Mae Hong Son

Mist over Mae Hong Son

The Mae Hong Son loop — 600 kilometres of switchbacks (1,864 bends, locals will tell you) curling through the mountains northwest of Chiang Mai — is the country’s great motorbike road trip and a four-to-six day commitment by car. The hippie town of Pai is the obvious first overnight, with its sunset canyon walk a short drive south of town. Further on, Pang Oung is sometimes called the “Switzerland of Thailand”: a small mountain reservoir ringed by pines that turns pink and misty at dawn. Plan around the season — the cool months (November-February) are best; the rains turn the road slick and the burning months (March-April) wreck the air quality.

Pai Canyon at sunset in Mae Hong Son, narrow earthen ridges winding above forested valleys with a lone hiker silhouetted on a knife-edge spur under a warm golden sky
Pai Canyon at sunset.
Pang Oung lake at dawn in Mae Hong Son, mist drifting between pine trees reflected in the still mountain reservoir with a traditional bamboo raft along the shore in soft pink light
Pang Oung lake at dawn.

← Back to Thailand · All Destinations

All Mae Hong Son Guides

5 in-depth guides to Mae Hong Son — food, nightlife, beaches, transport, money and the practical detail that is hard to find.

Hot Springs Pai Pang Ung Lake Tham Lod Cave The Mae Hong Son Loop