8 Best Sights in The Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand

Backpackers came to this scenic spot back in the ’90s and spread the word: it quickly became the sunset thing-to-do in Pai. What were dirt paths are now properly paved and lined with touristy vendors selling elephant pants. Once you climb the stairs and arrive at the viewpoint, intrepid hikers can walk at their own risk alongside skinny, unstable trails lined with slippery red sandstone and steep drop-offs. Proper footwear is an absolute must here. Also of note in the area is Pam Book Waterfall, about a 20-minute drive west on Route 1095, and the nearby Memorial Bridge many pass through on their way to Chiang Mai.

This museum goes by two different names and commemorates the hundreds of Japanese soldiers who died here during a chaotic retreat from the Allied armies in Burma. Locals took in the dejected and defeated men, and a local historian gathered the belongings they left behind: rifles, uniforms, cooking utensils, personal photographs, and documents. They provide a fascinating glimpse into a little-known chapter of World War II.

About 28 km (17 miles) north of Mae Hong Son on the Pai road, this park has one of the region's strangest sights—a grotto with a dark, cisternlike pool overflowing with fat mountain carp. The pool is fed by a mountain stream that is also full of thrashing fish fighting to get into the cave. Why? Nobody knows. It's a secret that draws thousands of Thai visitors a year. Some see a mystical meaning in the strange sight. The cave is a pleasant 10-minute stroll from the park's headquarters.

A wonderfully self-satisfied Burmese-style Buddha, the cares of the world far from his arched brow, watches over this temple from 1827, which has a fine pulpit carved with incredible precision. It's located on a small lake, right next to the equally important Wat Chong Klang.

Built in 1863, this temple, with it's multitiered wooden roof structure adorned with detailed carvings in zinc, is an excellent representation of Shan-Burmese architecture. It is also noted for housing Mae Hong Son's most celebrated Buddha image, and one of the most revered in northern Thailand, which is now the centerpiece in the main sermon hall. Its origins are clear: note the Burmese-style long earlobes, a symbol of the Buddha's omniscience. 

On the top of Doi Kong Mu, this temple has a remarkable view, especially at sunset, of the surrounding mountains. The temple's two chedis contain the ashes of two major 19th-century monks, Phra Moggallana (one of the Buddha's closest disciples) and Phaya Singhanat Racha (Mae Hong Son's first governor, who built the building).