The nature is pure and the traditional way of life preserved here in Mae Sariang. To begin your journey, let’s suppose you leave Chiang Mai’s Hot for Mae Sariang district, while Mae Hong Son’s provincial seat is your next destination after us.
From Hot, take highway no. 108. On the way, you’ll be passing Obluang National Park followed by a large pine plantation area of Boa Keaw Silvicultural Research Station. After visiting the pine trees, you can either directly come to one of our Riverhouses or if you have time, there’s still Mae Sawan Noi Waterfall Forest Park en route for you to pop round at Mae Hoh sub-district.
Once arriving Mae Sariang, you can visit Mae Sariang Museum to learn the history of this little town. Other tourist attractions are mostly temples, of which one good thing is that most of the temples are up the mountains, and from there you’ll discover a picturesque view of the whole town. You’ll also find Mae Hong Son province’s biggest Buddha image of around 10m in width and 15m in length if you visit Phratat Jomthong Temple.
If you’re done with all those mentioned, try Huay Chompoo Arboretum on the highway or visit Pamalor Karen Village to get a glimpse of the Karen way of life. If lucky, you might also get to see Karen people while they’re working on their woven fabric.
Mae Sariang’s Silpacheep Arts and Crafts Centre is for you to shop for souvenirs, while for those who want to isolate themselves from the outside world can try Rattanaprateep Dhamma Retreat at Doi Kerng Temple, where meditation there is practiced and known for therapeutic treatments.
One of the hot spots you shouldn’t miss when you visit Mae Sariang is Salawin River which borders Thailand and Myanmar at Ban Mae Sam Lab, Sob Moei district. There, you can take a boat trip to appreciate the natural beauty along the river and on the journey you can stop for lunch at a local village in the forest. For those wanting to stay the night, Salawin National Park is available for your camping.
Meanwhile, located at another direction from Mae Sariang on the way to Mae Sot district is Maengao National Park, where bird watching, bamboo rafting and camping are on offer.
Other sightseeing spots include Kaew Komol Cave (one of the world’s three glittering calcite caves) situated in Mae La Noi district on the road to Mae Hong Son’s provincial seat. In this same district, you can a make stopover at Huai Hom Karen Village, a hilltribe development centre where coffee is planted and sent out for selling all over the country. At the village, sheep are as well raised by the locals so that the wool is used as material for hand-woven products…Have a nice journey!