Marvel Overland Holiday

Khun Yuam

The small market town of Khun Yuam lies around halfway between Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang and services the surrounding villages in the valley of the Yuam River. It can get quite bustling in the mornings, especially on market days, as Hmong, Karen and even the rarely encountered Lawa people from the hills come into town to sell or buy goods.

Otherwise, this is a very sleepy little spot with, apart from one excellent museum, not really a lot to see. The surrounding hills do hold more famous attractions in the form of the spectacular Mae Surin Waterfall-reputedly the kingdom's highest-plus the annual flowering of the wild Mexican sunflowers. The area around town also holds great trekking potential, with some excellent mountain scenery, plenty of hill-tribe villages and boat and rafting opportunities on the Yuam River, but for now it remains as potential only and you'll have to head for the more touristy towns of Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son for any organised trekking action.

It's in this part of Mae Hong Son Province that certain hills turn bright yellow in November and December as wild sunflowers come into bloom for the Bua Tong Sunflower Festival. This is what puts Khun Yuam on the map for domestic tourists, at least. If you're already in the area then the spectacular Mae Surin waterfall in the nearby national park of the same name is also worth a side trip if you have your own