Pangmapha Travel Package Tours, Thailand Tour Information Hotel Guide

PANGMAPHA OVERVIEW

Pangmapha is the northernmost district of Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand. In the Tai language (Shan), Mapha or Makpha means lime and Pang means hill, so a translation into English might be Lime Hill.
During World War II the Japanese troops built a road from Pai to Mueang Mae Hong Son and further to Myanmar. Later people used the road for transportation and commercial, using Ban Sop Pong Mae Umong for the overnight stop. The government built a police station in the area that called Pangmapha in 1948. Later in 1977 the government improved the road, many people from other districts and provinces, hill tribes and refugees from Myanmar moved to the area. This created problems like drug trafficking and deforestation. To improve the administration of the area, the government created the Pangmapha minor district (King Amphoe) in 1987. It was upgraded to a full district on December 5th, 1996.
Pangmapha district is famous in Thailand for having the most caves in the country, with an estimated one hundred caves in total. Each cave has its own individual beauty, although some are too dangerous for tourists without caving experience to visit. None of the caves have been wired electrically but local people provide lamps and offer their services as guides, taking visitors through the caves safely and securely.

Soppong Town
The winding road to Pang Mapha district is a sensual joy. Being in Northern Thailand this time of year is like watching a high-speed video clip of a flower’s transformation from bud to bloom – it’s astounding how rapidly the jungle recovers from the annual burning spree. The air is filled with the scents of earth and fresh rain, and the screeching chainsaw buzz of cicadas. At the top of the pass the ground falls away abruptly, down and across a seemingly endless expanse of rolling rainforest.
Between these mountainous tropical folds that the small town of Soppong is located, 70kms from Mae Hong Son and an hour or two from Pai. It is a small market town, and a good place to stay as a base for exploring the local caves, or trekking, particularly if you want to get away from the Pai tourist scene.
Unlike Pai, which is ever-changing to accommodate the influx of farang, Sappong has a wilder, more authentic feel. This is not the place to come if you’re fresh from the Full Moon Party and looking for more of the same - night life here is pretty much non-existent, with dinner at one of the local noodle bars, or long fireside chats about as far as the options go. This is the territory of exploring the jungle and the caves, bird watching, and splashing in the river, with most visitors opting for early nights at whatever guesthouse they’re calling home for the time being.
The accommodation in town is limited to a few guesthouses on the river’s edge and across the road. The nicest of the budget options is Jungle House, with friendly owners, good food, and simple bungalows. Little Eden Guesthouse is a swish, upmarket operation with a swimming pool, internet access and bungalow/bathroom units.