The Mae Hong Son Loop

Departure in the morning for the mountains of the North-west and the Pai region, a charming border town of Burma. Surrounded by mountains and crossed by the Pai River, this town is a true paradise for nature lovers and offers numerous hiking opportunities in the surrounding mountains. Pai is also a festive and laid-back town. When evening falls, the streets come alive with street stalls that abound. Food flows freely, bars fill up quickly and music is of course on the agenda! 130 km of mountain road with very many hairpin turns awaits us this morning. Allow between 3 and 4 hours, plus stops to be made along this road nicknamed 'the road with 1600 turns'.

Peaceful afternoon with rest and first discoveries and walks in the city center.

Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

We hit the road this morning, via the Soppong region heading to Mae Hong Son – (110 km of winding mountain road).

On the way, we pass through the Pang Mapha district, a favorite place for exploring caves. We will make a small detour to the extraordinary Tham Lod Cave.

This cave, 1.6 km long, is traversed by an underground river.

We board a bamboo raft, which will take us inside.

Observation of stalagmites & stalactites.

On the way, stop at the Su Tong Pae bamboo bridge (15km from the city). Depending on arrival time, afternoon discovery of the city and main temples in Shan (Burmese) style around the lake.

In the evening, we can visit the night market, which starts from the main street. An opportunity to appreciate local dishes and observe local craftsmanship. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide

Early in the morning (between 6am and 8am), opportunity to watch or participate in offerings to the monks.

Then, we continue on the road to Ban Rak Thai, a small Sino-Thai village, located on the Burmese border. We take the opportunity to admire its tea plantations.

Return to Mae Hong Son, where we will visit the temples Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, an ancient Burmese temple located on the Doi Kong Mu hill. We will have a nice view over the city. Ideal for sunset.

Then, visit of the temples Wat Chong Kham, and Wat Chong Klang, which both face each other, across the lake. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide

We resume our journey after breakfast, heading towards Mae La Noi, a small traditional village perched in the mountains of northern Thailand. Here the vast majority of inhabitants are from the Shan, Lawa or Karen ethnic groups. A quiet village, away from the usual tourist circuits, Mae La Noi offers the opportunity to exchange peacefully with the local population.

Continuing towards the green city of Mae Sariang, on the border with Myanmar. Lush rice fields, rivers with turbulent courses, Karen tribe villages, herds of elephants roaming freely in Salawin Park… Mae Sariang is a hiker's paradise. The town itself is just a rice bowl where thatched-roof houses dot flooded rice paddies. In the surrounding areas, the terrain is hilly and dotted with turbulent watercourses. Gateway to Salawin National Park, with its dense forests, Mae Sariang is the ideal stopover for any eco-tourism stay. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide

This morning, we set off to discover the surroundings, including Doi Phu Co, which offers a panoramic view of the Sop Moei mountain range. To reach the summit (1046 meters), we take a trail that requires approximately 45 minutes of walking. The climb is quite challenging, but rewarding.

We then continue with the discovery of the surroundings of the Salawin National Park. We first head to the banks of the Salawain River, which serves as a natural border between Burma and Thailand. Originating in the mountains of the Himalayan range, the Salawin River flows for 2,800 kilometers, thus crossing Tibet, China, Burma and Thailand.

We board a small boat and travel up the river to the village of Mae Sam Liam (approximately 45 minutes), where we meet the Karen people.

Late in the afternoon, return to the hotel. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide

Early departure to make the most of Doi Inthanon.

Upon arrival, we meet our local guide, with whom we will undertake the day's hike. Approximately 3 kilometers long, we will trek the Doi Inthanon trail, which will introduce us to various natural landscapes: tropical forest, meadow, waterfalls, rivers… up to its summit, which will offer us a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The walk starts at 2,200 meters to reach the summit at 2,565 meters in altitude. This hike takes 2h30 / 3h00.

Before or after your climb, you have the option to stop at the magnificent Mae Klang waterfall, which is located at the foot of the trail. Please note that this activity may be cancelled if there is a risk of rain.

On the way back, there is the possibility of stopping at Mae Klang Luang village, which during the rainy season offers postcard-worthy landscapes, with its terraced rice fields. If we still have time ahead of us, we will make a detour to one of the largest waterfalls in the Mae Ya Waterfall park, with a height of 250 meters and 40 meters wide.

In the afternoon, we resume the road towards Chiang Mai. Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide