Malai at km 85-86 and then turn right along highway no. 1265. It is laterite with concrete road unit to the area. It is the big hot spring located on resident’s plantation that is not suitable for soaking but it’s suitable for natural visiting. Tourists can bring tent for camping without any charges but should be get permission from Mae Ping Ranger Unit. No facilities services to serve.

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Rafting Pai River

With its approximately length of 180 kms, 30 m. width and 7 m. depth, the Pai River is the biggest and longest river in Mae Hong Son. This challenges the adventurous lover to raft along this river and three most suitable points are recommended. They are : Source of the River to Amphoe Pai : Starting from Huai Chang Kaeo, 16 kms. from Amphoe Pai to Wiang Nua Bridge or Ban Chomphon near Amphoe Pai, taking about 6 hours. Most suitable time to raft is between October - March. From Amphoe Pai to Amphoe Muang : Starting from Ban Mo Paeng, Amphoe Pai to Ban Pang Mu in Amphoe Muang. The distance of this route is about 70 Kms. and takes at least 2 day of rafting. From Amphoe Muang to the border of Thailand and Myanmar : Starting from Ban Huai Dua, Tambon Pha Bong, about 6 kms. from Amphoe Muang to the border at Ban Nam Phiang Din. Normally this section of Pai River is more enjoyable to cruise along by the long-tailed moto boat which only takes 2-3 hours returned trip or riding on elephant back instead of rafting since the nature and scenery on both sides is fascinating and beautiful. Tour operators and major hotels in Mae Hong Son town provide necessary services including boat cruise, rafting and trekking.

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Khun Yuam District

How to get there: from the city of Mae Hong Son, go along the high way the Highway no. 108 (Mae Hong Son – Khun Yuam) about 1 kilometers before reaching Khun Yuam, turn left into the Highway no. 1263 and further for another 26 kilometers on the asphalt road to the wild sunflower field. The marvel of this wild sunflower field has made know Khun Yuam District, once unknown because of its remoteness, what a town on the hill to reach by driving round a thousand curves. It was said that if any government officers were transferred to post in Khun Yuam being imprisoned on the hill, as it takes over a day for their relatives to visit them. Apart from the wild sunflower field, in the evening Doi Mae U-Kor also offers a nice view of sunset with splendid piled –up shadows of mountains; while in the morning from the camping area on the mountaintop a magnificent sunrise can be viewed.

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Thung Dok Bua Tong, Doi Mae U-Kor

Here is more interesting for Thai people than foreign tourists. The marvel of the wild sunflower field has made known Khun Yuam and Mae Hong Son. Travel: trip route from Khun Yuam district is quite tortuous. You have to go up and down along the hillside slope. Along 108 highway (Mae Hong Son – Khun Yuam). Leave 1 kms before reaching the Khun Yuam, turn left to Highway No 1263, along 26 kms on asphant road. You will see a picture of yellow field from long distance. Blossom period of Bua Tong is Nov till late Dec every year. The gigantic size of Bua Tong field covers more than 1,000 rai. In the afternoon, sunlight become orange and beautify color of Bua Tong that impress all visitors. Accomodation and food is available. For tents contact: Bua Tong office center on the hill. Need accommodation, please ask me: info@thai-tour.com

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Mae Surin Waterfall

11 kms from Doi Mae Ukor (Bua Tong Field) to the great waterfall, Mae Surin. Road is narrow, steep and tortuous. On the top of hill which you may park and walk a bit to appreciate the beauty of the waterfall. The other spot, you have to walk down to the lowest level about 3 kms or 1 hour. You will so exhausted about 3 hours on trekking up and down like I did. However, it's worth when you stand as I did and came up with these photos. Only one level, it falls from the one-meter cliff. Tide is very strong, but you can swim at the lower part of the fall.

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Salawin River Just mention the name Salawin, adventures as well as travelers are thilled already. Salawin is the name of river, not so wide but great in the account. This river not only borders Thailand and Myanmar by Mar Sariang district and Mae La Noi Distrct in Mae Hong Son, but it also runs a long way from the water source in the mountain as high as 8,000 kilometers in Tibet past China and Myanmar. Its length in Thailand only is 120 kilometers. Salawin is called by another name “Mae Mam Kong” Running past Mae La Noi District, it is in the area of Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary. Running to the south to Mae Sariang District and Sop Moei Distirct, it is in the area of Salawin National Park, which cover an area of 468,000 Rai (748.5 square kilometers)