Ban Rak Thai (Mae Aw) – Beautiful Tranquil Village in Mae Hong Son, Northern Thailand
Ban Rak Thai (Mae Aw) – Beautiful Tranquil Village in Mae Hong Son, Northern Thailand
Located some 35 kilometers from Mae Hong Son there is a beautiful village called Mae Aw, or more popularly known as Ban Rak Thai (Love Thai Village).
Ban Rak Thai is a small highland village nestled in the lush backcountry of Mae Hong Son province in Northern Thailand. It is set in a valley surrounded by hills and tea plantations on the edge of a reservoir.
This sleepy village is famous for its breathtaking views and tea cultivation. Because of its remote location, the village is still little known to tourists, and that makes this place not heavily-touristed.
Distance wise, the place is about 40km from Mae Hong Son town or 250km from Chiang Mai. it is also very close to the Burma border (less than 1km).
Sitting on the shore of a beautiful lake set in a valley surrounded by hills, Ban Rak Thai is a picturesque village with fantastic scenery.
The magical sunrise view of thick solemn mist covering the lake like a weighty woolen blanket slowly wafted upwards into the morning air.
The highland village sits at an elevation of 1,800 metres above sea level and enjoys a cold climate and fresh air year round.
Ban Rak Thai has a population of just fewer than 1000 people and sees very few tourists due to its remote location.
The atmosphere here in the morning is the most perfect where you can watch the mist rising off the lake.
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Historically Ban Rak Thai is a Thai-Chinese village founded by former Kuo Min Tang soldiers (The Nationalists) who migrated from Yunnan Province, China, after the Communist takeover of China.
Today the place is still heavily influenced by the old Chinese. There are many signs in Chinese, buildings are Chinese-style and much of the population speaks a heavily accented version of Mandarin Chinese.
Ban Rak Thai is also well known for its tea products. The village is surrounded by lush and aromatic tea plantations thanks to the mountainous landscape and cool climate.
Every year in February an annual Tea Tasting Festival is held at Ban Rak Thai.
Cottage type guesthouses – made from mud and influenced by Chinese culture, located right at the middle of hill-side tea plantations.
Ban Rak Thai has a beautiful landscape of lush green tea plantations on the slope of hills.
Take a walk around the tea garden on the hills surrounding the village and learn about growing and processing tea product.
Because of its remote location, Ban Rak Thai is so calm and peaceful without seeing a lot of tourists. Most people visit this place as part of their day tour to a few attractions in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. If you just want to relax and do nothing then this sleepy village is the place for you.
Along the lakeshore are some cafes and restaurants offering a fantastic panoramic view of the lake. As Ban Rak Thai is well known for its tea products, sip a cup of tea at one of the tea houses there offering a variety of homegrown tea leaves. The restaurant here also serves Yunnan-style Chinese food as well as locally brewed fruit wine.
Some cafes and restaurants along the lake shore offering amazing panoramic lake views.
There are excellent quality oolong teas grown in Ban Rak Thai, and some of the best are here for a tasting.
Great atmosphere here in the morning as you can watch the views of mist rising off the lake while sipping a cup of hot drink.
Locally brewed wine using the Chinese style clay pots. They’re making a few different wines, sweet and dry, from fruits: pineapple, plum, peach etc.
A tranquil getaway — the sleeping village is one of the best places to spend a day doing nothing. Absolutely nothing.
HOW TO GO TO BAN RAK THAI
FROM BANGKOK
If you are traveling from Bangkok (BKK), you can take a flight to Mae Hong Son Airport (HGN). Flights usually have a short stopover in Lampang (LPT) before continuing to Mae Hong Son. Check the flight schedule here.
Once you arrive in Mae Hong Son, you can go to Ban Rak Thai by joining this tour, or this tour. They will pick you up directly from your hotel in Mae Hong Son, making the trip easy and hassle-free. They often include visits to the other popular attractions in the area.
If you want to come here by yourself, you may catch the yellow songthaew (pick-up truck) from Mae Hong Son town. The car leaves at 8.00am and 12.00noon daily.
You can find flight tickets from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son, with a stopover in Lampang, for as low as 2,620 Baht. Check flight schedule here.
FROM CHIANG MAI
If you are visiting Ban Rak Thai from Chiang Mai, it’s a good idea to stop at Pai before continuing your trip.
The journey is quite long, as the distance between Chiang Mai and Ban Rak Thai is nearly 250 kilometers. Traveling directly without any breaks can be tiring because you would spend the whole day in a car.
From Chiang Mai, you can first take a minivan to Pai. The one-way ticket costs about 200 Baht. You can read more about the transportation info here. From Pai, you can join this tour that goes to Ban Rak Thai. They will pick you up directly from your hotel in Pai, making the trip simple and convenient.
Pai is a popular destination especially for foreign tourists, and it’s well worth spending some time there before continuing your journey.
Alternatively, it’s also possible to travel directly from Chiang Mai to Ban Rak Thai. By leaving early in the morning, you can reach Ban Rak Thai by the afternoon and spend the night there, which is a great way to enjoy your trip.
For this itinerary, you can use this private charter service from Chiang Mai. It’s actually quite cheap, especially if you’re traveling with family or a group of friends. You can choose a van, which fits up to eight people, or an MPV for smaller groups of about four people. Before booking, you can chat with them about your Ban Rak Thai itinerary. (chat & book here)
To make your trip more relaxing and less rushed, it’s best to plan for at least three days. This way, you can take your time to explore Ban Rak Thai and visit other nearby attractions at a comfortable pace.
Walking around the village, sometimes you would feel that you are in another country rather than Thailand.
Ban Rak Thai still retain the old Chinese cultures. Many signs are in Chinese.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAN RAK THAI
Ban Rak Thai is a small village without a lot of choices for accommodation. The most popular hotel is Lee Wine Ruk Thai, located right in the middle of hill-side tea plantations.
If you stay here, besides a great view of the lake and overlooking the village, you will actually see farmer harvest tea leaves a few feet away from you. You may check the room availability and book online here.
Lee Wine Ruk Thai (check price & availability here)
Sit in front of the house and enjoy the amazing views of sunset or sunrise with cool refreshing air.
Another recommended hotel at Ban Rak Thai is Chasa Rakthai Resort, located amidst tea plantations on a hillside overlooking a lake.
Chasa Rakthai Resort offers breathtaking views that transform throughout the day. Witness the magic of a starry night sky from your balcony, followed by the mesmerizing sight of a misty lake and a stunning sunrise the next morning. (check your date for room availability here)
Nestled on a tea plantation hillside, Chasa Rakthai Resort offers breathtaking views of a serene lake. (book here)
Wake up to the ethereal sight of a misty lake and a breathtaking sunset, all from the comfort of your private balcony. (check room availability here)
BEST TIME TO VISIT BAN RAK THAI
The cold season, which runs from November to mid-February is the best time to visit Ban Rak Thai and the other places in Northern Thailand.
The daytime is warm and cold during the evening and at night. You can walk around in shorts and a shirt in the daytime, but a sweater or jacket will be needed after sunset.
The rainy season, from June to October, is also a great time to visit as this is when the mountain and scenery at their deepest green. The view of the amazing sea of clouds across the valley is also the most apparent during this time.
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At sunrise, take a ride with the boat around the lake and glide through the fog and mist floating over the lake surface.
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