Nestled off the road that connects the bohemian tourist town of Pai with the city of Mae Hong Son (inside the province of the same name) is a breathtakingly beautiful cafe where you can eat on suspended benches above the clouds with your feet dangling free.
Okay, cafe might be pushing it. This is basically a very rustic wooden shop serving boat noodles for just THB35 (US$1) per bowl, but it has 5-star views. The cafe, which is called Guaytiew Chom View, is part of the village of Ban Jabo, which is populated by the Lahu tribe, many of whom still dress traditionally.
Even without the oft-photographed and much bucket-listed noodle joint, the village is worth a visit since visitors say it’s like stepping back in time. Though there is electricity and spotty wifi or data reception in some areas, most of the village is old wooden houses, wandering animals, a few small food and souvenir shops, one coffee shop, and the noodle shop.
If you love the rustic life, it’s possible to stay overnight in the village with about 10 homestays available for about THB100 (US$3) per person. The catch is, it’s not easy to arrange these in advance, so you probably have to show up and ask around. Fortunately, this place isn’t often booked out and it’s doubtful the locals would make you sleep rough even if the “official” homestays were full.
To find the village, jump off Pai Road about an hour and a half after you leave the town, drive four kilometers on Route 1095 to reach the village and you’ll have to do the last bit of the journey to the gorgeous noodle shop on foot.
At Guaytiew Chom View, you slurp your noodles sitting on (and eating off of) humble wooden slats but enjoy looking out over 270 degree mountain views since the village is elevated enough that the clouds are beneath you, offering an otherworldly, celestial feeling.
If you spend the whole day here, or overnight, the villagers also offer trekking routes with local guides, as is advertised on signs in the village.
As nice as the sunsets are in Ban Jabo village, the especially early risers say the sunrises are even better and these views may be among the finest in all of Thailand.
FIND IT:
Guaytiew Chom View
41/1 Ban Kong
Mae Hong Son
Open daily, 7am-4pm, closed Tuesdays
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