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Pang Ung, a renowned tourist destination in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, has earned the moniker "Switzerland of Thailand." Situated near the Burmese border, this picturesque location boasts a vast reservoir atop a mountain, adorned with black swans, the iconic symbol of Pang Ung. Visitors are sure to encounter these graceful creatures during their visit.

For this trip, we did not have a private car, so we used public transportation throughout the journey.

The journey begins with a bus ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Somboon Tour. After a night's stay in Chiang Mai, the adventure continues the next day.

This was my first time taking such a long bus trip. I chose a VIP bus that cost 759 baht. The seats were massage chairs, and we were given snacks twice during the trip. We stopped once to use the restroom and once for lunch in Kamphaeng Phet. The lunch was a buffet, and we could eat as much as we wanted without paying extra. It was all included in the ticket price.

The journey to Chiang Mai took approximately 9 hours by car. It was a long and tiring trip, but it was also enjoyable. The scenery was beautiful, and the air conditioning kept us cool. The massage chairs helped to relieve some of the muscle soreness. The back of the seats had TV screens for watching movies, playing games, and listening to music. Overall, it was a good experience and worth the price.

We arrived at the arcade around 5 pm. Without wasting any time, we looked for tickets to Mae Hong Son so that we wouldn't be caught off guard the next day.

Do you see that red banner? That's the ticket booth for the minivan to Mae Hong Son. Aviabooking's tickets are like long receipts with your seat number, date, and time printed on them. We booked the 6:30 AM slot for the next day, so we'll have to leave early because it takes about 7 hours to get to Mae Hong Son.

Minivan Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son, Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai, price 250 baht/seat (from aviabooking)

We stayed at the 7Days Hotel in Chiang Mai for one night. It was very close to the Night Bazaar, only a 5-minute walk away. However, it is a small hotel with no elevator, so you have to walk up the stairs. The room was clean and comfortable, with strong air conditioning and a clean bathroom. Most importantly, the price was very reasonable.

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Tonight, I entrust myself to this place, to sleep soundly and prepare for tomorrow's adventures. See you, Mae Hong Son!

We woke up early and got ready to continue our journey to Mae Hong Son. Before getting on the bus, those who get carsick should buy snacks, water, and medicine to be prepared, as the road is winding all the way. Seeing the curves will make you feel dizzy. We focused on sleeping only. We woke up to see another curve and fell asleep again. We couldn't take it anymore. We really couldn't handle it.

The first roadside rest stop offered snacks, restrooms, and other amenities. However, the driver, an older gentleman, only allowed approximately 15 minutes for everything.

Let's continue our journey. There will be another rest stop, and then we will park in the city of Pai to pick up some people. There are a lot of people, with 20% Thai, 52% Chinese, and 8,962% foreigners.

Drive a little further and you will encounter border police checking ID cards. You will encounter two checkpoints like this. The first time they asked to see it, but the second time, as I was about to show them my ID, they just walked away...

The journey then continued to the minivan station in Mae Hong Son, where passengers were picked up from both the Pai and Mae Hong Son minivan stations. After a long and arduous journey, punctuated by bouts of nausea, the destination of Mae Hong Son was finally reached.

This is the view from the Mae Hong Son Bus Terminal. The air is incredibly fresh and clean.

We then took a tuk-tuk from Mae Hong Son Bus Terminal to the city center, where we went to the Pa Say Huud Market. This market is where we found a ride to Pang Ung in a yellow songthaew, as shown in the picture below.

This photo was taken on the way back. I didn't take any photos on the way there. This is what the car looks like. I'm showing you this so you can get an idea of what it looks like.

We boarded the 3:30 PM bus. We had a lot of time to spare, so we wandered around, stopping at temples and taking pictures of whatever caught our eye.

The two-row car runs 2 times a day.

• Route: Sai Yai Market - Pang Ung

First round: 09.00 AM

Second round: 15.30 PM

Plan your time well. It's a good idea to leave a little early in case the car arrives before the scheduled time. That way, we won't miss it.

We finally arrived at Pang Ung! The drive was full of curves, but not as many as the road from Chiang Mai. Above all, the views along the way were incredible! The scenery was breathtaking, and we felt the cool air as we approached our destination.

This is the front entrance to the accommodation.

We opted for a homestay, which are plentiful near the entrance to the Khao Reservoir. If you prefer camping, you'll need to venture further to the reservoir's edge.

We stayed at Jing Homestay, which is the last one from the entrance of Pang Ung (and the first one from the exit of Pang Ung).

At the entrance of the accommodation, there is a convenience store run by the homestay. If you are interested in ordering a hot pot to eat in front of the house, you can do so at your convenience. However, if you are staying at Mr. Jing's place, you must order the hot pot from his shop to eat in front of the house. If you want to eat hot pot from another shop, you will have to eat it at their shop.

Pork pan set for 300 baht, including pork, glass noodles, vegetable set, egg tofu, and meatballs.

Your order has been placed and you can return to your accommodation. The stove and other items will be delivered to you soon. Excellent delivery service!

The water and ice need to be purchased separately. We bought ice, so they also gave us a cooler and cups. It's great.

The exterior of the house is simple and rustic, reflecting the local style. While I don't have photos of the interior, I can describe it based on my observations. Upon entering, you'll find a futon bed with two pillows and a blanket, along with a mosquito net. The room has an ensuite bathroom, but please note that it doesn't have hot water.

We're going to bed now. We'll take you on a tour of the reservoir tomorrow.

Signing off with this picture. Good night everyone :-)

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Good morning! Today is the third day of our trip. We woke up early to enjoy the beautiful scenery around the reservoir.

The scenery on the way to the reservoir was breathtakingly beautiful, almost making me faint.

Upon arrival, it was impossible to resist a raft ride. The cost was 150 baht per round, with a duration of approximately 20-30 minutes. Initially, I was skeptical about the value, but in reality, it was incredibly worthwhile for the price. I felt sympathy for the paddlers, as they must have been exhausted.

The view from the raft is breathtaking. The fresh air and serene atmosphere create a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

After the bamboo rafting, we went to eat. The food was typical Thai cuisine, including breakfast dishes like stir-fried minced pork with holy basil and tom yum soup. The prices were reasonable and the food was good.

After finishing our meal, we quickly returned to our accommodation to collect our belongings, as the yellow shared taxi would be arriving to transport people from Pang Ung to Ban Rak Thai.

On our way to Pang Ung, we asked the driver for his number and called him immediately. He said he would be picking up people at Pang Ung around 11:00 AM and would stop by to pick us up as well.

Ending the Pang Ung trip with some beautiful scenery photos. Stay tuned for the next part of the Ban Rak Thai trip! :D

We took a songthaew from Pang Ung to Ban Rak Thai, which took about an hour.

Finally arrived at Rak Thai village. The weather is cool and comfortable.

The area around Baan Rak Thai is characterized by its Yunnan Chinese style, with Yunnan Chinese food also available for purchase.

The view was amazing, but the sky was overcast because it was about to rain. It ended up raining, but only for about 5 minutes.

The green tea is truly green and has a slightly bland taste. Those who prefer less sweetness will likely be happy with it.

We were tired of waiting until two o'clock in the afternoon, so we called to ask if we could go an hour earlier. They said yes, and they were just cleaning the room for us. So we didn't waste any time and left the cafe to walk to our accommodation.

We have arrived at our accommodation! >_____< We are staying at the Valley House, and we have chosen a room with a balcony for 1500 baht.

The view outside the room is confusing.

The host was incredibly kind, friendly, and welcoming. We had a wonderful experience.

In addition, there is a very cuddly cat, so cute~

After packing our belongings, we were famished and set out to find a delicious and reasonably priced restaurant.

We ended up at a restaurant with a cute name, something like "Nuch's." The prices were reasonable, and it wasn't crowded when we arrived.

The food was typical Thai cuisine, delicious and enjoyable. Eating while taking in the view was a delightful experience.

While waiting for our food, the restaurant offered us a pot of hot tea, explaining its various health benefits. We sipped it, and it was quite delicious. However, my companion particularly enjoyed it, while I found it pleasant but not exceptional.

After returning to our accommodation, we decided to take a nap after a long day. When we woke up, it was already 7 pm. It took us until after 8 pm to shake off the sleepiness. We tried to find something to eat, but all the restaurants were closed. What should we do now?

Mama is the winner.

Full and ready for a nap.

Today is the last day of our trip. We woke up early and got ready because the owner of the accommodation told us that the shared taxi would arrive around 7:30 AM.

While waiting, we ordered a breakfast set consisting of hot tea, strong milk tea, bread, and fried eggs.

The wait for the car was endless, and even after it arrived, it remained stationary.

The car has already left. It's a little after 8 am.

"I'm leaving now, but I'll definitely be back to visit again. The atmosphere is amazing, perfect for a relaxing getaway."

Upon arriving at Mae Hong Son Bus Terminal by songthaew, we immediately purchased van tickets back to Chiang Mai.

Book a van from Tha Dam at aviabooking for 250 baht, the same price as the incoming trip. Tickets can be purchased at the bus terminal.

The bus departs at 10:00 a.m., so I took a walk around the bus terminal to soak up the atmosphere. It was refreshing.

This area is a real rice field where villagers come to harvest. We happened to see them kneading the rice.

The van driver called us to get on board and head back to Chiang Mai.

We have safely arrived in Chiang Mai. We will return to Bangkok by plane, as taking the bus again like we did on the way here is not an option.

This flight we booked for the return trip is a late-night flight, around 10 pm. We had a lot of time left, so we went for a walk around Tha Pae Gate. There were a lot of foreigners and Chinese people.

Around 8 pm, we set off for the airport.

Boarding the plane back to Bangkok.

Summary of expenses per person (excluding food)

Bus fare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 759 Baht/person

Van fare from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son: 250 baht per person

Accommodation fee at 7Days Hotel: 265 Baht/person

Accommodation fee at Jing Homestay: 300 Baht/person

Entrance fee to Pang Ung: 75 Baht/person

Accommodation fee at Valley House, Baan Rak Thai: 750 Baht/person

The fare for a shared taxi from Mae Hong Son to Pang Ung is 150 baht per person.

Shared taxi fare from Pang Ung to Baan Rak Thai: 120 baht per person

Van fare from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai: 250 Baht/person

Flight ticket price Chiang Mai - Bangkok: 1,485 Baht/person

Total: 4,404 Baht/person

Overall, it was a great experience. I had a lot of fun and would definitely recommend it to others. There are still many hidden gems in Thailand waiting to be discovered, and Pang Ung - Ban Rak Thai is one of them. You won't be disappointed! :-)