Mae Hong Son Loop Detailed Travel Guide (2024)

If you prefer to travel by car, in this case we recommend EconomyBookings or RentalCars, where you can find the best prices for car rentals in Chiang Mai among all major car rentals in the city.

“Mae” in Thai translates to “Mother” in English. This term can be used both literally to refer to someone’s biological mother and colloquially, similar to how one might use “Mama” in English. However, in Thailand, it’s also common to use the term “Mae” as a sign of respect towards older women, even if they are not your biological mother. It’s part of many Thai names and could mean “Mother of…” when used in this context. For example, in a name like “Mae Pranom”, “Mae” would be a sign of respect and honor, with “Pranom” being the person’s actual name.

Moreover, the term “Mae” is not just used for addressing people; it is also used in naming places, particularly rivers and towns.

One of the most famous examples is the Mae Klong River, a major river in western Thailand, notable for its large fish market and the Maeklong Railway Market. Another example is Mae Hong Son, a remote, mountainous province in northern Thailand, bordering Myanmar. It’s known for its rugged karst terrain, hot springs, and the indigenous hill tribes that live in the area. The capital city, also called Mae Hong Son, is a popular stop on the “Mae Hong Son Loop”, a scenic drive that starts and ends in Chiang Mai. Mae Sot is another city in western Thailand known as a bustling border town with a diverse population, including many Burmese refugees and migrant workers.

So, in Thailand, the term “Mae” carries a profound significance, be it in addressing people or naming geographical locations. As a traveler, understanding this can enhance your cultural appreciation and interactions with the locals.

The name “Mae Hong Son” translates to “the city of three mists.” It is derived from the natural geographical features of the location which is surrounded by high mountains and is often covered by mist. The “three mists” refer to the morning mist, the mist from burning fields (during farming season), and the evening mist (which is common in winter months).

First, you should avoid riding automatic scooters with a 110cc engine because some roads are very steep, and you won’t be able to go up because such a scooter doesn’t have enough power to do that.

In the second place, you should avoid reckless driving. This applies to all routes and roads in Thailand, but the Mae Hong Son loop is listed as the most dangerous road for foreigners. The problems you will encounter on this route are described here. Surprisingly, foreigners have nothing to do with these problems.

Thirdly, don’t forget that you are traveling in the north of Thailand. This means that these places’ early morning and late evening weather is cold in the mountains. So be sure to bring warm clothes (sweatshirt, jeans, socks) and avoid traveling in a T-shirt and shorts. If you’re going on this trip on a big bike, be sure to wear motorcycle gear.

Fourth, avoid constant exposure to the sun; otherwise, your skin will burn. Yes, that’s really true. It’s cold there in the morning and evening, but in the afternoon, your skin burns in just 15-20 minutes. So, don’t forget to wear long sleeves or use sunscreen.

Well, and most importantly, avoid riding without a helmet. Because it is the lack of a helmet and head damage is the most common cause of death in motorcycle accidents in Thailand.

As we mentioned in our guidebook, the only danger that awaits you when traveling on the Mae Hong Son loop is unpredictable and reckless drivers. However, in other respects, the journey along this route is perfectly safe, and the locals are kind and good-hearted.

We do not recommend this route for night trips. This road is very winding; in some places, there are 180-degree U-turns, and at the same time, there are no road markings, which can lead to a traffic accident. Furthermore, if something happens to you during your night journey, then most likely, no one will find you until the morning because the roads here are empty and deserted at night. In addition, it can be very cold for motorcyclists, even if you wear motorcycle gear.

Yeap, sure. You can travel this route alone. The locals are kind and friendly. Many of them will try to help you in case of any trouble, even though there is a language barrier and perhaps a complete misunderstanding of the language you speak.

It’s a little surprising, but according to the census conducted by the Bureau of Statistics of the Kingdom of Thailand, out of 210,000 people living in the province of Mae Hong Son, approximately 40% of the inhabitants (84,000 people) do not speak Thai. Some people in these places are bilingual, but they still do not speak Thai.

List of languages ​​spoken by locals: Karen (90,000 people), Thai (69,000 people), Thaikueng (36,000 people), local and hill tribe dialects (19,000 people), Hmong / Meow (5,000 people), Chinese (1200 people), Burmese (700 people), English (200 people), Lao (100 people).

In our opinion, the best time to travel Mae Hong Son Loop is from September to February, when nature is green, waterfalls are full of water, and the weather is not too hot. Of course, you can travel at other times of the year, but the best time to travel is from September to February. If you want to catch the Himalayan cherry blossoms, you should travel from mid-December to the end of January.

The coldest time of the year is in the three winter months of December, January, and February when night temperatures can drop as low as 4 degrees Celsius. But, during this time, many locals from all over Thailand, especially from the southern provinces, travel through the Mae Hong Son loop, tired of the unbearable heat and scorching sun, enjoying the cold weather.

Depending on the time of year, the trip can be either comfortable or very hot and exhausting. The hottest times of the year are March and April when temperatures can rise to 40-42 degrees Celsius. Some unskilled riders who have some problems with high blood pressure may even faint during the ride. Also, note that Thailand is near the equator, which means there are very high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Even in cloudy weather, being outdoor for just 20-30 minutes, you will get sunburn if you do not use sunscreen. Therefore, be sure to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts during your trip if you do not want to get sunburned.

If you don’t care about anything other than the statement “I’ve been here” and a few selfies, you can make this trip in a couple of days, ignoring the detours from the route. But if you like to travel leisurely, explore the surroundings and local culture, enjoy the gastronomic delights and delicacies of the local cuisine, take pictures with amazing views, and watch spectacular sunsets and enchanting mountains sunrises, then plan this route for 4-7 days.

The route, beginning in Chiang Mai and ending in Mae Hong Son, has 1,864 turns. Honestly, no one knows who counted it or how. Since after reaching Mae Hong Son, you travel further and visit other towns and attractions, we will assume that the total number of turns on this route reaches over 4000, but this is inaccurate =) If you can count it – let us know the exact number! =)

When you arrive in Mae Hong Son, you must visit the Chamber of Commerce, which is located near Nong Chong Kham Lake, where you will be given a personal certificate. It costs a nominal fee, but in addition to the issued certificate you will be treated to free delicious freshly brewed coffee.

Local dishes such as fried rice (khao phat), stir-fried rice noodles (phat thai), green papaya salad (som tam), deep-fried crispy egg noodles (khao soi), Hainanese chicken rice (khao man gai), or yellow egg noodles (ba-mee) along the route will cost you about $1-2 per plate. 

The word mueang (เมือง, transliteration – meuuang) in Thai can have several meanings, depending on how it is used. For example, mueang Thai would mean Thailand; baan mueang would mean country, state, or nation; mueang luang would mean the capital city, and over a dozen other values. In the case of Mueang Mae Hong Son, it means the district in which the city council is located, i.e., the city district.