Mae Hong Sorn

Mae Hong Sorn was founded in 1831 by the Shan people virtually on the Myanmar border. The royal family of Chiang Mai hired the Shan people to capture wild elephants and train them in the area. The elephant and logging trade boomed in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

When the logging trade declined, Mae Hong Sorn became a sleepy jungle town. In the last couple of decades, Mae Hong Son has become a popular tourist destination, due to the magnificent scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

Mae Hong Sorn is now known for its charm of scenery and culture. The region is home for Shan architecture and art, for the hill tribe minorities and the natural beauty of the Mae Surin Waterfalls, Doi Mae Sunflower Fields and Nam Tok Mae Surin National Park.

The Shans' ancestors came from the Shan region in Myanmar. The hill tribes around Mae Hong Sorn are made up of Karen, Lisu, Hmong, Lahu, and Lua, and elements of their lifestyles have changed little in hundreds of years.  The Shans and the hill tribe people have their own distinctive cultures, dialects, customs and traditions, and their own delicious cuisine.

The major places of interest are the Burmese Temple of Wat Chong Kham, the 80 meter sheer fall of Mae Surin Waterfall, the Pai River and its bamboo raft voyages and local wildlife.