Mae Hong Son
The initial run out of Chiang Mai is quite gentle but the hills quickly appear as you turn towards the Burmese
border and the road from Mae Sariang to Mae Salit Luang could bring the unprepared to tears.
On the upside, the scenery is stunning and you get an up-close look at many hilltribe people in an area
that sees few tourists. Mae Sot is a fascinating border town, with a mix of ethnicities to observe. From Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son is only 225 km, but it took us almost the whole day to get there. This is one of the most beautiful parts of Thailand,
the problem is that riding a bike you can't look at the view. This is a very dangerous country with sheer drop offs and some of the worst hairpin bends combined with some of the worst roads.
Mae
Sot lies 5 km from the Burmese border, near the end of Route 105, which swoops its way through hills and forest from Tak to Mae Sot and the Moei River Valley. The town has developed into an important trading centre and just about every ethnic group can be
seen wandering the streets: Thais, Chinese, Burmese, Karen, Hmong and other mountain peoples. Although Mae Sot has quietened down over the last few years, it still has a reputation as being one of the more lawless towns in Thailand. With a flourishing, and
sometimes illicit, trade in teak and gems and drugs - this is perhaps unsurprising.