Trekking

The wonderful trekking opportunities in the Mae Hong Son area is the main reason why many tourists visit this town. There is a broad range of organised tours on offer which starts from a single day to three or four days out in the mountains and jungles that surround this beautiful but somewhat isolated provincial town. Before you start your trekking tour, you will be driven out of town for an hour or two to reach the starting point. Most trekking routes will stop off at one or more Hill Tribe village, and for the overnight treks, you will usually stay at a house in one of the villages being visited. You will sleep dormitory style, on thin mattresses with a blanket or sleeping bag. Mosquito nets are provided. During the evenings and mornings that you spend in these villages, you will have the chance to mix with the villagers and learn something about their culture and way of life. Two or more days trekking can take you across the mountains, close to the Burmese border, and some tours include a night camping out in the jungle. Here, they will teach you survival techniques and how to cook using local utensils. All your food is supplied by your tour guide and is often cooked by him or her. Don't expect an "a la carte menu" and you will usually dine Thai style, eating from the locally cooked dishes laid out for your party. The three popular areas for trekking tours are towards Soppong and east and west of Mae Hong Son. A less visited area is south of Mae Hong Son, in and near the Nam Tok Surin National Park, which affords some incredibly scenic views. This may also include an overnight stop in a Karen or Hmong Hill Tribe village. Some villagers will be more familiar with tourists than others, but they are all geared to receive visitors, although their way of life is much less affected by tourism than the villages closer to Chiang Mai. As you can see that there is a wide choice of trekking tours available, but the most important element of your trek will be the quality of your tour guide. If possible, check with other visitors who may recommend a particular outfit or guide. Prices will vary but expect to pay 1000B - 1500B per day, depending on the nature of the tour and the number of people in the party. Every guesthouse will be happy to arrange trekking tours or put you in touch with tour guides. Three suggestions to get you started are: Rose Garden Tour Email: rosetour_pranee@hotmail.com Tel: +66 53911981 Sawasdee Tour Email: tanachai_chingta@hotmail.com Tel: +66 848069086 Sunflower Café Tel: +66 53620549