Sukie
Yeah if you've been here for awhile, the Mae Hong Son loop is still the same. The same over night towns & basically the same asphalt roads. No great new asphalt loops or side roads.
Funny but If you've lived here a long time, in a way the over development (& ruination) of Pai has killed the loop.
Pai (the Khao San Rd of the hills) has dominated so much the last few years; the other places have almost gone backwards, with less farang (& maybe Thai) tourism?
The night life & entertainment was infinitely better 15+ years ago; & the MHS Loop hay days were during the filming of Air America I guess - Mae Hong Son & Mae Sarieng got all the action.
My fave places now are
PANGMAPHA
The Soppong River Inn, a true gem on the loop.
MAE HONG SON
Piya guesthouse in Mae Hong Son
Baan Thai massage in Mae Hong Son
The Labieng restaurant on the outside of town, on the S-E side is good for food & drink (in high season.)
In town for farang, the Salween had a big reputation for farang food, but Nang has since moved (Down by the lake?), & the Salween is now Aussie run.
Nok who used to be a partner in the "famed" Crossroads Pub, has moved to her own pub & restaurant, on the south side of town somewhere, but I don't know exactly where yet. I assume Moo still has the Crossroads, & if he has not changed the formula or music it should still be ok; but I don't know about the cook (ex Salween), if she moved with Nok or not.
Hern Yay Kaew is newish Pub & Restaurant that looks cool, just opposite the Baan Thai massage; & is worth checking out.
AND checkout the GT Rider plaques at Wat Chong Klang in honour of two fallen GT Riders: John TJ Hamilton & Simon Siinthai Grant
See
planting-t-js-and-simons-memorial-plaques-in-mae-hong-son-t7146.html
and
the-tj-john-hamilton-simon-siinthai-grant-memorial-ride-t6690.html
for the full story. Should be an obligatory stop for all riders who go to MHS!!
Rak Thai / Mae Aw north of Mae Hong Son is delightful. Pang Ung is nice, but over rated & often over run by Thai tourists.
When they finish asphalting the Nong Khiew loop from off R108 - R1263, this will be a fantastic side loop! It is possibly close to finished, but check in MHS at the TAT / highways dept / rural roads.
KHUN YUAM
Ban Farang in Khun Yuam is hit & miss, although in high season the food is excellent.
The Pratu Muang Loop to the west of Khun Yuam is pretty & ok, if you've got time to spare.
WAT MAE PANG between Mae La Luang & Mae La Noi is a lovely rural ride & a good looking photogenic temple, (under royal patronage?)
MAE SARIENG
Riverhouse Resort in Mae Sarieng.
The Krua Gan Eng is good for food, drink & music
MAE CHAEM
Navasouang in Mae Chaem.
The Krua Lai Hin is where I eat.
There are some gorgeous rural village loops to do in the Mae Chaem valley, with some magic temples & villages.
If anything Mae Chaem is perfect to be the next Pai, (& trashed? :sad1:: )
re-mapping-towns-on-the-mae-hong-son-loop-t6160.html
I hope the locals don't sell all their land off to the city slickers & see their culture; traditions & lifestyle disappear in 10 short years!
The lady at the Chaem Muang
http://www.khattiyasurin.com/chaemmuang ... index.html
is worth looking up for info.
Also the guy at the The View Fai Meteorite Tennis Resort is an absolute character. Check out his meteorite stone & listen to his stories about opposing the lignite mine near Mae Na Chon 20 years ago. A great guy & worth supporting.
For DOI INTHANON make sure you do the Sanpathong – Mae Wang – Khun Wang – Khun Klang road, now all asphalt & a stunning country back roads ride.
Last but not least once they finish asphalting
1. Samoeng – Wat Chan
2. Kong Loi – Lao Lee – Mae Hae – Mae Chaem
3. Mae Chaem – Mae Hae – Mae La Noi
4. Mae Chaem – Ban Pui – Khun Mae La – R108
We will have a whole new dimension to the Mae Hong Son Loop, AND Mae Chaem will be the centre of the universe on the MHS Loop. There's a few more years to go!
Plus I hope they never build the highway from Wat Chan – Huai Pu Ling – Mae Hong with a tunnel as stupidly & extremely greedily proposed by some MHS businessmen several years ago. Asphalt the road, but leave it as it is 4 metres wide!
GT Riders please help out & post your MHS Loop tips & favourites here…..