This province is directly north of Phuket and covers an area of 4,170 square kilometres. The provincial capital is 788 kilometres south of Bangkok. The province’s major attractions are the marine national parks of Ao Phangnga (Phangnga Bay), Mu Ko Similan (Similan islands) and Mu Ko Surin (Surin islands). Phangnga Bay has been featured in several international movies, including the 007 adventure The Man with the Golden Gun, and contains some 100 largely uninhabited limestone islands scattered around almost perpetually calm waters. Many islands are riddled with aquatic grottoes, and are best explored aboard sea canoes which are able to enter inner chambers, essentially collapsed cave systems, sometimes only at low tide.

The timeless ‘Jurassic Park” atmosphere of such islands contrasts vividly with more popular venues such as James Bond island, Nail island and Panyi island which supports a Muslim village built on stilts embedded in the sea. The far less commercialized Similan islands, nine in all, are renowned among diving enthusiasts for the variety of dives, superb underwater visibility between November and May, and teeming marine life. The Similans offer more than 30 dive sites, with coral walls, huge sea fans and barrel sponges, big rocks, swim-throughs, coral gardens and plenty of shallows for snorkelling. The five Surin islands, equally secluded, offer similarly good diving opportunities and, because of seasonal weather changes, are best visited between December and March. Phangnga is conveniently accessible by road or boat from Phuket and offers accommodation ranging from bungalows to deluxe hotels. Full transport and accommodation details are available at the TAT Phuket office.

The province of Phang-nga is located some 788 kilometres from Bangkok. It covers an area of 4,170 square kilometres.

Phang-nga is a province with two characters – land and sea – and packed with national parks that guard magnificent scenery with immensely different attractions.

Most famous is Ao Phang-nga National Park, a geological wonder filled with islets, sunken caverns and startling rock formations rising sheer out of the sea.  The bay is extremely sheltered ideal for expeditions of sea canoes to explore the many fascinating caverns with their own eco-systems.

Phang-nga’s andaman coast offers parks of a different kind.  The island groups of Surin and Similan are renowned for their beautiful unspoilt beaches and spectacular underwater scenery, attracting divers from around the world.  Khao Lak is a coastal park full of birds, mammals and scenic waterfalls, with a number of hotel developments after Tsunami disaster in December 2004.

BY BUS

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From Bangkok’s Northern Bus Station. Phahonyothin Road, both air and non air-conditioned buses leave 20 times daily to Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station, buses leave 8 times daily for Mae Hong Son on two different routes :
  a) Chiang Mai-Pai- Mae Hong Son route
  b) Chiang Mai-Hot- Mae Sariang-Khun Yuam- Mae Hong Son route.
There is a direct air-conditioned bus leaving the Northern Bus Station from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son one time daily. The trip takes about 17 hours.

BY TRAIN

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There is no direct train from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son. From the Bangkok Railway station, ordinary and express trains leave for Chiang Mai 7 times daily. From Chiang Mai, one can take a bus or a plane to Mae Hong Son. The Bangkok Railway Station, Tel.223-7010, 223-7020

BY PLANE

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There is no direct flight from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son. Thai Airways International Ltd. Operates flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son many times daily.

Wat Chong Klang and Wat Chong Kham

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These two monasteries share the same compound. Apart from the glass paintings depicting Buddhism and simple lifestyle of the villagers which draw much attention from visitors, there are over 30 wood carving dolls taken from Myanmar about the past century.
 

Wat Hua Wiang

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contains the image of Phra Chao Phara La Khaeng, a buddha image dressed in beautiful attire. It is a replica of a major image in Mandalay, Myanmar.

 
Wat Phra Non

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contains a huge Burmese-style Reclining Buddha image some 12 meters long. The temple also houses ashes of Mae Hong Son King. Two massive stone lions guard the temple staircase.
 

    
Wat To Phae

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is located 7 kms. from Khun Yuam Market having a large beautiful Burmese style vihara. According to the legend, it is said that raft assembling people used to gather up in this area prior to making a teak trees raft trip to the market places. They, then, combined their efforts to build the temple and called Wat To Phae.

