About Ban Rak Thai
Ban Rak Thai, also called Mae Aw in many guidebooks, is a mountain village about 44 km from Mae Hong Son town, close to the Myanmar border. It was founded by former Kuomintang soldiers, and the name literally means 'the Thai-loving village'. It lies in a valley around a lake, with Chinese tea shops, wooden houses and hills all around. In the early morning mist often hangs over the water. You can taste tea, eat at one of the small restaurants and walk along the lake. The village is popular with Thai travellers and with visitors driving the Mae Hong Son Loop. Come early to beat the crowds and bring a warm sweater for the cool evenings. The road from Mae Hong Son winds through the hills, so allow well over an hour of driving. Along the way you pass hill hamlets and viewpoints where you can stop briefly.
Best time to visit (indicative)
Best from November to February: cool and dry, with chilly mornings in the hills. From February to April smoke and haze from agricultural burning can limit visibility; June to October is the rainy season, green and quiet. Weather varies from year to year; this is a guideline based on the climate.
Getting there
From Mae Hong Son by car or songthaew (about 1.5 hours, 44 km); the road is winding and steep. Distances and travel times are rounded estimates.
Things to do in Ban Rak Thai
- Lake and tea shops Chinese tea shops along the water with views of the hills.
- Morning mist In the cool months mist often hangs over the lake early.
- Walk by the lake A short walk along the shore and through the village.
- Mae Hong Son Loop The village lies on a side road of the well-known loop.
Ban Rak Thai on the map
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