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Soppong village - |
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ตำบล สบป่อง |
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Address: |
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Known as: |
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Pangmapha |
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Description: |
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Some confusion lies over the name of this small settlement
between Pai and Mae Hong Son, with Pang Mapha being the official
name of the district and Soppong the name of the Shan village
lying off the main road, a couple of kilometres to the east.
Before highway 1095 was finished in the late 1980s there was
only the old village along the bank of the Yang River, but now
the action -- banks, stores, bus stop, the market and even most
of the guesthouses -- have relocated to the new highway, taking
the name Pang Mapha, whilst Soppong village has faded into
obscurity. So although road signs and many maps call it Pang
Mapha, the locals still frequently refer to it as Soppong.
This tranquil and tiny town (or large village really) lies
just 45 kilometres in distance from Pai, but it’s a world away
from its bustling tourism scene. Only a tiny fraction of Pai’s
visitors make it as far as Soppong and then often as only a
noodle stop en route to Mae Hong Son. This means there’s not
many guesthouses, no restaurants and few coffee shops -- and
with the demise of the excellent Border Pub, there are no bars
either.
What Soppong does have is some of the most
spectacular mountain scenery to be found in Northern Thailand,
some of the kingdom’s largest cave systems plus a multitude of
often still very traditional hill-tribe villages in the
immediate vicinity. The few decent accommodation options here
will also knock you up a good feed and a cold beer so is Soppong
worth a stop? In our book -- most definitely!
There’s the
fantastic Tham Lod underground river and cave system, plus a
plethora of lesser-known sites (and indeed new caves still being
discovered); rafting and trekking; many Lisu, Lahu, Karen and
Shan villages that can be visited on your own, and motorbike
touring along minor mountain roads, which are being upgraded.
Furthermore, if you like a bit of tranquility and wish to
explore the surrounding scenery and villages, the very lack of
many other visitors is a big plus in its own right.
Soppong is at a slight elevation (around 700 metres), so
evenings can get a bit chilly in the cool season from November
to February. Taking some warm clothing is a good idea. |
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Province |
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Mae Hong Son |
Direction: |
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District |
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Pang Mapha |
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City |
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Pang Mapha |
Comments: |
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Official Web: |
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Genre |
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Local life |
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Best exposure |
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Opening time |
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N/A |
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Entry fee |
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Free |
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GPS : |
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19.51630 N |
98.252513 E |
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