Mae Hong Son Sights and POI

For such a small town there is a surprising amount to see and do in Mae Hong Son, making it a little surprising that most travellers don’t bother to venture to this point, sticking to the more touristy hubs of Pai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The main draw here is the beauty of the local countryside and to explore a more rural area of Thailand, although there is a reasonable amount of tourist infrastructure in place that allows you to visit key attractions easily.

Trekking and visiting Karen people

The vast majority of people visiting Mae Hong Son will choose to do some trekking and hiking in the mountains, with a view to learning more about the local hill tribes who live in the area.

The Karen people are the local tribes people in this region, originally from over the border into Myanmar, and are distinguishable from their custom of wearing bands around their necks to elongate them. Many have fled from social and political difficulties in Myanmar and have established bases as refugees in Northern Thailand. Unlike some locations in Thailand where the Karen people are resident, the tourist economy here seems less exploitative with no entrance charges to the villages and a well-established and happy community.

Trekking in the countryside often takes in one or more Karen villages, and trekking tours can be easily arranged once you arrive in Mae Hong Son. If you choose to trek for longer than a day you’ll stay in one of the villages or in a hut on the mountain side, offering a truly off the beaten track experience. From seeing beautiful countryside, enjoying nature and picturesque scenery and swimming in waterfalls, there’s plenty to take in if you choose to go trekking here.

Mae Hong Son temples

As well as enjoying the local scenery, there are several other sights to enjoy during your time in Mae Hong Son. There are two ‘Wats’ or temples, built in the Burmese style that are very attractive and worth visiting. Situated on the edge of the lake and offering some great photo opportunities, especially on a clear day, the twin pagodas take a couple of hours to visit and fully appreciate. Wat Jong Klang has a great collection of paintings on glass, Burmese dolls and other teak and wooden works to admire. Wat Jong Kham is the other temple, which is the elder of the pair.

If you want to take in some more temples, there are also a couple on the Western side of town - Wat Phra Non and Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu. The main reasons for visiting these includes seeing the 12-metre reclining Buddha statue, as well as enjoying some great views over Mae Hong Son and the surrounding area. You can see as far as Myanmar on a clear day and there are also a couple of cafes for some handy refreshments.

Mae Hong Son markets

As with all Thai towns, markets are a key fixture here, and there are several to take in on your visit, depending on what time of year you visit the town. The most popular are the Sunday markets, which rotate around local towns, and the nightly walking street which is a bit more lively with food and handicrafts made by the hill tribes people.

Tham Pla Forest Park

Finally there’s also some more nature to take in at the Tham Pla Forest Park, which is a very picturesque spot less than 20km out of town and is a nice place to feed the famous fish that live in the park’s waterways. There’s also the Forest Monastery, which is a popular place with travellers looking to embark on a retreat, and a tea village that’s often busy with Chinese tourists.