Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Soppong
(150B, 1½ hours, every hour from 7am to 4pm)
Getting Around
The centre of Mae Hong Son can easily be covered on foot, and it is one of the few
towns in Thailand that doesn't seem to have a motorcycle taxi at every corner. Be-
cause most of Mae Hong Son's attractions are outside of town, renting a motorcycle
or bicycle is a wise move.
PA Motorbike
( 0 5361 1647; 21 Th Pradit Jong Kham; 7.30am-7.30pm)
Opposite Friend
House, rents motorbikes (250B per day) and trucks (1500B to 2500B per day).
PJ
(
08 4372 6967; Th Khunlum Praphat;
8am-7.30pm)
Rents motorbikes (150B per
day).
Titan
(Th Khunlum Praphat;
10am-10pm)
Rents good-quality mountain bikes (80B per
day).
Pai
POP 2000
Pai's popularity has yet to impact its setting in a nearly picture-perfect mountain val-
ley. There's heaps of quiet accommodation outside the main drag, a host of natural,
lazy activities to keep visitors entertained, a vibrant art and music scene, and the
town's Shan roots can still be seen in its temples, quiet back streets and fun after-
noon market.
Trouble in Pairadise?
Despite its immense popularity, Pai has largely been able to remain a positive example of
tourism development in Thailand. Natural and cultural conservation have long been fun-
damental aspects of Pai's tourism sector. And the town has been able to remain loyal to
its rural roots, which form the basis of a lively art and music scene that leave most visitors
with an overwhelmingly positive impression.
Tourism has also brought prosperity to the formerly isolated farming community. Land in
desirable parts of the town is said to sell for as much as US$65,000 an acre, and many
locals are now employed in various tourist service-related jobs or supplement their in-
