Mae Hong Son sits in a valley surrounded by forested mountains, and some of the best experiences in the province are outside the town itself.
Mae Aw (Ban Rak Thai) is the classic day trip, about an hour north by the Burmese border. This former KMT outpost still feels like a village in southern China -- earth houses, Chinese tea shops, and Yunnanese food. On the way you pass Pha Sua Falls (11 km north of Route 108), Karen and Shan villages, and the Pang Tong Summer Palace. Ten minutes beyond Mae Aw, Ban Ruam Thai sits above a lake with panoramic mountain views.
Soppong, 75 km northeast, is a quiet Shan market village that has become a base for caving and jungle walks. The area around it is riddled with caves, including Tham Lot, a massive limestone cave with a stream running through it and one of the longest in Southeast Asia. Tham Nam Lang, 30 km northwest of Soppong, is said to be one of the largest caves in the world by volume.
Mae La-Na, a small Shan village near Soppong, is a starting point for walks through forests, streams, and more caves. Simple accommodation is available in the village.
Pai River rafting is popular and easily arranged through guesthouses and trekking agencies in town. The standard trip is a day-long journey from the pier at Ban Huay Deua, eight km out of Mae Hong Son.