Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son sits in a deep valley surrounded by high mountain ranges which leave it virtually isolated from the rest of the world. This is compounded by the thick mist which covers it most of year. The name is a reference to the terrain which is ideal for training elephants. In fact, many wild elephants are rounded up and trained in Mae Hong Son before being sent to work in Chiang Mai.
Today, Mae Hong Son is a picturesque destination for travellers seeking adventure opportunities, spectacular scenery and indigenous communities. The Thai Yai peoples can be encountered along the province’s northern border with Myanmar. This populous ethnic Thai tribe has settled largely in Mae Hong Son and their traditions have strongly influenced the province, as evidenced by its architecture.
The tribe’s location has forced the people to adapt their typical Lanna communties into a style more conducive to the harsh weather extremes. Most of their houses are built with tall floors and low roofs in accordance with their social status. The most opulent members of the tribe may have houses with two or more levels and precise space allocation for optimal air circulation.
