Sang Tong Huts/Info Mae Hong Son

Welcome to Mae Hong Son!

Mae Hong Son is the capital of Thailand's northwestern province, also called Mae Hong Son, located along the Burmese border. It was founded in 1831 by the princes of Chiang Mai as an training camp for elephants captured from the surrounding jungle. He brought also the Thai Yai to this areas to hunt and train the elephants. This tribe consists nowadays half of the population of Mae Hong Son and bring a strong Burmese influence to the Mae Hon Son's temples and cultures. Other half of the population are mainly hill tribes, a big group of Karen, as well as Lisu and Mong. In the nearer past Burmese refuges crossed the border and settled down or live in the camps next to the border.
Mae Hong Son has many nick names like „City of Three Mists“, cause it is set deep in a mountain valley, so in November and December you have the morning mist, February and March you have smoke from burning down the ricefields and during the rainy season you have the rainfalls.

In the old days, Mae Hong Son was also called „Siberia of the North“, cause at that time there was no paved road and the only connection to the outside was the elephant trails and only the troublesome politicians or government officials were sent to this town.

But after the paved road and the airport came to Mae Hong Son, the town is booming and tourism is rising, cause of the nice location surrounded by the mountains, the picturesque burmese tempels and the colourful market.

Temples

Pagode of Wat Doi Kong Mu	High above the city is the Wat Doi Kong Mu. Here you have a beautiful outlook over the city and the runway, you can see the airplanes start and land. The temple was built around 150 years ago under the rule of the first Goveneur of Mae Hong son. It is the youngest temple, but should have some relic of Buddha. In the past years some souveniershops poped up, as a lot of Thai tourists like to visit this tenple. At Loy Kratong there is a fair for 5 days up here.
You can reach the temple through a asphalt road via Tuk Tuk or walk, which takes around 30 minutes Also at night you have a phantastic view or for sunset. more impressions:	View from Wat Doi Kong Mu

Next to the market you have the Wat Hua Wiang with a very revered bronce Buddha statue, from Burma, where it was produced and brought to Mae Hong Son. It reminds to the statues from Mandalay.

These are only the important temples, Rosegarden Tours offers a halfday-tour to the temples with a guide.

Round Trips

Mae Hong Son is also good for a starting point for round trips (look also Partners). You can do a lot by yourself too. Just rent a motor bike or a car and tour around.

Here are some suggestions:

Fish Cave
Half-day trip
Waterfall
Half-day trip
Mae Aw
Day Trip to the Kaomingtang village in connection with Waterfall and Fish Cave
Sunflower Fields
Day Trip to the South in November
Meo Microwave
Half-day Trip to a Meo Village
Caves of Soppong
Day Trip to the largest Caves of Thailand
Forrest Monks Monestry
Day Trip through nice landscape
Elephant ride
Halfday tour (only booked possible)

These roundtrips can also be done organized with "Rosegarden Tours".

Festivals

Loy Kratong
One of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand happend every year in November. Highlight and end of this party is always the first full moon night in November. It starts a few days before with a big party up at Wat Doi Kon Mu. A three days happening with theater, food, games and "Loy Kratong in the air", whitch are small lights on a baloon, where the people send heir wishes in the air, normally the Kratongs are send away with the river, but Mae Hong Son doesn´t have one, so we send them in the air.

More Infos

Poi Sang Long-Procession Every year end of March/beginning of April the 10 to 16 year old boys become monks. This procession is very colorfull in Mae Hong Son, cause of the old Shan tradition the shaven head boys ride on the sholders of a close relative to take their first vow. Their is lots of music, flowers and of corse food.
More details:

Shopping

If you are interested in Burmese laquerware or products of the hilltribes Mae Hong Son is a great place to shop. Along the Khunlum Prapas Road (main road direction Mae Sarian-Pai) are a lot of small shop with a rich offer, in the evening the colorfull Lisu are setting up small booths with their products.
If you are interested in antiques and funny things, you should take a look at the old metal shop next to the night bazzar.