If Pai is the party town, Soppong is its quiet, nature-loving younger sibling. Interchangeably called Pang Mapha after the district name, Soppong is halfway between Pai and Mae Hong Son on the 1095 road, which is well known to be the most winding road in Thailand with about 1800 curves.
Soppong comes alive every Tuesday with the local market, where hill tribes of all ethnicities come from nearby villages to sell their artifacts, handicrafts, vegetables, and fruits.
In the past, this spot used to be the main place to sell buffalo and cows.
It’s a gorgeous region composed of mountains and karst hills where all outdoor activities can be organized anytime.
For the caving enthusiast, Soppong or Pang Mapha district has more than 200 caves within 50 km around the town, 5 of which are over 4 km long with world-class formations, and some others cannot be explored because of archaeologic research.
There are also plenty of other treats, such as some good rafting and kayaking opportunities, and the stunningly scenic hinterland is dotted with dozens of Lisu, Karen, Lahu, and Shan villages.
Most of these are easy to reach and can be visited on organized treks.