Readme before you journey
Starting with a journey from the Nakhon Chai Air Bus Terminal in Chatuchak district, getting off at the Arcade Chiang Mai, the gathering point for all tour buses. We spent about 9 hours on the tour bus. On the tour bus there is food, snacks, drinking water, and clean blankets.
Recommendations
- It is recommended to choose a travel time between 20:30 and 05:30.
Upon arrival, we walked across the street from the Nakhonchai Air bus stop to the van booking point at Akhet 2 Prem Pracha Transport. There were convenience stores and restaurants, including a porridge and noodle shop, open early in the morning. The first van departs at 7:00 AM, costs 150 baht, and takes 2.30-3 hours. Be prepared for potential motion sickness.
Recommendations
- Take motion sickness medication beforehand, especially for those who are prone to it, as the 1,864 curves will surely test your stomach.
- The Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son route has 2 routes:
1. Route 612 passes through Pai and enters Mae Hong Son.
2. Route 170 Mae Sariang to Mae Hong Son
- The first picture shows the first rest stop halfway to Pai.
And then we arrived in Pai. For those who want to continue to Pang Ung, you have to take a bus to Mae Hong Son. If you haven't booked in advance like us, you have to take a yellow taxi. Let me tell you, it's much more comfortable than a van, especially for those who get carsick. I highly recommend this yellow taxi. The price is the same as the van, but you get to enjoy the scenery, viewpoints, and fresh air. However, it may take a little longer to arrive.
The price is around 150 baht. The pick-up point is in the same area where we got off the van.
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And we arrived in Mae Hong Son comfortably, without dizziness or car sickness, like Chiang Mai-Pai.
For those who want to rent a motorbike, you can tell the yellow car driver that you are going to the motorbike rental shop to go up to Pang Oung. He will recommend and take you to the shop.
*Recommendations
- It is recommended to use a motorcycle with gears, as some sections are steep and winding.
- Two women are going together. No need to drive fast. It's not dangerous to drive.
- The route opened from google map navigation to see which points have a lot of steep curves.
- The motorbike rental cost around 180 baht + 60 baht for petrol on the way back.
- It is advisable to bring glasses and a face mask, as some sections of the trail are still under repair and there is a lot of dust and sand.
We finally arrived at Pang Ung after a two-hour motorbike ride. The sky was getting dark, and the air was freezing. The water was also incredibly cold, so we had to take a quick shower after our long journey. There are restaurants on the top that serve made-to-order dishes, instant noodles, grilled pork, Chinese kale, grilled eggs, shrimp pancakes, postcards, and souvenir shops. The prices are reasonable.
*Recommendations
- Affordable accommodation, but must be booked in advance. The winter season fills up very quickly. If it's full, there is a camping area where you can rent tents. Shared bathrooms.
- The power will be cut off around 10:00 PM. It will be very dark, so you should bring a flashlight just in case.
DAY 2
Day two begins!!
Waking up early to a beautiful atmosphere, the cold weather, you should wake up a little earlier, come and sit by the fire, chat with the staff, enjoy the cool breeze, the cold air, wait for the sky to brighten, and encounter the smoke, the mist of the cold, that rises from the reservoir. Or you can relax and chill out with a romantic raft ride, wait to watch the sunrise, and then it's time to continue your journey to catch the bus at 3:00 PM.
Recommendations
- It is recommended to capture the atmosphere before the tour group arrives around 7 am, as it will be crowded, chaotic, and very noisy.
- Perfect for a romantic getaway with your partner.
- It's worth stopping by Li-Wein Rak Thai, a beautiful place with great photo opportunities, not far from Pang Ung.
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The second place is Tham Pla National Park, Pha Suea Waterfall (a beautiful waterfall near Pang Ung), located near Pang Tong Palace. It originates from the Mae Sa-nga River and is a medium-sized waterfall, approximately 10 meters high and 15 meters wide. There are several viewpoints for enjoying the natural scenery. In the parking area, there are snacks available such as instant noodles, roasted sweet potatoes, fried peanuts, and various drinks.
The journey from Pang Oung to Pha Suea Waterfall takes approximately 1.30 hours.
The third place, Phu Khlon Country Club, is one of only three health mud sources in Thailand. It helps to create radiant skin and improve blood circulation. There are a variety of services available, including mud masks, hot springs baths, and foot baths. Details are shown in the picture.
It takes about 45 minutes to travel from Pha Sua Waterfall to Phu Khlon.
The fourth location is the Sutongpe Bridge, a bridge of faith and the longest bamboo bridge in Thailand. The bridge is over 500 meters long and 2 meters wide. It was built by the villagers who wanted to provide a way for monks to walk down to the village to collect alms. The materials used to build the bridge were donated from old house posts.
It takes about 25 minutes to travel from the mud volcano to the Su Tong Pae wooden bridge.
