Ban La Up Tourism Community Mae Hong Son Province

Ban La Up is a Lawa (Lua) village in Huai Hom subdistrict, Mae La Noi district — described in Thai tourism sources as the largest Lawa community in Thailand. It runs as an OTOP Nawatwithi tourism community: a government-backed programme that channels visitor spending into village cooperatives rather than outside operators. Entry is free. The village was previously known as Mosambieng; local legend explains the current name as the spot where a traveller left behind a heavy vessel called an oop.

Wooden houses on stilts sit among the hillside terraces, and the village’s cooperative groups work in silver craft and Lawa textile weaving — both sold on-site rather than through a middleman. A village coffee group, often referred to locally by its shop name, roasts and serves coffee grown on the surrounding slopes, and a homestay group coordinates overnight stays with local families. This is Lawa territory rather than a generic “hill tribe village” — the Lawa are a distinct ethnic group with their own language, house-building style, and dress that sets them apart from the Karen, Hmong, or Akha communities more commonly featured on Chiang Mai trekking routes.

Insider Tip: Book a homestay rather than a day trip if you can spare the night — Ban La Up sits far enough from Mae Sariang that a same-day round trip leaves little time to see the silver and weaving groups actually working, and the mountain views are better at sunrise than midday.

Watch out: Mountain roads into Mae La Noi district can be slow and occasionally rough in the rainy season (June-October); a car with decent clearance or a local driver is the safer option over a rented scooter.

Cooler months, November through February, are the most comfortable for walking the village and surrounding trails. Getting there means a drive from Mae Sariang or Mae La Noi town — there’s no scheduled public transport into the village itself. Bring modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and cash for any craft purchases or homestay fees.