Geography & Climate

Mae Hong Son, the second northernmost province of Thailand, is situated in the northwestern corner on the borders of Myanmar, 924 km north of Bangkok, and 300 km from Chiang Mai. In the north and the west, the land connects to Myanmar's border at Shan State. The east connects to Chiang Mai and the south borders with Tak. 12,681 sq km of the whole Mae Hong Son area is the environmentally protected with over 90% of the entire province consisting of mountains, forests and jungles. In spite of much logging in the past, the province's forest coverage still remains at over 69.19%.

Because of its high altitude of 1,800 M. above sea level, its cool climate can drop to 2°C in winter (November to February), and rarely rises above 40°C in summer (March to August). The average temperature lies between 12.25°C and 27.68°C. Moreover, the climate is often so misty with ground fog that it is locally renamed as "Province of Three Mists".

Due to the forest declination and the extinction of various species, most of the mountainous areas and natural resources in Mae Hong Son have been declared as national protectorates. Examples include Salawin Forest and Valley, Mae Surin Forest and Waterfall, Mae Yuam River and Huai Nam Dang National Park.

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