Northern Thailand - Thailand - page 756

Sŏrng·tăa·ou to Mae Sot depart from a stop at the northern end of Th Pravatpriwan (120B,
four hours, hourly from 6.30am to 12.30pm). Sŏrng·tăa·ou Poeng Kloeng depart from a
stop on Th Ratpattana, opposite the hospital (100B, 2½ hours, hourly from 6.30am to
3.30pm).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mae Sot to Mae Sariang
Rte 105 runs north along the Thailand-Myanmar border from Mae Sot all the way to Mae
Sariang (226km) in Mae Hong Son Province. The winding, paved road passes through the
small communities of Mae Ramat, Mae Salit, Ban Tha Song Yang and Ban Sop Ngao
(Mae Ngao). The thick forest in these parts still has a few stands of teak and the Karen vil-
lages continue to use the occasional work elephant.
Nam Tok Mae Kasa , between the Km 13 and Km 14 markers, is an attractive waterfall
fronting a cave. There's also a hot spring in the nearby village of Mae Kasa.
In Mae Ramat , don't miss Wat Don Kaew , behind the district office, which houses a large
Mandalay-style marble Buddha.
At Km 58, after a series of roadblocks, you'll pass Mae La , where it's estimated that
60,000 Burmese refugees live. The village is at least 3km long and takes a couple of
minutes to drive past, bringing home the significant refugee problem that Thailand faces.
There are extensive limestone caverns at Tham Mae Usu , at Km 94 near Ban Tha Song
Yang (not to be confused with the village of the same name further north). From the high-
way it's a 2km walk to Tham Mae Usu; note that it's closed in the rainy season, when the
river running through the cave seals off the mouth.
At the northern end of Tak Province, you'll reach Ban Tha Song Yang , a Karen village at-
tractively set at the edge of limestone cliffs by Mae Nam Moei. This is the last significant
settlement in Tak before you begin climbing uphill and into the dense jungle and moun-
tains of Mae Ngao National Park, in Mae Hong Son Province.
Ban Sop Ngao , little more than a roadside village that is home to the park headquarters, is
the first town you'll come to in Mae Hong Son. From there it's another 40km to Mae Sari-
ang, where there's ample food and accommodation.
Sleeping & Eating