Located in the Shan Hills, near the border with Burma along the banks of Pai River, Mae Hong Son is a town in northwest Thailand, capital of the Mae Hong Son Province with a tropical savanna climate.

Surrounded by mountains and punctuated by small but picturesque Jong Kham Lake, this provincial capital is relatively peaceful and has become part of northern Thailand’s standard tourist circuit with many guesthouses, hotels and resorts. Much of its prosperity is due to iths supply of rice and consumer goods to the drug lords across the border. Several Karen and Shan villages nearby can be visited as day trips and further afield are Lisu, Lahu and Musoe villages. The best time to visit Mae Hong Son is between November and March when the town is at its most beautiful.