Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
A dozen homes in Mae La-Na have collaborated to form a homestay program (per person per night
100B) ; fees go back into a community fund. Meals can be prepared for 70B per person. En-
quire at the sporadically staffed wooden office at the entrance to town or at any home with
a 'home stay' sign.
Maelana Garden Home
( 08 1706 6021; r & bungalows 200-500B) At the edge of town towards Tham Mae La-Na, this
beautiful farmlike compound combines rooms in two wooden houses and a few A-frame
bamboo bungalows. Authentic Shan meals can be prepared (100B per person). Call ahead
- transport can be arranged for 100B from Rte 1095 or from Soppong for 400B - or ask
for Khun Ampha at the village shop and petrol station.
GUESTHOUSE $
TOP OF CHAPTER
Mae Hong Son
POP 7000
With its remote setting and surrounding mountains, Mae Hong Son fits many travellers'
preconceived notion of how a northern Thai city should be. A palpable Burmese influence
and a border-town feel don't clash with this image, and best of all, there's hardly a túk-túk
or tout to be seen. This doesn't mean Mae Hong Son is uncharted territory - tour groups
have been coming here for years - but the city's potential as a base for activities, from spa
treatment to trekking, ensures that your visit can be quite unlike anyone else's.
Mae Hong Son is best visited between November and February when the town is at its
coolest and most beautiful. During the rainy season (June to October), travel to the more
remote corners of the province can be difficult because there are few paved roads. During
the hot season (approximately February to May), the Mae Nam Pai valley fills with smoke
from swidden agriculture. The only problem with going in the cool season is that the
nights are downright cold - you'll need at least one sweater and a thick pair of socks for
mornings and evenings.
History
Mae Hong Son has been isolated from Thailand geographically, culturally and politically
for most of its relatively short existence. The city was founded as an elephant training out-
 
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