The Mae Sariang Loop

Day 1: Chiang Mai – Mae Sariang

Fantastic Ob Luang Gorge

Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel. It is the start of your Mae Sariang Loop tour. Drive to Sanpatong. (*)  Continue to Hot and onwards to Ob Luang National Park. We will make an easy, relaxing walk to the magnificent Ob Luang Gorge. Enjoy the rock formations and some interesting prehistoric rock paintings. If you want, you can climb up to a great viewpoint. We will have a late lunch at the restaurant near the park entrance.

Drive to Mae Sariang

After lunch, we will drive to Mae Sariang along a road with beautiful mountain scenery. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure. You can explore Mae Sariang on own or enjoy a beer (or a shake) at the Mae Sariang Bar overlooking the Yuam River.
Overnight at the River House Resort

(*) if departure is on a Saturday we will stop at the huge Saturday Buffalo market in Sanpatong for half an hour.

Day 2: Mae Sariang

Journey to the Myanmar border

After breakfast, your guide and driver will fetch you. We will drive to Ban Mae Sam Laep for our boat trip on the Salawin River. This will be one of the highlights of this trip.

The source of the Salawin River river is on the Tibetan Plateau. The river flows through China and Myanmar and forms the border between Myanmar and Thailand for about 120 km in Mae Hong Son province. At Moulmein in Myanmar, it flows into the Andaman Sea. The total length of the river is 2815 km. The river forms the border here between Thailand and Myanmar. In Myanmar, they call this river the Thanlyin River. There was a border crossing here and there used to be a mail service to Rangoon (Yangon), the capital of Myanmar in the past.

Fantastic boat trip on the Salawin River

We board our local private boat and take a boat trip to Sop Moei which will take about 50 mins. Enjoy the fantastic scenery. At Sop Moei we take a walk. Sop Moei is a Karen village. We will briefly drop by at the local school. Not many people visit this remote area. We take our boat back to Ban Mae Sam Laep where we will enjoy a local lunch.
Drive back to Mae Sariang. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.
Overnight at the Riverhouse Resort

Day 3: Mae Sariang – Khun Yuam

Meet the Lawa people

After breakfast, we will depart for Ban Mae La Up. We will stop at several places to enjoy the splendid views.The Lawa or Lua, as the Northern Thai call them, are found only in Thailand. They are the real indigenous people of Thailand and were already living here when the Thais migrated from Southern China.
With your guide, you will explore the village and meet some of the villagers. We will visit the local silversmith who will give a short demonstration of his craft. Simple lunch in the village. After lunch, we will drive back to the main road.

World War Two Museum in Khun Yuam

Continue to Khun Yuam.  Drive to Khun Yuam, a quiet town that most people pass by. After arrival in Khun Yuam, we will visit the Thai-Japanese Memorial Hall. This museum commemorates the presence of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2 but also focuses on the history of the “Tai Yai” of Khun Yuam. Check into the Baan Farang Guesthouse. Overnight at Baan Farang Guesthouse

Day 4: Khun Yuam – Mae Hong Son

The Padaung people of Mae Hong Son

Today we will drive to Mae Hong Son, a town with Burmese, Thai and Shan influences. Along the way, you have the option to visit the Long Neck Village Huay Phu Keng. A short boat trip will bring you to this interesting village of the Padaung people. After this continue to Mae Hong Son

Magnificent Shan style temples

Enjoy a brief tour of this pleasant city, walking around Chong Kham Lake, a park-like setting with beautiful gardens and Buddhist temples. There will be stops to visit Burmese style temples like Wat Chong Klang and the neighbouring monastery, and finally, Wat Kong Mu, sitting atop a hill just west of town. The temple contains a beautiful image of Buddha carved from alabaster.
Overnight in Fern Resort

Day 5: Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai

Wat Doi Kong Mu, the temple on the hill

This morning is free at leisure. If you want we can take you before sunrise up to Doi Kong Mu. From this hill, you have a fantastic view over Mae Hong Son.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Chiang Mai ** Not included**

End of the Mae Sariang Loop