MAE HONG SON
MAE HONG SONNestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountainranges, Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from theoutside world. Virtually covered with mist throughout theyear, the name refers to the fact that this terrain is highlysuitable for the training of elephants. Former governors ofChiang Mai used to organise the rounding up of wildelephants which were then trained before being sent to thecapital for work. Today, Mae Hong Son is one of the “dreamdestination” for visitors. Daily flights into its small airportbring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by thespectacular scenery, numerous hilltribe communities andsoft adventure opportunities.Thai Yai CultureThe Thai Yai can be seen along the northern border withMyanmar. They may at one time have been the mostnumerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch acrossSoutheast Asia. A large group settled in Mae Hong Son.The Thai Yai culture has had a strong influence on theprovince, as can be seen in its architecture. Although a partof the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai people living inMae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather duringwinter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mistor fog practically throughout the whole year. Notsurprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment. Asa result, their architectural style has developed intosomething different from other Lanna communities. Theirliving quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs,the sizes differing according to one’s social status andposition. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with onesingle level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats havetwo or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The spacethus provided is believed to help air circulation. Aninteresting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforateddesigns along the eaves which are an architectural identityof the area.HOW TO GET THERETravel from BangkokBy Car: Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometres fromBangkok. Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and thenchoose the following routes to Mae Hong Son:1. Chiang Mai - Hot - Mae Sariang - Khun Yuam - Mae HongSon route (Highway No.108) with 1,864 curves, a distance of349 kilometres.2. Chiang Mai - Mae Malai - Pai - Mae Hong Son route(Highway No.1095) a distance of 245 kilometres.By Bus : An air-conditioned bus operates from BangkokNorthern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2) on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd.to Mae Hong Son everyday. The trip takes about 15 hours.Tel: 1490 www.transport.co.th or Sombut Tour Tel: 0 29362495-8, 0 5368 4222 www.sombattour.comBy Train : One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai byrail and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus. For moreinformation, call 1690, www.railway.co.thTravel from Chiang MaiTravel from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son can be either byland or by air.By Land : Mae Hong Son can be reached from Chiang Maieither by Highway No. 108 via Hot, Mae Sariang, or HighwayNo. 1095 via Pai. Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son buses operatedby Prem Pracha Transport (Tel: Chiang Mai office: 0 53304748, Mae Hong Son Office: 0 5368 4100, Pai Bus Station Tel:08 1026 8852) departing from Chiang Mai Arcade BusTerminal everyday. The bus which run along HighwayNo.108 takes 8 hours. The bus which run along Highway No.1095 takes 6 hours.An air - conditioned bus and Minivan operates from ChiangMai Bus station to Mae Hong Son everyday. The trip take 6hours on Chiang Mai - Pai - Mae Hong Son route and 8 hourson Chiang Mai - Mae Sariang - Mae Hong Son route. Forreservation please contract Prempracha Transport Chiang MaiOffice Tel: 0 5330 4748, Mae Hong Son Office Tel: 0 5368 4100By Air : Nok Air operates flights from Chiang Mai toMae Hong Son daily. For current schedule, please contact :Tel. 1318 or www.nokair.comKan Airlines operates flight between Chiang Mai to AmphoeMueang Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai to Amphoe Pai. Forreservation, please contact, Chiang Mai Office Tel: 0 5328 3311,Mae Hong Son Office Tel: 0 5361 3188, Pai Office Tel: 0 5369 9955or visit www.kanairlines.comDistances from Amphoe Mueang Mae Hong Son tothe other districts:Pang Mapha 67 km.Khun Yuam 67 km.Pai 111 km.Mae La Noi 134 km.Mae Sariang 164 km.Sop Moei 192 km.Other Distances:Chiang Mai-Pai 135 km.Pai-Pang Mapha 44 km.Pang Mapha-Mueang Mae Hong Son 67 km.Mueang Mae Hong Son-Khun Yuam 67 km.Khun Yuam-Mae La Noi 67 km.Mae La Noi-Mae Sariang 30 km.Mae Sariang-Sop Moei 25 km.Mae Sariang-Chiang Mai 191 km.
