Mae Hong Son

Surrounded by forested mountains and with a remote and pretty setting by a tranquil lake, Mae Hong Son (แม่ฮ่องสอน) fits many travellers’ preconceived notions of how a Northern Thai town should look. A palpable influence from Myanmar and a frontier-settlement feel don’t clash with this image and, best of all, there’s hardly a túk-túk or tout to be seen. This doesn’t mean Mae Hong Son is uncharted territory – tour groups have been coming here for years – but the city is far more laid-back than Pai, while its potential as a base for activities, from boat trips to trekking, ensures that your visit can be quite unlike anyone else’s.