Tham Lot

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some 77 kilometers from Mae Hong Son town, via Highway No.1095, a road to the left runs a further 9 kilometers.It is a place where antiques and pre-historic remains were found. This huge cave isbeautifully decorated with colorful stalagmites and stalactites. To visit inside the cave, a guide and a lamp are needed. There are other caves located in different areas of Amphoe Pang Mapa such as Ban Mae Lana, Ban Pang Kham and Ban Pha Phuek.
 

 
Wild-Sunflower Field, Doi Mae U-Kho

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covers a large mountainous area in Tambon Mae U-Kho, some 26 Kilometers from the district. The wild-sunflowers called in Thai “Bua Tong” are in full bloom during November which make the hills and surrounding areas look like plated with gold.

 
Nam Tok Mae Surin National Park

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is situated another 11 kilometers away from Doi Mae U-Kho. Mae Surin Waterfall is 80 meters high and can be seen from the view point at the national park office. The forest here still maintains its natural abundance. Visitors are required to carry their own tents for an overnight stay. Its peak season falls in November to April.
 

 
Huai Nam Dang National Park

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The area, stretching out as far as Amphoe Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, is planted with flowers and trees of cold weather zone which contribute to its scenic landscape. It is accessible by travelling along the Highway No.1095 from Amphoe Pai to the east about 60 kilometers and taking a left turn for another 6 kilometers.
 

 
The Tribal Development & Assistance Center

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at Km.84 on Doi Mae Ho is administered by the Public Welfare Department. Most of the hill tribe people in this center are of Karen ancestry. The scenic area is noted for colorful flower plantations. Bua Tong or wild sunflowers bloom along the highway in this area during November every year. market places. They, then, combined their efforts to build the temple and called Wat To Phae.

Mae Hong Son, Thailand’s second northernmost province, is sheltered by several high mountains and enjoys a cool climate almost all year round. Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometers from Bangkok and can be reached from Chiang Mai either by Highway No.108 via Mae Sariang, 349 kilometers, or Highway No.1095 via Pai which shortens the distance to some 245 kilometers.  Mae Hong Son is bordered by the Union of Myanmar (Burma) to the north and the west, and a strong Burmese influence can be seen in the province’s temples and buildings. The population of Mae Hong Son include Thai Yai (or Shan) and various hilltribes such as Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Lua and Lisu, scattering in the districts. Mae Hong Son covers an area of 12,681 square kilometers and is administratively divided into 7 districts (Amphoe) namely :  Muang, Pai, Khun Yuam, Mae La Noi, Mae Sariang, Sop Moei and Pang Mapha. 

The remote North Western town and provincial capital of the same name is little more than a large village. The province borders Chiang Mai. The inhabitants, not even ethnic Thai’s, comprise of different tribal influences from the west. Amongst the most famous of the cities attractions are the Long-Necked ladies who sport a curious fashion of heavy brass rings around the neck.

For more information about Long-Necked ladies please visit  The secret of the giraffewomen 
They can be reached by boat. The whole region comes alive during February with brightly coloured sunflowers completely blanketing the mountain side. The city itself has exquisite Burmese style pagoda’s which blend perfectly into the slow moving capital. Nearby settlement of various mixed tribal groups adorn the hill sand valley and the venerable cave where giant catfish swim freely with the blessing of the local spirits.
 
The town is know as city of the three mists as the low-laying clouds envelope the sleepy municipality.

Most of the province borders Myanmar (Burma) but there are, as yet, no legal border crossings.

Maehongson, Thailand’s northern border city, hiding itself in between the towering mountains with densely forested slopes, stretching to the Burmese border. Maehongson is known for its charm of scenery and culture. The people of Maehongson consists of the Shans who live in the city and the hilltribe people who live in remote villages on mountain tops where elements of lifestyle have changed little in hundreds of years.
    

The Shans’ ancestors came from Shans region in Burma. The hilltribe people consist of Karen, Lisu, Mhong, Lahu, and Lua. Both the Shans and the hilltribemen have their own distinctive cultures. They have their own lilting dialect, their own architectural lifestyles, their own customs and traditions, and their own delicious cuisine. Throughout the year, Maehongson holds many festivals and events. Tourists can observe the distinction cultures from these events. There are different dances, rituals, and ceremonies for different events and festivals. Even the foods are different for each event.

