Just a 10-minute walk from town, the Bella Villa is an ideal hideaway. This relatively new boutique mountain retreat comprises 24 deluxe wooden cottages with shake shingle roofs. There are another 20 deluxe rooms with private balconies overlooking the swimming pool and three standard rooms with balconies affording panoramic views of the countryside. All provide a full compliment of amenities. For those who want some exercise, there is a jogging track and mountain bikes to explore the area, which includes the Tha Pai Hot Springs and Mo Paeng Waterfall, just 10 kilometers away. If you feel a little stiff when you return, the resort offers traditional massage as well. (113 Moo 6, Huay Poo- Wiang Nua Rd., Wiang Tai Sub-district, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Tel: +66 (0) 53698 226-7 www.bellevillaresort.com)