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Ultimate Guide to Mae Hong Son: Here’s Why this Backpacker Paradise is a Must-See!

| Last Updated: September 2024

There’s just something about getting lost in a sea of sunflowers (it’s not just for a pretty square in your IG feed!). 

Add misty mountains to that and you’ll probably need a bit of time to just take it all in and contemplate life—no wonder Mae Hong Son is a top backpacker paradise!

So, if you want a change of scenery, away from touristy vacation spots (Phuket’s beaches, anyone?), then this province should hit the spot. 

So what are you waiting for? Read on to see the best things that await you at Mae Hong son! 

Things to Know

Currency: Thai Baht
(Check the current exchange rate)

Language: Thai Yai (Central Thai), Dai (Shan Dialect)

Calling Code: (+66)

Location: Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Nearest Airport: Mae Hong Son Airport

H2: Best Time to Visit Mae Hong Son

It’s best to visit Mae Hong Son between November and February if you like to enjoy optimal weather conditions for temple visits, sightseeing, and nature adventures. During these months, expect every day to be bright, cool, and sunny.

This lets you enjoy exploring Mae Hong Son from morning to night and not worry about any sweltering heat during midday.

How to Get to Mae Hong Son

Bus: The regular and cheapest way to get to Mae Hong Son from Bangkok is to catch a provincial bus at the Mochit Bus Terminal. There, you’ll find Sombat Tour buses that will take you directly to Mae Hong Son Town in approximately 15 hours and 30 minutes.

Plane: A faster way to get to Mae Hong Son from Bangkok is to book a domestic flight to Mae Hong Son Airport. However, only two carriers service this airport: Nok Air and Bangkok Airways.

Also, their direct flights are only available at Don Mueang International Airport. Otherwise, you can book a connecting flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Lampang Airport and Lampang Airport to Mae Hong Son Airport.

Expect up to three hours of travel time due to layover, especially if you book a connecting flight via Lampang Airport.

Where to Stay in Mae Hong Son

Jungle Guesthouse

Media credit: bifern_intira

Address: 200 Sop Pong, Pang Mapha District

Operating Hours: 11:30 a.m. (Check-in, Check-out)

Contact Number: +66 94 828 3865

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042855777070

Pricing: ฿

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly place in a quiet natural setting, the Jungle Guesthouse is your best option. It’s tucked away in a tree-lined hillside property so staying here makes you feel like you’re amid a lush jungle. 

Get settled in their quaint bungalow, the visit the farm and garden area and spot numerous butterflies fluttering about! 

There’s also a cozy on-site restaurant with an outdoor wooden deck offering pleasant mountain and hillside views. 

Fern Resort

Media from fernresortmaehongson

Address: 64, Pha Bong Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)

Contact Number: +66 53 686 110

Website: http://www.fernresort.info/

Pricing: ฿฿

Fern Resort is one of the best hideaways in Mae Hong Son. This vast property is known for its serene natural location surrounded by lush forested hills and mountains.

Here, you get a cozy Shan-style bungalow with charming wood-tiled floors, sitting areas, en-suite bathrooms, and scenic private terraces. This resort also has a family-friendly outdoor pool.

If you love nature walks, you’ll also enjoy strolling around their massive garden with concrete walkways, flowerbeds, and rice paddies. Their open-air restaurant and bar are perfect for BBQ nights!

B2 Mae Hong Son Premier Resort

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Address: Jongkham, 11 Siri Mongkol Road, Pang Mu Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)

Contact Number: +66 52 040 205

Website: https://www.b2hotel.com/mae-hong-son/b2-mae-hong-son-premier-resort

Pricing: ฿฿

B2 Mae Hong Son Premier Resort is a chic hotel known for its spacious modern rooms, lush garden, and stylish outdoor pool. They also have luxury suites offering more space and added sitting areas. 

It’s at least 12 minutes from the town center, so it’s a great option if you prefer the quiet.

If you pay using their B2 Wallet app, you also get a considerable discount on select rooms when booking from their official website. 

Where to Eat in Mae Hong Son

Salween River Restaurant

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Address: 117/1 Chulumprakria Road, Moo 5, Ban Mai Pang Mu

Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Wednesday – Monday)

Contact Number: +66 84 687 8891

Website: https://www.facebook.com/salweenriverrestaurant

Pricing: ฿฿

Salween River Restaurant is a charming food spot known for its bamboo-style interiors and diverse menu. Their most popular fare are the Burmese potato cakes, khao soi, and tea leaf salad. 

The Shan and Thai-style curries are also something to not miss! Plus, the extensive menu also includes a wide range of drinks, breakfast sets, and several vegetarian options. 

If you want something more familiar, they also make Italian-style pizzas using homemade dough and sauce.

Coffee Morning

Media from coffeemorning_maehongson

Address: 78 Singhanat Bamrung Road, Chong Kham Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 53 612 234

Website: https://www.facebook.com/coffeemorningmaehongson/

Pricing: ฿

If you love coffee as much as you like reading books, Coffee Morning won’t disappoint. 

It’s a lovely and cozy cafe which features old Thai-style house architecture, decked with shelves packed with books, paintings, and quirky figurines. Check out their great selection of drinks (20 types of coffee!) and baked snacks. 

The biggest draw is its convenient location at the heart of the town center, perfect if you’re visiting popular attractions like Chong Kham Lake and Mae Hong Son Walking Street.

