Mae Sariang pp-. Colour map 1, B1. travel guide

The capital of Amphoe district, Mae Sariang is a small market town on the banks of the Yuam River, and a good departure point for trekking. The road from Chom Thong runs up the Ping Valley, before turning west to follow the Chaem River, climbing steadily through beautiful dipterocarp forest, the Op Luang National Park (17 km from Hod), and into the mountains of western Thailand. There is little to draw people here, except as a stopping-off point for Mae Hong Son or as a starting point for trekking. The town is small and leafy, with many of the houses still built of wood – a comparative oasis after the dusty urban centres. The bus station is on Mae Sariang Road in the centre of town, five minutes’ walk from the Riverside Guesthouse, next to Wat Jong Sung.

There are a handful of unremarkable wats. Wat Utthayarom, known locally as Wat Chom Soong, is Burmese in style but also displays two Mon-inspired white chedis. Other monasteries include Wat Sri Bunruang (in town) and Wat Joom Thong (on a hill, over- looking town). The latter has a large and recently constructed white seated Buddha image surveying the valley below. The town also has a better stock of wooden shophouses than most Thai towns – that is on Laeng Phanit Road (the river road). The morning market operates from a plot on Sathit Phon Road and there is also an evening market – good for stall food – at the end of Wiang Mai Road.

Trekking, rafting, cave and waterfall visits and elephants rides are also possible . See also Background, page .