Route · About 8 nights
Mae Hong Son Loop
A mountain road circuit from Chiang Mai
This is Thailand's classic mountain drive. You go out on Route 1095 through Pai, with its famous 1,864 curves, and come home on the easier Route 108 through Mae Sariang.
Good for: People who like road trips and mountain views, with a car and a confident driver, or a hired driver.
Stop by stop
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Chiang Mai Sort out your car or driver here. Road Route 1095. About 135 km of steep, winding road. It takes several hours, so bring motion sickness pills if you need them.
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Pai A relaxed town in a wide valley, and a good first stop. Road Route 1095. About 110 km by road through the mountains.
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Mae Hong Son The small provincial capital, with Pang Ung close by. Road Route 108. South through Khun Yuam. Public buses take about 4 hours.
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Mae Sariang A quiet town on the Yuam River, and the halfway point on the way home. Road Route 108. The easier stretch of the loop. Minivans take about 3.5 hours.
- Chiang Mai Back where you started, with a night to return the car and rest.
Getting home: Fly or take the sleeper onward from Chiang Mai.
Our advice: Go from November to February if you can. Smoke late in the dry season can hide the views you came for, and this isn't a first ride for a new scooter driver.
Nights are our suggestion. Transport comes from Wikivoyage and our Thailand by Train guide, checked November 2026. Schedules change, so check before you book.
When to go
The North: best Nov to Jan.