1 km
from city center 1 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The ancient Buddhist temple of Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu stands atop Doi Kung Mu hill and was completed in 1860. The temple comprises two large whitewashed stupas. The larger stupa enshrines the ashes of Buddha’s disciple Phra Moggallana, while the smaller one contains the ashes of Mae Hong Son, the governor who made the stupa in 1872. Within the temple complex is a viharn, with a statue of the Buddha seated in the Mara posture. The top of the hill provides panoramic views of Chong Kam Lake and is a great viewing point for sunrises and sunsets.

0 km
from city center 2 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The Buat Luk Khaeo Festival is held annually to honour young boys who have been ordained as monks. The three-day festival features a procession on the first day, where the boys are led to the temple amidst music and fanfare. The festival is held towards the beginning of April, and Mae-Hong-Son is where it is at its most colourful, making April the ideal month to visit the town.

127 km
from city center 3 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

Mae Sariang, located in the province of Mae-Hong-Son, 200 kilometres from Chiang Mai, is the place to go if you want to escape city life. The town is not frequented by tourists, making it a quiet spot to experience local culture. Visitors can walk through the Morning Market and enjoy a slice of life in Mae Sariang, explore the Burmese temples at Wat Jong Soong, and also visit the storehouse of local culture, the Mae Sariang Museum. The town is home to incredible viewpoints like the Wat Chom Thong viewpoint and the Wat Chom Kitti viewpoint, from where travellers can enjoy a panoramic view of lush green hills and rice fields. The Evening Walking Street is a great place to enjoy local cuisine, while the Mitmaitre Coffee Shop is a more relaxing place to end a day spent exploring the town.

0 km
from city center 4 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The Mae Hong Son Loop is one of the best motorcycle rides in the world, covering over 600 kilometres of sweeping corners and switchbacks through lush green vegetation. The loop starts and ends at the city of Chiang Mai and usually takes around four days to cover. The best time to tackle the loop is in winter, during the months of November to February. The roads are fast, with sweeping and tight corners, and riders should wear protective riding gear. Riders should also keep aware of Thai traffic, which is known to be erratic.

5 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

This village is situated 1.5 hours away from Mae Hong Son and is famous for one particular tribe’s tradition of stretching the necks with golden rings. The women of these tribes are made to wear rings around their necks from the age of 5 up until their 21st birthday. Tour operators offer visits to local communities, many of which have unique lifestyles and customs. Some operators exploit the locals, however, and visitors should run background checks on their operators.

32 km
from city center 6 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The village of Ban Rak Thai, located 20 kilometres northwest of Mae Hong Son, houses Chinese immigrants who have descended from General Chiang Kai-shek’s troops. The village is known for oolong tea, with tea plantations and restaurants offering tea tastings. Ban Rak Thai is set right on the edge of a reservoir, offering magnificent views of the hills and reflections of the scenery on the clear reservoir waters. The village is set 1800 metres above the sea, and early morning visitors to the reservoir can see the mist rising off the water. Ban Rak Thai is home to only about 1000 people and is not the most popular among tourists, making it a quiet and relaxing place to visit.

0 km
from city center 7 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

While the Shan state lies across Thailand’s border, Mae Hong Son features prominent Shan influence. Local guides can help tourists find authentic Shan villages in the region, especially near the Mae Lana village. This village is not a tourist hotspot, which means visitors will come across authentic local customs untouched by the outside world. Finding an authentic Shan village means visitors might even be able to witness a live ceremony at a Buddhist temple.

8 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The Fish Cave, locally known as Tharn Pla, is a river-fed small pool home to a variety of exotic fish. The location is around 17 kilometres from Mae Hong Son, and there’s no cave in the area, contrary to the name. Around the pool is a hill with a jungle on it, and visitors can feed the fish in the pool, some of which are almost a metre in length. The park around the pool is a quiet and cool place, perfect for pitching a tent and camping. Admission to the Fish Cave costs THB 100 per person.

44 km
from city center 9 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The 1666-metre-long Tham Lot Cave is Thailand’s longest cave and features the Nam Lang River flowing through it. Within the cave are multiple stalagmites and stalactites, with bats and swifts clinging to the stalagmites to sleep. Visitors can also explore the other caves within the complex, such as Column Cave, Doll Cave and Coffin Cave.

23 km
from city center 10 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The Pang Tang Royal Development Project is located in the Ban Ruam Thai region, near Thailand’s border with Myanmar. The project is set around the Huai Pang Tong Reservoir, with coniferous forests growing in the region. The project was designed to support local villagers’ agricultural practices, with avocados, persimmons and Chinese pears growing in the area. The region is also home to animals such as the endangered Laew small green frog.

3 km
from city center 11 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

Established in 1981, the Namtok Mae Surin National Park covers 399 square kilometres and houses the 100-metre tall Mae Surin waterfall and the two-tiered 30-metre tall Pa Bong waterfall. The forest is home to animals such as the Malayan sun bear, Asiatic black bear, barking deer, wild boars, pythons and cobras. Also found here is the rare and indigenous lady slipper orchid.

46 km
from city center 12 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The Yun Lai Viewpoint is around 15 minutes from the centre of the town of Pai and is one of the best spots to view sunrises. Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the valley from here and enjoy seeing the sun fill the valley up with its golden rays. The viewpoint is very popular among locals and tourists alike, so it might be hard to find a quiet spot.

41 km
from city center 13 out of 13
Things To Do in Mae Hong Son

The 10-metre tall Mae Surin waterfall is located inside the Namtok Mae Surin National Park. Water flows down the waterfall all year round, and the waterfall originates from the Surin river. There is a viewpoint that offers great views of this magnificent waterfall and the green forests around it. There also are camping spots in the area. The waterfall is 100 kilometres from Mae Hong Son.