Maehongsorn Province

Maehongson province bordered to Myanmar. It is assumed that there had been Lawa tribe 's lodges for a long time ago becuase ancient corpses and graves were discovered here. There was small community in Mae-Hongsorn where is passage way to Krungsri-Ayutthaya for Myanmar 's army. Unitl year 1831 in early Ratanakosin in the reign of Rama III, Phraya Chiangmai Mahawong known area in the west of Chiangmai city is mountains, thick forest and wildlife abounding. He appointed Chao Kao-Boonma to take mahouts elephants used as an decoy to catch wild elephants there. After he catched wild elephants, he went to some area (Mae-Hongsorn in present) and found that the area is suitable for establishing village and elephant training center. He named this area to "Mae-Longsorn". This word was distorted to be "Mae-Hongsorn" in later. In year 1874 in the reign of Rama V, he promoted Mae-Hongsorn town to be Mae-Hongsorn city before were reformed to be province in the later time.

Maehongsorn province is covering area about 12,681 square kilometres and its population is about 243,000 persons. Another name is "Muang Sam-Mok" because the area is surrouned with mountains so that this province is covered by fog all the year. There are many beautiful natural places, mountains and forests so that this province is called "Switzerland in Thailand". Moreover old tradition and culture here such as the old house pattern, costumes and language are attractive things for tourists as well.

There are many attractive places such as Wat Phra That Doi Kong-Moo, Namtok Pha-Sue Park, Huay Nam-Dang National Park, Namtok Mae-Surin National Park, Salawin National Park, Bua-Tong field at Doi Ou-Khor and Float raft downstream at Pai River. 

Local Transportation

Car: Take highway no. 1 ( Phaholyothin Rd. ) and take highway no. 32 (Sai Asia) passing Ayutthaya, Angthong and Nahonsawan province and then take highway no. 117 passing Lampang and Lamphoon to Chiangmai and then take highway no. 1095 to Maehongsorn province. Total distance is about 945 kilometres. Bus: Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Northern and North-Eastern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2) to Maehongsorn province. Train: No direct train to Maehongsorn province but you can take a train from Bangkok's Hualumphong Railway Station to Chiangmai province and then take local bus to Maehongsorn province. Air: Take domestic airline from Bangkok to Maehongsorn province at International Airport Bangkok and SGA airline from Chiangmai or Chiangrai to Maehongsorn province.