crellston

Hi yestravel - yes you did miss it! We moved straight on from Pai mostly because it had grown massively from the sleepy little town we new 10 years ago. We basically had lunch and drove on to Soppong (a place I highly recommend!). As I recall the last time in Pai we just chilled out,took raft trip on the river and trekked to some of the surrounding villages in the hills and along the valley.

If staying in Soppong or, even driving through, the caves there are definitely worth a visit

yestravel

Ah, thanks. Yes, it's hardly a sleepy town.

yestravel

We will have to try benjarong on our way back. I missed that post. thanks, Hanuman. we ate twice at Na Kitchen and it was delicious. was recommended by a local woman and we really enjoyed the place and the food. Yes, at night it was very cold and first thing in the am too...around 6 or 7 C. Hot and sunny in the day though.

we're at Fern Resort in Mae Hung Son now and they gave us blankets for nite.

crellston

yestravel - try Salween River , a great little restaurant overlooking the lake (close to the corner away from teh main market stalls. Amazing Khao Soi

Hanuman

Say hello to "Sing-toh" translation "lion" the dog at Fern Resort!

Do try and eat at Benjerong as we found the food to be superb. The service as I've said is on and off. The Fern also have a restaurant in town call "Bia Fern" which is pretty nice.

yestravel

Crellston's-we did in fact eat at Salween's last night...had a pork salad and chicken with holy basil and both were very good. Also had a salsa dip with fried tofu chips...also good, sort of Mexico in Thailand highlands

virginiafish

great trip report. we are in the beginning stages of planning, so this is very helpful. questions may follow...

yestravel

Thanks for all the detail, crellston. I forgot about this report. Wonder if you can stay there for just a couple nights and do a half day cooking class. Will check into it.

virginiafish

Siam Rice Thai Cookery School had a half day option which was great.

artyguy

First Burma, then off to Thailand for 14 day.

Question 1:
So I'm beginning my plans for Thailand after figuring out my Burma trip. A few questions:
I have planned a four day trek in Burma to Kyaing Tong. Am I repeating myself by going to Mae Hong Son and taking a few day trek there? Meaning the villages being the same? Initial thought was Burma and Thailand are different countries, so the villages would also be different? Is this correct?

The starting plan is: Looking at flying from Mandalay on November 16th and flying to Chaing Mai. Staying three nights at the 3 Sisters (thank you crellston for your awesome suggestions).

As I'm not a skilled driver thinking best to fly from Chaing Mai to Mae Hong Son and stay at the Fern Resort for two nights and arrange for a two night trek.

Question 2: Am I missing much by flying and should I consider trying to arrange to join a group and van through the Mae Hong Sorn loop? If I was traveling with someone who drives well, I'd consider driving the loop. But as I'm traveling alone, thinking either finding a way to join a group, or hope on a van to Mae Hong Son, or just fly. Curious to know your thoughts.

Question 3: From Chiang Mai, would fly south to one of the island and chill for 4 days. Back to Bangkok for 3 days and home. Still trying to figure out which Island to go to. Not into drunkin beach parties, more into a bamboo cottage on the beach gorgeous water and scenery to end my month long vacation. Suggestions welcomed

Any advice on these plans? Combining big city with smaller city and countryside and beach chill. Thank you everyone!

artyguy

One last question: What about hiring a driver from Chiang Mai and then do the Mae Hong Sorn Loop as an alternative to hoping on a van with a group of fellow tourist. Any thoughts on how much something like this would cost and how many days I might consider doing this Round Trip?

Kathie

Remember that country boundaries were drawn without regard to tribal boundaries, so there are many ethnic groups that have villages in both Burma and Thailand, there are many who are in VN, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. I'm of the opinion that trekking to visit hill tribes is not worth you time in Thailand after your trekking in Burma.

You could certainly hire a driver in CM to go to Mae Hong Son. That is the sort of thing I's set up once you are in CM. There are also likely to be mini-vans heading that way that you could take without joining a group.

Hanuman

I suggest you drive instead of fly from Chiang Mai to MHS. The drive is easy, no traffic but a lot of curves. Spectacular scenery and you can stop at the various towns or villages to look around or buy souvenirs. If you do drive I highly recommend a restaurant in Pai, a small town about 2 - 3 hours from Chiang Mai, call Baan Benjarong. Very good Thai food with a rather colourful owner.

yestravel

I would definitely follow Hanuman's suggestions. The drive is really very worthwhile with some great scenery and stops along the way. The restaurant he recommends is great. Both trips on the loop we drove ourselves, but iF you are not comfortable doing that hire a driver.

crellston

I agree wholeheartedly, drive from CM to MHS. If you use a driver, it will clearly be much more expensive but you have the advantage of being able to enjoy the scenery without havering to concentrate on driving..

The trekking around MHS is excellent and Fern Resort can organise this for you either as day or overnight treks. Fern Resort are a community based operation and have links to CB trekking companies which makes sure teh operation benefits the local communities. I don't know how the trekking compares with Burma but it is one of the best places in. Thailand but not as memorable as say Laos. I think it is safe to assume that the villages in Thailand would be a lot more " developed/ wealthy etc." Many of the minority groups originated from Tibet and China and migrated South, a process which has accelerated in recent year due to the political issues in. Burma ( hence the number of refugees in camps on the Thai border.

Finding the island paradise you describe is becoming increasingly difficult but there are still places.your problem will be that many of these will take a chunk of travelling time out of your 4 days.

Here is a link to some info on islands which may help narrow it down a little

http://www.travelfish.org/islands.php

artyguy

Many thanks for your info, much appreciated. I suspect I can get in touch with where I'm staying (3 sisters) in Chiang Mai to find out how much a driver would cost. And check in with Budget to find out what the cost for a rental. Compare and go from there. Def would like a driver, but at what cost? Take care

artyguy

So based on everyone's thoughts. Two things I'd like to do outside Chiang Mai.
1) Experience the elephants
2) do the Mae hong Son Loop for the scenery, the villages along the way. No treks.

If I was to drive (or have a driver), could I drop the car off in Mae Hong Son and fly back to Chiang Mai? Or better yet to Krabi? This would save me time. I checked Mae Hong Son's airpot to find out what airlines fly and where with no luck.

Otherwise if not drive, take a bus and fly back. Maybe a van which might be more comfortable and less expensive.

Along the way experience the elephants.

The itinerary is looking like this:

Arrive in Chiang Mai on Nov 16
Explore the city the following day.
Nov 18th drive/bus to Elephant camp, stay overnight at the camp.
19th Continue to Mae Hong Son stay overnight
20th Mae Hong Son explore
21 Fly back to Chiang Mai overnight
22 Fly to Krabi to chill after a month of travel: Island
23 Island
24 Island
25 Island
26 Island
27 Fly to Bangkok
28
29
30

Hanuman

Re Mae Hong Son air link. Nok Air just cancelled their daily flights from Chiang Mai to MHS a few months ago and they were the only airline that flew there. However, there could be a chance that flights could commence again for the high season but I would not count on it.

artyguy

that explains why I couldn't find anything. thanks for clearing that up!

flygirl

What a great report!