Mae Hong Son province is one of the most isolated regions in Thailand. Surrounded by mountains, it serves as a border with Myanmar and has only one winding road leading to it. Yet, it is well worth the journey to discover both the province and its capital, a place untouched by international brands and rich in history. Today, we’ll explain how to get from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son in the easiest way.
There are approximately 800 kilometers between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son, with much of the journey taking place on scenic roads that, despite their twists and turns, offer stunning views along the way.
The quickest and most convenient way to travel from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son is by plane. However, due to the province’s low population density, the airport is very small with limited traffic. Currently, only one airline operates there, Bangkok Airways, which is quite pricey, with tickets starting from 150 euros one way.
Flights to Mae Hong Son are not available every day; they operate only about five days a week, and on some days, there is a stopover in Lampang. However, flying does allow you to avoid the long road trip, and all its hairpin turns.
The most affordable way to get from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son is by bus. While we recommend stopping in one of the many beautiful towns along the route, you can also opt to go directly. If you choose this option, we suggest purchasing your bus ticket in advance at 12GoAsia.
The bus journey takes about 15 hours or more, with limited departures, usually one bus per day leaving from Mochit Station (map) in Bangkok. The ticket price is typically around 27 euros.
There are no direct trains from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son, but you can first travel to Chiang Mai and then take a van to the northern province bordering Myanmar.
The first step would be to take a night train to Chiang Mai. We recommend booking a sleeper berth so you can rest during the journey. Ideally, you should take the train that departs at 8 p.m., although the 10:30 p.m. option could also work, though it’s a bit riskier. If there are no delays, the journey to Chiang Mai takes just over 12 hours, and a sleeper ticket costs around 23 euros. Tickets can be purchased through 12GoAsia.
Once you arrive in Chiang Mai, you’ll need to get to the station where the vans to Mae Hong Son depart, known as Chiang Mai Arcade 2 (map), which is less than three kilometers away. Vans leave from there between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. heading to the northwest province. The company Prem Pracha operates these vans, with tickets costing around eight euros and a travel time of six hours. Tickets can be booked at 12GoAsia.
To summarize your options for getting from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son: the fastest but most expensive way is by plane, the cheapest option is by bus, and the middle-ground option is by combining train and van.
