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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
.