The most remarkable tradition and also the most important event for the Shans is “Poy Sanglong Festival” which is the ordination ceremony for the Shans’ boys. The event is held in March and there is one big celebration throughout the city.

The city is covered with the mist all year long. Maehongson gains its nickname of “the City of Three Mists” from the fact that it has dewy mist in the winter, forest fire mist in the summer and rainy mist in the rainy season.

Local Foods

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Phetchaburi is well known as a province that produces several kinds of delicious desserts such as

khanom mo kaeng (semilar to pudding, made of crushed steamed mong bean, egg, cocount milk and sugar which is, after well mixed, baked under the charcoal fire)

khao kriap (dried pastry sheet having coconut, sugar and sesame as ingredients and has to be grilled on a charcoal fire before serving)

honey baked banana fruits toffee kluai khai (small banana having sweeter flavour) etc.

Visitors can buy those local product both in town and long Phetch Kasem road side and Khao Wang area for consumption and/or as souvenir. Phetchaburi is also famous for its fruits especially rose-apples and Iamuts (sapodillas) besides, there are mangoes, tamarinds oranges and kluai khai (small bananas having sweeter flavour).

Tham Khao Luang

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This cave is located approximately five kilometers from khao Wang. From the foot hill, there are concrete stair cases leading to the cave entrance. Khao Luang is a small-sized hill having a height of 92 meters at the peak. However, Khao Luang Cave is regarded as the Largest and most important cave of Phetchaburi province because the important ornamented Buddha image built by King Rama V and dedicated to King Rama III and IV is enshrined here.

This cave had been a royal picnic site since the King Rama IV period. He was very fond of this place so that he commanded the renovation of several old Buddha images in the cave. On the right hand side of the entrance at Khao Luang foot hill, there is a big beautiful monastery called by Phetchaburi folks Wat Tham Klaep which is now Wat Bun Thawi.

There are some interesting items to be seen in this monastery such as a hude multipurpose pavilion, and beautiful wood carved door panels of the main shrine hall which was designed and constructed by the Lord Abbot who was a famous artisan. The old legend told by Phetchaburi folks for centuries is that the entrance of the cave at this monastery is the entrance of a twilight zone town where inhabitants are only young maidens.
 

    
Tham Khao Yoi

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This cave is located on Khao Yoi Hill, 22 kilometers prior to arriving at Amphoe Muang Phetchaburi. The Hill is outstanding on the edge of Highway No.4 the cave is in the east part of the hill which is located behind the railway station.

There are many Buddha images of several size and attitudes enshrined in the cave like those of Khao Luang Cave or Khao Bandai It Cave. According to the history, those Buddha images were enshrined long ago before the place was renovated by Phra Khru On of Wat Thai Talat. The legend also says that when King Mongkut was in the monkhood he once made a pilgrimane and stayed overnight for several nights, firstly in front of the hill and lately moved in to the cave, for meditation practice.
 

 
Khao Bandai It

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This is a small hill having a height of 121 meters at he peak. It is located two kilometers from Khao Wang. On the hill there is a very old monastery called Wat Khao Bandai It, and built in the Ayutthaya era. It is a famous school for meditation practice where King Sua of the late Ayutthaya era used to apply himself a student of the Lord Abbot Saeng. Besides Wat Khao Bandai It, there are several caves which are huge in size and are located underneath the hill.

The first cave is called “Tham Prathun” which has buddha images enshrined along both walls of the cave. If one goes further inside the can reach another cave called “Tham Phra Chao Sua”. The name was give to the cave because King Sua came here to visit his teacher, Lord Abbot Saeng, who was offered a two-meter standing Buddha statue this statue is in the attitude of calming the ocean and has been enshrined in that cave over since then.

Another cave located deeper inside is “Tham Phraphuttha Saiyat” which literally means the “Reclining Buddha Cave”. Such name is given to the cave because a seclining Buddha is enshried inthat cave. Besides the Buddha image, there is also (in the cave too) a very old wooden boat roof which was offered to the Lord Abbot Saeng by King Sua. In addition, there are several more caves such as Phra Athit Cave, Phra Chan Cave, Duke Cave (the name given to the cave after a visit made by Duke Johan Albert), Sawang Arom Cave, and Chang Phuak Cave, which may satisfy cave visitors to a high degree.