MAE HONG SONNestled in deep valley hemmed in by high mountainranges Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from theoutside world Virtually covered with mist throughout theyear the name refers to the fact that this terrain is highlysuitable for the training of elephants Former governors ofChiang Mai used to organise the rounding up of wildelephants which were then trained before being sent to thecapital for work Today Mae Hong Son is one of the “dreamdestination” for visitors Daily flights into its small airportbring growing numbers of tourists attracted by thespectacular scenery numerous hilltribe communities andsoft adventure opportunities .Thai Yai CultureThe Thai Yai can be seen along the northern border withMyanmar They may at one time have been the mostnumerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch acrossSoutheast Asia large group settled in Mae Hong Son .The Thai Yai culture has had strong influence on theprovince as can be seen in its architecture Although partof the Lanna region the indigenous Thai Yai people living inMae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather duringwinter and extremely hot weather in the summer with mistor fog practically throughout the whole year Notsurprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment Asa result their architectural style has developed intosomething different from other Lanna communities Theirliving quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs ,the sizes differing according to one ’s social status andposition Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with onesingle level of roof while those of the local aristocrats havetwo or more levels forming castle-like shape The spacethus provided is believed to help air circulation Aninteresting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforateddesigns along the eaves which are an architectural identityof the area .HOW TO GET THERETravel from BangkokBy Car Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometres fromBangkok Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and thenchoose the following routes to Mae Hong Son :1. Chiang Mai Hot Mae Sariang Khun Yuam Mae HongSon route (Highway No .108) with 1,864 curves distance of 349 kilometres .2. Chiang Mai Mae Malai Pai Mae Hong Son route (Highway No .1095) distance of 245 kilometres .By Bus An air-conditioned bus operates from BangkokNorthern Bus Terminal (Mochit on Kamphaeng Phet Rd .to Mae Hong Son everyday The trip takes about 15 hours .Tel: 1490 www .transport.co.th or Sombut Tour Tel 29362495 5368 4222 www .sombattour.comBy Train One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai byrail and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus For moreinformation call 1690 www .railway.co.thTravel from Chiang MaiTravel from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son can be either byland or by air .By Land Mae Hong Son can be reached from Chiang Maieither by Highway No 108 via Hot Mae Sariang or HighwayNo 1095 via Pai Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son buses operatedby Prem Pracha Transport (Tel: Chiang Mai office 53304748 Mae Hong Son Office 5368 4100 Pai Bus Station Tel :08 1026 8852 departing from Chiang Mai Arcade BusTerminal everyday The bus which run along HighwayNo .108 takes hours The bus which run along Highway No .1095 takes hours .An air conditioned bus and Minivan operates from ChiangMai Bus station to Mae Hong Son everyday The trip take hours on Chiang Mai Pai Mae Hong Son route and hourson Chiang Mai Mae Sariang Mae Hong Son route Forreservation please contract Prempracha Transport Chiang MaiOffice Tel 5330 4748 Mae Hong Son Office Tel 5368 4100 By Air Nok Air operates flights from Chiang Mai toMae Hong Son daily For current schedule please contact :Tel. 1318 or www .nokair.comKan Airlines operates flight between Chiang Mai to AmphoeMueang Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai to Amphoe Pai Forreservation please contact Chiang Mai Office Tel 5328 3311 ,Mae Hong Son Office Tel 5361 3188 Pai Office Tel 5369 9955 or visit www .kanairlines.comDistances from Amphoe Mueang Mae Hong Son tothe other districts :Pang Mapha 67 km .Khun Yuam 67 km .Pai 111 km .Mae La Noi 134 km .Mae Sariang 164 km .Sop Moei 192 km .Other Distances :Chiang Mai-Pai 135 km .Pai-Pang Mapha 44 km .Pang Mapha-Mueang Mae Hong Son 67 km .Mueang Mae Hong Son-Khun Yuam 67 km .Khun Yuam-Mae La Noi 67 km .Mae La Noi-Mae Sariang 30 km .Mae Sariang-Sop Moei 25 km .Mae Sariang-Chiang Mai 191 km