Na’s Kitchen

Address: 4024 Rural Road, Wiang Tai, Pai District

Operating Hours: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Sunday – Friday)

Contact Number: +66 81 387 0234

Website: https://www.facebook.com/na.kitchenpai/

Pricing: ฿฿

Na’s Kitchen is a Thai food spot known for their exquisite selection of authentic Thai curries, from massaman curry to panang curry, yellow curry, and more.

Their menu also includes other staple local dishes like deep-fried fish, steamed fish, tom yum goong, and mango sticky rice. They also have gluten-free options which is a plus.

Keep in mind that his place is usually packed so be sure to swing by as early as possible, preferably during its opening time. Otherwise, you might need to wait in line for a while, especially if you visit during the dinner service rush.

What to See and Do in Mae Hong Son

Soak in the scenery at Wat Phra That Doi Kongmu

Media credit: nawojkas

Address: Chong Kham Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 53 611 221

Website: https://www.facebook.com/kongmu.temple/

If you like Buddhist temples and scenic viewpoints, Wat Phra That Doi Kongmu is a must-see. It’s a hilltop temple in Doi Kongmu, so expect a breathtaking view of the surrounding lush mountainscapes and Mae Hong Son Town.

Devotees also frequent this sacred temple for its two white golden-spired chedis. The temple’s ornate prayer hall also has a prominent Shan architectural style because of its historical connection to the neighboring Burmese state.

This is also true for the numerous Shan-style Buddha images enshrined inside its temple structures and those displayed outdoors.

Admire Wat Hua Wiang’s charming wooden architecture

Media credit: sunisnt

Address: Pha Nith Watana Road, Chong Kham Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 5361 2003

Wat Hua Wiang may be known for its Shan and Burmese architecture, but it’s also one of Mae Hong Son’s most important temples. 

It enshrines the province’s most revered Buddha image, Phra Chao Phala Lakhaeng. It’s a Mandalay-style bronze image with the Bhumisparsha Mudra, also known as the “Earth Witness Gesture.” 

The locals revere this image because its iconic hand gesture depicts the Buddha calling upon the Earth over his triumphant journey to enlightenment. 

But if you’re only interested in the architecture, you’ll definitely appreciate its wihan’s unique multi-tier roof. Each tier features false floors, silver-clad edges, and gilded spires.

Hop between Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang

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Address: Charm-naan Satit Road, Chong Kham Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: 

  • (Wat Chong Klang) +66 53 611 352
  • (Wat Chong Kham) +66 86 189 4945

Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang are popular temples in Mae Hong Son, so they’re definitely worth visiting together. They’re also next to the Chong Kham Lake, so they’re excellent subjects for reflection photos.

Wat Chong Kham features Burmese-style wooden architecture with an impressive multi-tier roof, silver-clad edges, and a receding size towards its gilded spire. Meanwhile, Wat Chong Klang is best known for its gilded ivory-white chedi. 

This chedi also enshrines a replica of Phra Buddha Singh, alongside numerous unique wooden figurines. 

After 5 p.m., the area around these sibling temples also turns into a lively night market, so expect scores of local vendors serving Thai and Shan street food.

Stroll along Su Tong Pae Bridge

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Address: Pang Mu Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

If you like nature photography and pleasant strolls, the 500-meter Su Tong Pae Bridge is a must-visit. It’s the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand, so crossing it will not only take you through the Sa Nga River but also into vast rice fields.

You’ll also see monks walking to receive alms from local devotees, so it’s a great place to witness the local culture. To make the most of the bridge’s scenery, avoid visiting during the rice harvest season from September to October.

Check out Tham Pla – Namtok Pha Suea National Park 

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Address: Mok Cham Pae Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 85 706 6663

Website: https://www.facebook.com/NP116ThamPlaNamtokPhaSueaNP

Admission Costs: 

  • 100 baht (Adults)
  • 50 baht (Children)

Tham Pla – Namtok Pha Suea National Park is popular for two reasons: the Fish Cave and Pha Suea Waterfall. 

Fish feeding is a popular activity in the park, so expect these fishes to gather around as you get close. The park has two fish species so they sell different feeds for each kind.

Don’t worry, they have signboards so you’ll know which fish eats which food. Also, don’t forget to visit the park’s northern ranger station to see the vigorous cascades of Pha Suea Waterfall.

Take a bunch of Instagrammable photos at Ban Rak Thai

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Address: Mok Cham Pae Subdistrict

Operating Hours: 6:20 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 94 242 6263

Ban Rak Thai is a gorgeous Yunnanese Village filled with ornate Chinese-style houses and terraced tea fields. It’s also along the Mae Sa Nga River so they have a stunning arched bridge where you can take postcard-perfect photos of the village.

You can also ride a Chinese-inspired boat in case you want a better look at the village’s different sections. These boats are also lantern-lit so they’re great for romantic night rides while admiring the colorful village lights with your boo. 

But that’s not all because you can also arrange a romantic dinner date along the village’s riverside restaurants.

Visit the Thung Bua Tong Fields in Doi Mae U Kho

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Address: 1 Mae U Kho, Khun Yuam District

Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)

Contact Number: +66 5369 1108

If you have a soft spot for flowers, your Mae Hong Son trip won’t be complete without dropping by Thung Bua Tong Fields. This scenic flower field is filled with wild Mexican sunflowers that bloom in November, attracting huge local and tourist crowds.

These yellow blooms cover a wide portion of Doi Mae U Kho hills so it makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a sea of flowers. The shutterbugs on our team particularly like this place for the numerous stunning photo opportunities it offers.

If you visit during the Bua Tong Bloom Festival from November to December, camping areas will be available at the hills as well.

FAQs about Mae Hong Son

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