Mae Sariang

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A relatively small town, Mae Sariang sits in the southern reaches of Mae Hong Son province at the junction of Routes 105 and 108 -- if you're doing the Mae Hong Son loop by motorbike (or some other means), Mae Sariang is about as far south as you get.

Regardless of its location at a traveller's crossroads, Mae Sariang remains a very sleepy untouristed affair. It sits on the eastern bank of the Yuam River and does more business as a small trading outpost than as a trekking centre (despite the desires of some resident entrepreneurs who dream of it as being Thailand's next Chiang Mai).

The trading part of Mae Sariang's enterprise comes partly due to nearby Mae Saem Laep -- a speck of a village clinging onto the east bank of the Salween River -- and facing Burma. There is a sizeable smuggling trade through Mae Sam Laep, and onwards through Mae Sariang.

Smuggling aside, Mae Sariang has a fair degree of charm in its own right -- there's lots of wooden buildings, a handful of Burmese-influenced wats, an interesting market, and, well a great glimpse of untouristed Thailand.

It's true Mae Sariang has considerable trekking potential -- its surrounds are dotted with mostly Karen villages and the village's often mountainous settings are stunning. However, this potential is tempered by the relatively high cost of tours and the small number of tourists coming here to trek.

If you don't mind paying an excess in order to get going, then Mae Sariang is a great spot, but if you're travelling solo and hoping to just show up, sign up for a cheap trek and get walking, then Pai or Mae Hong Son would be better bases to work from.

There's more to do than trekking. Head out to Mae Sam Laep and do a rafting trip on the river and pick up some cheap Burmese prayer beads while you're at it, hang out on your guesthouse veranda watching the river slide by, or just hire a motorbike and scoot around for a few days -- the locale is beautiful.

Text and/or map last updated on 21st September, 2009.

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Mae Sariang reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Sleepy River Town with a Heart of Gold

My friends and I visited Mae Sariang for just a couple days in July, and we can’t wait to go back for a relaxing weekend by the river.
The city is set in idyllic surrounds, nestled between the river, the mountains, and countless rice fields, creating a truly scenic and tranquil atmosphere. The locals (Mae Sariangians? Mae Sariangites?) were as friendly as any I’ve met so far in Thailand, ubiquitously happy to see foreign travelers taking sincere interest in their quiet little town. Each one had a smile and in some cases a few words of broken English for us, and it made the experience so much better feeling so welcome(as this is not always the case in other sparsely touristed areas).
There is plenty to see in the area, including many beautiful wats in the city and nearby mountains, and the Mae Sam Laep river market, which requires a scenic songtaew trip to get to (you can get there and back for 70 Bt per person, not bad for 2 hours round trip). We rented bicycles from our guesthouse (North West Guesthouse, highly recommended) and rode around for an afternoon, stopping at temples and viewpoints and even a very nice museum towards the edge of town (can’t remember the name).Accommodation ranges from the basic and cheap to the relatively luxurious and expensive, and as far as I could tell you generally get what you pay for. Restaurants can be a bit expensive, so best to check the menu before sitting down (which is just true eating in general…).
All in all, Mae Sariang is a delight, and a must-see if you’re doing the Mae Hong Son Loop, or simply looking for a nice getaway from the “hustle and bustle” of Chiang Mai.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By KhowNeow11 (dabbler)
Written on 15th September, 2011 after a visit to Mae Sariang in July, 2011

Also reviewed by KhowNeow11: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Salong, Pai,

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