Travel
by Lennie Chua

Drive from Chiang Mai to Pang Mapha

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Thailand Fly & Drive – Part 19

This was our first day on the Mae Hong Son loop, and the 5th day of our road trip from Bangkok. We have a full breakfast, pack up and check out of our hotel in Chiang Mai. It had been a most enjoyable stay, albeit too short. We will definitely be coming back, as we have only just scratched the surface of what Chiang Mai has to offer.

Today would be a tough drive, especially being completely new to the road conditions along the loop. Thankfully, we have done the Tapah route up Cameron Highlands many times over the last decade, and that experience of navigating winding mountain roads certainly came in handy here.

Our destination today is Pang Mapha, the northernmost district of the Mae Hong Son province. The 170km journey makes for about three and a half hours of driving time, but we plan to make a couple of stops in Pai to check out some of the attractions around the area.

As we make our way up the mountains, we are amazed to see monks walking up the same winding roads. ON FOOT. Much respect… I wonder how far these monks have to walk every day.

We are grateful for the clear skies. The complication of rain would really throw a spanner in the works, but thankfully it was completely dry for us around the loop.

We find a spot where all the cars seem to be stopping by the side of the road… so we stopped as well to take a look.

Turns out the people are stretching their legs and taking the opportunity to take a photo. The view is slightly blocked, but still beautiful nonetheless, making for a decent panorama>>

After that pit-stop, we get back in the car and proceed on our left-right-left-right journey, opening the windows to let the fresh air into the car to ease the motion-sickness. We make good progress, and by 1 pm we approach the pretty little town of Pai, ever increasing in its popularity with visitors both local and foreign.

Blog Menu

  1. 2019 Thailand Fly and Drive
  2. Off to Bangkok
  3. Review: Ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 50
  4. Sara Jane’s @ the Empire Place
  5. Amazing Young Musician on the Streets
  6. Drive from Bangkok to Khao Kho
  7. Review: Tonkho at Home, Khao Kho
  8. Sunrise at Khao Takhian Ngo
  9. Temple on a Glass Cliff
  10. Tea @ Pino Latte
  11. Visit to the Weapon Museum
  12. Amazing Dinosaur!
  13. A Tale of Two Dinners
  14. Drive from Khao Kho to Chiang Mai
  15. Review: Ibis Styles Chiang Mai
  16. Chiang Mai Tribal Museum
  17. Wacky World of Insects!
  18. Driving the Mae Hong Son Loop
  19. Drive from Chiang Mai to Pang Mapha
  20. Pai Historical Bridge
  21. Pai Canyon
  22. Pai Land Split
  23. Review: Ban Keawmora, Pang Mapha
  24. Drive from Pang Mapha to Mae Win
  25. Long Neck Village
  26. Car Woes on the Way to Mae Win
  27. Day Trip to Doi Inthanon
  28. The Royal Twin Pagodas
  29. More Vehicle Misfortune and an Angel on a Motorbike
  30. Review: Mae Win Guesthouse and Resort
  31. Another Flat?! Drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khan
  32. Review: Phu Chiangkhan Hostel
  33. Chiang Khan Walking Street by Day
  34. The Majestic Mekong
  35. Chiang Khan Walking Street by Night
  36. Drive from Chiang Khan to Khon Kaen
  37. Review: Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid
  38. The Problem of Laundry
  39. Birthday Day Out!
  40. The Nine-Storey Stupa
  41. Aura Farm
  42. King Cobra Village
  43. Khon Kaen City Museum

Blog Series

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