Pai, Thailand

1. Walking Street

Evening market in the center of Pai, featuring tasty – and cheap – street food and little stalls exhibiting ornaments and paintings made by artists.

2. Pai Canyon

A magnificent canyon, deeply carved under the influence of the natural process of erosion. Wander along the steep cliffs at sunset and enjoy the view of the hills surrounding them.

3. Memorial Bridge

This iron bridge was built in 1942 by the Japanese with the aim of transporting goods and weapons to Myanmar (Burma) during World War II.

4. Wat Phra That Mae Yen

Large, white Buddha statue that looks out over Pai; the temple itself is rather plain, but the view is magnificent.

5. Santichon Chinese Village

A small Chinatown scattered with Chinese temples, some shops and an excellent viewpoint (Yun Lai Viewpoint) where you can have a cup of oolong tea.

6. Sai Ngam Hot Spring

Small hot spring that’s located on the way to Tham Lod Cave. This jungle spa’s water is blissfully warm and crystal clear.

7. Pai Hotsprings Spa Resort

Even if you’re not a guest in this resort, it’s possible to pay to make use of their mineral baths and thermal springs.

8. Ta Pai Hot Springs

Pai’s most popular hot springs are located in a peaceful area. There’s something truly magical about this place, especially in the early morning.

9. Tham Lod Cave

Breathtakingly beautiful cave consisting of three parts. Marvel at the rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites, pillars and the underground river that goes on for several kilometers.

10. Mor Paeng Waterfall

Sizeable three-tier waterfall located 9 kilometers from Pai. During the rainy season (July to October) it’s possible to slide down it.

11. Pambok Waterfall

This waterfall is easily accessible from the town center and situated in a ravine. Jump off the rocks for a refreshing dip!

12. Mae Yen Waterfall

To reach this waterfall, you’ll need to hike through the jungle for three hours on a poorly marked trail. Challenging, but pretty awesome!

13. Hua Chang Waterfall

It will take an hour’s hike through the jungle to reach this lesser known waterfall. During the rainy season (July to October), the trail is hardly passable.

14. Mae Hong Son Loop

Fantastic 650 kilometer-long motorbike trail through the mountains of Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son – Mae Sariang – Doi Inthanon National Park – Chiang Mai.

1. Boomelicious Cafe

Soi One Corner Plaza, on the corner of the Walking Street, Pai
Welcome to breakfast heaven! Here you can have egg, toasted sourdough bread, (ice) coffee, salmon, beans, potato pancakes and much, much more.

2. Cafecito

258 Moo 8 Vieng Tai, Pai
Not only does this Mexican restaurant serve the most amazing burritos and quesadillas, you can also enjoy a lovely cup of coffee with a homemade cake.

3. Charlie & Lek Health Restaurant

Th Rangsiyanon, toward the morning market
One of our favorite spots in Pai for a Thai dinner, Charlie & Lek’s food is super fresh and ready in no-time. Also… so cheap!

4. Duang Restaurant

5 Moo 3 Rangsiyanon Rd, off Walking Street, Pai
Duang Restaurant is run by Thai people who are deaf or hard of hearing but know their way around the kitchen. For a mere 40 baht, they’ll serve you a piping hot Khao Soi (yellow curry with fried noodles).

5. Earth Tone

81, Rural Rd Mae Hong Son, opposite the White Buddha
This small restaurant is an absolute must for vegetarians and vegans. Meals served here are super healthy and made with lots of unique ingredients.

6. Fat Cat

18 Moo 1, Ban Mae Yen, on the road to the White Buddha
This small, cute restaurant serves its food outside, in its vegetable garden, where you’ll be seated on lounge cushions. Nearly everything is organic and comes from their garden. Yum!

7. Land Split

Chang Wat, Thung Yao toward the Pam Bok Waterfall
On the way to the Pam Bok waterfall, you’ll come across the Land Split whose friendly owner will welcome you with some local snacks and drinks. All the food and drinks here are completely free, so don’t forget to leave a small donation when you leave!

8. Lemon Thyme Cafe

Tedsaban1 Rd. Amphoe Pai
This cute little café, modeled on similar ones in Paris, is run by two brothers who, again and again, manage to serve the most amazing breakfasts, lunches, and coffees.

