Mae Hong Son, Thailand: For mountains, trails, views, and adventures to excite you

If you are into adventure then you must travel north of Thailand. Mae Hong Son borders Myanmar. The peaks are supposed to be the continuation of the Himalayas. The thick dense forests and steep hills are great for those seeking a purely adventurous hiking trail. The locals here belong to different indigenous tribes, their clothes vary as per the tribe. The food has a strong influence from Myanmar.

Namtok National Park, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Getting there: The route to Mae hong Son is either through Chiang Mai or through Chiang Rai. You can fly to either of the destinations. After which you have to take a shared van or rent a car to the location. I travelled from Chiang Mai and took a van to the town of Mae Hong Son. Its better to arrive in the evening and stay at a hotel so you can start early in the morning. Before getting there its best to book with a company that organizes these hikes. You can join a group or make your own group. The camping company usually provides tents and cooks fresh food. There are porters who go along who carry your luggage too. You can always check the details especially if they are carrying the safety gears.

The Adventure begins once you are 'Up on the hill': The stay is usually in deep forests with no access to toilets or bathing facilities, so you have to be prepared. The trails can be planned for two nights at minimum. They are quite steep hills, plan your trail based on your comfort.

Valley,Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Sunset, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

My trip was cut short as I fell sick. It was a long way back for me with my health. A ranger brought me to the porters village.I stayed at a porter's house until my group returned. I must say I enjoyed the local life. The most memorable part of my journey. I was served fresh food and slept with the pets walking around. I was unable to bring my bags back as it went along with my group so I had no piece of change. I had also left my phone behind too as there was no network. I just had some money with me which helped me along the way.

The view of the market and temple, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Local dessert made of steamed rice, Mae Hong Son Market, Thailand

In the town: If you arrive early or plan to leave in the afternoon, you can walk around the local market which is surrounded by a little lake. There is a temple on the hill that you can walk up and another in the market as you see in the picture above. The local fresh market is huge and you can find not just the local spices, also freshly cooked food.

A trip to Mae Hon Son is a different experience if you are looking for a change from the beaches.