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All you need to know to visit Mae Hong Son

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Northern Thailand
924 km from Bangkok
Province of Mae Hong Son

Budget: 2/5
Recommended stay: 2 to 3 days
Sightseeing: 5/5

Travel guide to visit Mae Hong Son

Located in the northwest of Thailand, just a few kilometers from the border with Myanmar (ex-Burma), Mae Hong Son has become a tourist destination that often follows stops in Chiang Mai and Paï. It is especially its mountains and forests and its countryside that make the charm of this destination. It is also the starting point for treks in its mountains to meet the Karen, Lisu, Mhong, Lahu, akha hilltribes and their villages. Mae Hong Son also often has a sea of mist which gives it a little mysterious character and the nights are cool there even in the dry season. In town, you will discover Burmese-style religious buildings and can enjoy the Walking Street which stands by its lake in the evening with the illuminated chedi of Wat Chong Kham reflected in the water. Early risers will go to see the alms offerings to the monks near Mae Hong Son Food Market around 7 a.m. and for those who want to indulge themselves in an eco-responsible resort a little outside the cityI recommend to spend a night at Fern Resort and its small terrace rice fields. My favorites visits outside the city remain the Lod Cave and its interior river and Ban Jabo village and its incredible mountain view.

Beware wild fires which every year from the end of February to mid-April make the air quality in the upper part of Thailand very bad and even dangerous for health. Depending on the weather and the scarcity of rains during this period, it can last or be in episodes but when the level is in the red or purple, wearing an N95 type mask, the only one that can really filter micro-particles, is recommended. There are applications and websites to find out the AQI (Air Quality Index) score.

For all the options for getting around Mae Hong Son, see our section on getting around in Mae Hong Son.

Accommodations in Mae Hong Son

In Mae Hong Son city, I recommend that you sleep in a hotel or guesthouse near Chong Kham Lake, on the edge of which are the two most emblematic temples of the city. This is also where the night market walking street take place. In the area you will find many guesthouses and small bungalow accommodations that are quite inexpensive. Especially on Udom Chao Ni-Thet and Chamnana Sathit Road. Air condition is not essential here for much of the year, but it's up to you. We are in the mountains and the temperature at night is lower than in most parts of Thailand. If you are not necessarily looking for a small budget place, I recommend the Fern Resort for its natural setting about ten kilometers from the city with small rice terraces inside the resort.

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My recommendations

People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Mae Hong Son.

Fern Resort

Hotel in Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son city

8.3/10 Book now More details

Boondee House

Hotel in Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son city

8.1/10 Book now More details

Jongkham Place

Hotel in Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son city

8/10 More details

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Practical information about Mae Hong Son

The nights are cool in Mae Hong Son, so put some warm clothes in your lugaga when going there. And pay attention to the air quality between mid-February and the end of April. There is currently no more volume to Mae Hong Son. Only Bangkok Airways and Nok Air have promotions to Mae Hong Son, the airlines that are taking full advantage of the charter service. Arrival date, departure date, Bangkok Airways destination, June 2025. Mae Hong Son is therefore now only accessible by road. It's 6 hours drive by passenger van from Chiang Mai on a road with 1084 bends (see the how to get to Mae Hong Son section), so many that they made T-Shirts out of it and you can get a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce in the city once there.

Transport in Thailand

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How to go to Mae Hong Son ?

Mae Hong Son has its own airport but it is not very active. And the only two airlines that serve the destination, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air, have repeatedly discontinued this route. So much so that after Bangkok Airways stopped serving the destination in June 2025, it is no longer possible to fly to Mae Hong Son. Check the websites of both airlines, just in case one or the other has decided to offer flights to Mae Hong Son again and I haven't seen the information. So you now can only get to Mae Hong Son is by road transport: passenger minivan or bus from the Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal, but the local buses for this connection are quite old and slow on the climbs. Minivan departures are frequent and the journey on the most twisty mountain road in Thailand takes 6 hours. If you are car sick, take your precautions and possibly prefer the local bus which is certainly slower but makes you less sick. From Bangkok, from Mochit Bus Terminal, there are a few direct buses to Mae Hong Son per day. The journey takes 16 hours. By train, you can go to Chiang Mai and then take a bus or passenger van. Choosing a night train to Chiang Mai can be a good option to optimize your travel time.

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How to get around in Mae Hong Son ?

Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis are the two options to get around in Mae Hong Son. But the most interesting temples, are in a fairly small area and can be visited by a small walking circuit. The most challenging part will be the climb to access Wat Doi Kong Mu. At the very quiet bus terminal a sign indicates the tuk-tuk or motorbike rates but to avoid this race, you can try to get off the bus a little before the bus terminal. To explore the countryside and points of interest around Mae Hong Son, rent a scooter or a bike(with speeds) at Titan for example. Local buses or songthaews go to major attractions (waterfalls, hot springs ...) but be careful if you choose this option because after 4 pm, it might be hard to find a bus to go back in the city. Check with your hotel or guesthouse to find out which local bus to take and where.

Festivals in Mae Hong Son ?

Here is a list of the main festivals held every year in Mae Hong Son. Their dates are published as soon as they are official on the Festivals in Thailand page.