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Thailand’s most forested and least densely populated province is rich in natural and cultural heritage, thick rugged forests, indigenous culture and tradition. The capital of Mae Hong Son province is Mae Hong Son town, which lies some 400km away from Chiang Mai. The region was once known as the Siberia of Thailand due to its isolated location in a remote mountain valley close to the border with Myanmar. Nowadays the province is quite accessible, with excellent asphalt roads and a regular bus service from Chiang Mai. Mae Hong Son’s far flung location with it’s air of mystique, makes it a popular destination for travellers seeking a less touristic experience of northern Thailand.
For travellers planning a trip to Mae Hong Son, you may be wondering how much time you will need for such a trip. Many unsuspecting travellers mistakably leave only 2 or 3 days, which will only get you as far as Mae Sariang or Pai, the first legs into Mae Hong Son province. The rough guide below outlines the travel times and distances, and modes of transport available, to help you plan your route through this charming province of north west Thailand.
Rough guide to Travel times in Mae Hong Son province
|
From |
To |
Travel time by road (hrs) |
Transport options available |
No. of days to be allocated in travel schedule |
Notes |
|
Chiang Mai |
Pai |
3 |
Bus,car |
1 |
|
|
Chiang Mai |
Mae Hong Son |
6 |
Bus,car,flight |
2
|
Direct travel in 1 day not advisable. Overnight in Pai recommended |
|
Chiang Mai |
Mae Sariang |
4 |
Bus,Car,flight |
1 |
|
|
Mae Sariang |
Mae Hong Son |
3 |
Bus,Car |
1 |
|
|
Mae Hong Son |
Pai |
3 |
Bus,Car |
1 |
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The most comprehensive route is the Mae Hong Son loop which starts and finishes in Chiang Mai, takes a recommended minimum of 5d/4n and makes a circular route through the province on the following course; Chiang Mai –Mae Sariang- Mae Hong Son- Pai-Chiang Mai, this can also be done in reverse order. If you do not have time to do the loop in full, here are some shorter variations. (Please note that the days in the schedule above are intended as an indicator for the number of days you should allocate in your travel schedule only. It does not include time needed for sightseeing)
1) Eastern route ( Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai)
|
Day |
From |
To |
Transport Options available |
Travel time by road (hrs) |
|
Day 1 |
Chiang Mai |
Pai |
Car/ bus |
3hrs |
|
Day 2 |
Pai |
Mae Hong Son |
Car/ bus |
3hrs |
|
Day 3 |
Mae Hong Son |
Chiang Mai |
Car/ flight* |
6hrs |
* An alternative to flying back from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai, is to go by road via Mae Sariang which would require an extra overnight in Mae Sariang, as per the schedule below. This is equivalent to completing the full Mae Hong Son loop by road.
|
Day |
From |
To |
Transport Options available |
Travel time by road (hrs) |
|
Day 3 |
Mae Hong Son |
Mae Sariang |
Car |
3hrs |
|
Day 4 |
Mae Sariang |
Chiang Mai |
Car/ Flight |
4hrs |
2) Western route (Chiang Mai – Mae Sariang – Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai )
|
Day |
From |
To |
Transport Options available |
Travel time by road (hrs) |
|
Day 1 |
Chiang Mai |
Mae Sariang |
Car/ bus/ flight |
4hrs |
|
Day 2 |
Mae Sariang |
Mae Hong Son |
Car/ bus |
3hrs |
|
Day 3 |
Mae Hong Son |
Chiang Mai |
Car/ bus/ Flight* |
6hrs |
* An alternative to flying from Mae Hong Son back to Chiang Mai, is to go by road via Pai which would require an extra day and overnight in Pai, as per the schedule below. This is the equivalent to completing the full Mae Hong Son Loop by road.
|
Day |
From |
To |
Transport Options available |
Travel time by road (hrs) |
|
Day 3 |
Mae Hong Son |
Pai |
Car/ bus |
3hrs |
|
Day 4 |
Pai |
Chiang Mai |
Car/bus |
3hrs |
The main towns along the Mae Hong Son Loop route (Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Pai) are convenient places to stop off and spend the night, catering well for tourists and offering a variety of guesthouses and restaurants; although the focus of any travel through Mae Hong Son should not be on reaching the towns themselves, but rather on the cultural journey and scenic mountain roads taken to reach them.
Along the 1,864+ curves of the Mae Hong Son loop, you will encounter glimpses of local life such as one-shack roadside vendors selling seasonal finds of the forest like bamboo shoots or beetles, hill tribe villages, flora and fauna, and many more aspects unique to the Mae Hong Son way of life.
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