9. Maya Burger Queen

63/1 Moo 3, Raddamrong
Want a break from Thai and fancy something greasy? Then go to Maya Burger Queen and have a double cheeseburger with some excellent fries and garlic mayonnaise.

10. Na’s Kitchen

At the bottom of Raddamrong Road near the traffic lights
Na turned her house into a restaurant, which means you can enjoy a lovely Thai meal on her front porch. Before you know it, there won’t be any space left on your table!

11. Om Garden Cafe

60/4 Vieng Tai, Amphoe Pai
This is Pai’s number one breakfast hotspot. Pick a nice spot in the beautiful garden, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a fresh and healthy organic meal. Everything here is homemade and prepared with the greatest care and attention.

12. Plernpai Vegetarian Cafe

106/1 Moo 1, Mae Hee Subdistrict, Pai
Vegetarian or not, the food at this café/hotel is HEAVENLY. The best Mexican bowls, fresh spring rolls, breakfasts and fruit shakes are served here!

13. Silhouette by Reverie Siam

Wiang Tai, Pai
Feel like dining in style? Then pull up a chair at Silhouette, an outstanding Mediterranean restaurant, where you can do just that. The tapas are amazing!

Minivan

• Travel time: 3 hours
• Cost: ฿ 150 pp

Publicly owned Prem Pracha’s minivans leave from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station throughout the day. They’re air-conditioned and seat 13 in total. It is possible to make a reservation (a seat at the front is advisable). The ride will take about 3 hours, which includes a short stop halfway. Tickets are approximately 150 baht per person and available online and at the station.

We recommend booking a return ticket online. The vans don’t seat many and therefore tend to sell out quickly. It will also save you some time!

Local bus

• Travel time: 4 hours
• Cost: ฿ 80 pp

Besides the minivans, there’s an intercity bus that leaves Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station once a day. This bus is old and slow – the ride will take about 4 hours, which includes a short stop. It’s especially popular among locals and sometimes becomes so full that the only place to sit is the floor. There’s no toilet or air conditioning on board. Tickets are about 80 baht per person and available at the bus station.

Motorbike

• Travel time: 4-5 hours
• Cost: ฿ 350 pp

Getting from Chiang Mai to Pai by motorbike is very popular. The road is in good condition, signage is clear (there’s only one road that leads to Pai), and along the way, you’ll pass small villages, national parks, and mountain viewpoints. It will take about 4-5 hours, depending on how well you ride a motorbike and the number of stops you make.

We only recommend doing this if you’re an experienced rider and the weather is dry. During the rainy season (July to October) roads are slippery and have been known to flood. Renting a motorbike to go from Chiang Mai to Pai is ± 300-400 baht per motorbike per day.

We recommend booking a return ticket online. The vans don’t seat many and therefore tend to sell out quickly. It will also save you some time!

Taxi

• Travel time: 3 hours
• Cost: ฿ 1,000

A private taxi ride from Chiang Mai to Pai is ± 3,000 baht.

Motorbike

There’s no getting around the fact that a motorbike is the best way to explore Pai’s surrounding area. The roads are in good condition, and there’s barely any traffic, which makes it ideal for the more inexperienced motorbike riders. Rent is 100-250 baht per 24 hours.

Bike

If you don’t feel comfortable riding a motorbike, a bicycle or a mountain bike could be a good alternative. You can rent them on the Walking Street for 50-100 baht per day. Be prepared though, getting across certain mountain slopes is hard work!

Taxi

There aren’t that many taxis in Pai, so it’s not possible to flag them down along the road. It is possible, however, to book a taxi on the Walking Street. Prices are steep for northern Thailand; an hour’s ride (depending on your bartering skills) could easily set you back as much as a couple of hundred baht.

November – February

The cool season is the best time to be in Pai. It’s when there’s very little rain, nature is vibrant and green, the waterfalls are well-filled, and at night the weather is nice and cool (sometimes even cold).

March – April

During the hot season temperatures regularly reach 40 °C, making it the least pleasant time to visit Pai. Not just because of the high temperatures, but also because of the persistent smog hanging over the valley.

May – October

The rainy season brings with it some much-needed colder weather in the form of rain, which usually falls in the late afternoon in tropical downpours. Advantage: it’s quiet, and it’s cheap!