The fifth place is Baan Phleng Restaurant, which serves local food and fish ball noodles. It is located in Mae Hong Son town, not far from Mae Hong Son Transportation. There are a variety of local dishes with good taste. The restaurant is spacious and located on the side of the road, making it easy to find.
It takes about 30 minutes to travel from the Sutongpei wooden bridge to the Baan Phleng restaurant.
The sixth place, Doi Kong Mu Temple, offers a clear view of the landscape and the city of Mae Hong Son. The entire city is visible and very beautiful. Locals and tourists alike enjoy visiting Doi Kong Mu Temple to pay their respects.
It takes about 5 minutes to travel from Baan Phleng Restaurant to Doi Kong Mu Temple.
The Grand Palace - Wat Phra Kaew
The seventh place we visited was the van station where we took a van back from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai. We used the Prem Pracha van service, which cost 250 baht and took about 5-6 hours. You can specify a pick-up point near the van station in Mae Hong Son. We chose to be picked up at the Thai Post Office.
*Recommendations
- It is advisable to book a van in advance for the return trip, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a weekend, as they tend to be fully booked. We booked ours at the Mae Hong Son Transport Station on the first day.
- Take motion sickness medication in advance. If possible, sleep beforehand. People who are prone to motion sickness should avoid sitting in the back.
D A Y 3
Day Three, the last day of exploring Chiang Mai!!
We started by renting a motorbike, as usual, through our hostel. It cost 250 baht for one day, with an automatic transmission. Returning the bike to the airport cost an additional 50 baht.
- The first place we went to was to find something to eat. Kua Gai Nimmanha, a stir-fried chicken noodle shop with a hot pan of baked eggs, is one of the most talked-about restaurants in Nimmanha. You can choose from a hot pan of stir-fried chicken or seafood. It is located on Nimmanha Road, Soi 17.1, next to Iberry. You can also stop by Iberry to buy ice cream, eat cake, take pictures, and buy souvenirs.
- The second place is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchawarawihan, a temple of great importance, a sacred place, and a tourist temple that is well-known to Thai people in general. The main pagoda for the year of the goat. The ascent is not too difficult. At the parking area, there are many villagers selling various items such as fruits, clothes, and souvenirs. Climbing the high stairs, many steps (a bit tiring), to pay respects to the pagoda. If you are unable to walk up, you can use the cable car service up and down Doi Suthep between 5:30 AM and 7:30 PM.
The journey from iBerry shop to Doi Suthep takes approximately 30 minutes.
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- Third place Wat Phra That Doi Kham Inside the temple, Thai and foreign people like to ask for blessings from Luang Pho Tan Jai, a sacred object that is said to be the ultimate sacred object for making wishes. The wish will be granted immediately. The viewing terrace in front of the stupa offers a clear view of Chiang Mai city and the Royal Flora Expo site.
The journey from Doi Suthep to Doi Kham takes about 1 hour.
- Fourth place Maau Cafe A famous coffee shop, popular among teenagers. There is parking for both motorcycles and cars. The signature drink is "Sam Mau", which is a blended milk menu, including "Mau Nom" (Thai iced tea), "Mau Chok" (chocolate), and "Mau Kafae" (coffee) with a small amount of alcohol mixed in as ordered. There are also separate bottles of concentrated milk tea, chocolate, and coffee for mixing according to your preference. The minimum price per glass is around 60 baht.
The journey from Doi Kham Temple to Meukafe takes approximately 15 minutes. The cafe is located on the irrigation canal road.
- The fifth place is Wiang Kum Kam, an ancient community that was flooded and collapsed, sinking beneath the sand and becoming a deserted city. Later, traces of the city walls were found, which were earthen mounds. There were two layers of walls with a moat in between to store water for use in the city. The 4th Fine Arts Department discovered traces of the city walls, ancient ruins, pottery fragments, and ancient ruins. Inside, you can visit the historic city of Wiang Kum Kam and take a horse-drawn carriage or tram.
It is a cultural center for the community and sustainable tourism. There are cultural performances, walking streets, and sales of cultural products every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
The journey from Meua Coffee Shop to Wiang Kum Kam takes approximately 11 minutes.
- The sixth stop, buy macarons at Darathavi, the atmosphere in the shop is decorated in clean white tones, Thai country style in a 6-star hotel. Outside the shop is a dining area, not hot, taking pictures in beautiful colors. Inside the shop there are various cakes and macarons, various flavors, both to eat in the shop and to buy home. There is a photo point as well. The price is quite cheaper than in Bangkok. The taste is delicious.
The journey from Wiang Kum Kam to Dara Thewi takes approximately 15 minutes. From there, you can continue to Chiang Mai Airport, which takes about 30 minutes.
We then took the bus back, feeling dazed and confused. Dr. Palang
That's it for this review. See you later! !!
Varin Vangtong
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:20 AM
