Things to do in Mae Sariang; Doi Pha Thang Viewpoint Tour

Twenty-five kilometers outside of Mae Sariang Rural Road 3004 begins. The road is flanked by magnificent mountains covered in green lush forest. The 3004, with its many twists and turns, is a dream come true for any motorcyclist. It takes you to Ban Khuay Kong Mool Viewpoint and then on to Doi Pha Tang Temple & Viewpoint. It climbs and winds through jungle-clad mountains with hill-tribe villages. At first, I thought the people from the villages didn't like me being there. But when I smiled at them, they smiled and waved back at me. They were probably just surprised to see me there all by myself on my Honda CB.

The first stop on this day trip from Mae Sariang is at Ban Khuay Kong Mool Viewpoint. The name is written in Thai on Google Maps, so search the map on this page to find it. The viewpoint is at following coordinates 17° 54' 44.4184", 97° 53' 36.2927". The viewpoint is made up of several walkways protruding from the mountain. The walkways provide a lovely view of the valley below and the mountains behind. Unfortunately, when I visited in mid-January, there was a haze in the valley caused by the burning of harvest leftovers. As a result, the views from Ban Khuay Kong Mool Viewpoint were somewhat disappointing. That being said the ride up is spectacular and the temple built upon Doi Pha Tang  mountain is a truly unique destination to explore.

The temple is built upon two peaks circled and connected by stairs, ladders and platforms. The construction provides magnificent vistas over the jungle-clad mountains of Mae Hong Son province and Myanmar. It's great fun climbing the stairs around Doi Pha Tang mountain while taking in the breathtaking views. It's one of those places that could be run over by tourists fighting for a place on the many platforms to make a selfie. But it isn't. I stayed for 1,5 hours and was the only one there. Probably because it's somewhat remote and not well known. Also, it appeared to be a new construction, which could explain the low number of 12 reviews on Google Maps.

The first viewpoint as seen from the second. This is the higher viewpoint of the two. It features several walkways, platforms and a roofed seating area with spectacular views of the surrounding luscious green mountains.

The second viewpoint. It has a Buddha statue next to a roofed seating area. From here you can walk down stairs in three stages, each with its own platform. The platforms offer views of Myanmar's stunning peaks as well as the village below.

Surprisingly, there are three toilets at Doi Pha Tang Temple & Viewpoint!

There is no entrance fee. At least as far as I can tell. There was not a soul in sight. There was a wooden hut at the start of the stairs leading up the mountain, but it was in poor condition and appeared to be abandoned.

The dirt road going up to the stairs of Doi Pha Tang Temple & Viewpoint is the second destination for this day trip from Mae Sariang. It's a pleasant 25 to 40 minutes walk up. If you're not a reasonably experienced rider, or if you're on a heavy bike with sport tires, I recommend parking here.

In Google Maps, the viewpoint names are in Thai. When you want to look them up, you may either copy and paste them into Google Maps or use the coordinates:
Ban Khuay Kong Mool Viewpoint:
จุดชมวิวบ้านห้วยกองมูล
17°54'44.4"N 97°53'36.3"E
Doi Pha Tang Viewpoint:
ดอยผาตั้ง บ้านเลโค๊ะ
17°50'56.7"N 97°51'22.5"E

I saw multiple songthaews during the day so it might be possible to go by public transport. That being said, it's somewhat remote and probably would be quite challenging if you don't speak Thai. Best is to go by your own transport. I didn't see any motorcycle rental shops in Mae Sariang. So, if you want to rent a motorcycle, you might have to do so in Chiang Mai.

I took Highway 105, but you could opt to go along the smaller roads West of the 105. I took those roads on my way down to Mae Sot. Those roads are partly sealed and partly dirt road and cross small villages. You'll reach the 3004 after twenty-five kilometers. The 3004 is sealed, however, there are many stones and sand on the road, particularly at the corners. The area is a popular camping spot for Thai people. So be aware that 4WDs may be approaching you and may be on your side of the road at the corners. There were also many chickens running around in the villages, and I saw cows on the road in several places outside of the villages.

The last 1,6 kilometers leading up to the beginning of the staircases up to Doi Pha Tang Viewpoint is dirt road. I decided to park my motorcycle under a bamboo construction next to the road (see map) and walk up. It's a 25 to 40 minutes walk. I was there mid January and the road was sandy. I probably could have driven up, but with my IRC sport tires I was happy I didn't. It was a nice walk and it would be a shame if I dropped the bike. There are some steeper parts, but they don't go on for long. On a a 125cc automatic or manual or a motorcycle with off-road tires I would have driven up. You have to be a somewhat experienced driver though.

I recommend staying in Mae Sariang. If you look for a budget private room with a hot shower and don't mind sleeping on a hard bed I recommend Wang Noi Guesthouse.