Here is the best guide to Pai for you as you consider whether Pai is worth a visit.
This guide to Pai is written based on my full experience in Pai. Follow this guide to Pai to have the best experience that Pai has to offer.
Pai is one of the best towns to retreat and relax if you are tired of the hectic vibes in Chiang Mai.
I enjoyed my three days spent in Pai, where I explored local coffee shops and took in some of the unique landscapes in the area.
Crossing the Pai Bamboo Bridge, overlooking the rice paddy fields
Where is Pai?
Pai is located in the Northern region of Thailand, in the Mae Hong Son district. Pai is a small town located 130km (82 miles) from Chiang Mai.
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Is Pai worth a visit?
Most definitely, yes! Pai gives a unique feeling that is sometimes challenging to describe to someone who has not visited.
Before visiting, many travellers had shared that I would be stuck in a “Pai hole”. I did not understand what that meant until I arrived in Pai. Many travellers shared with me that their planned 3 days in Pai turned into a 3-week stay!
Pai town gives a hippy vibe and is surrounded by lush mountains and rice paddies. There are many handmade handicrafts and cafes, as well as numerous wellness studios. Hiking trails through the lush rice paddies are plentiful and give a calming feel.
So, whether you are looking for adventure or just a place to laze and relax, you will not feel left out. Pai is suitable for everyone, but not everyone.
During my 3-day stay in Pai, I met folks who have been living in Pai for the last few months, throughout the cool season.
Here’s my best guide to Pai for you!
Coffee shops with plentiful outdoor seatings under the tree shade
Who is Pai for?
Before visiting Pai and then returning to comment that Pai town is terrible, I’m here to tell you that Pai is not for everyone.
So, who is Pai less suitable for?
- Travellers who dislike long, winding roads
The most convenient way to travel to Pai is by road from Chiang Mai. While the travel distance is not significantly long, the travel journey is slightly challenging due to the winding road conditions.
The road from Chiang Mai to Pai or vice versa has 762 curves. The route is scenic and keeps you fascinated with Mother Nature. However, motion sickness is not uncommon.
This might be a consideration for some travellers, as travel on winding roads may be very dreadful.
- Travellers who enjoy cities and crave luxury
Pai town is a town with 3000 residents and is easily explored on foot. Shops in Pai town sell local handmade, artsy items. There are no big brands in sight.
Coffee shops and restaurants are locally owned by passionate locals keen to share their recipes and stories through food.
If you enjoy a vibrant city feel and need retail therapy, Pai may feel like a sleepy town.
Slow stroll in town, exploring cute, little corners
- Short-term travellers on a tight schedule
With the road conditions for travelling from Chiang Mai to Pai, it’s not worth the trip if you’re only in Chiang Mai for 1 to 2 days.
If you are considering a day trip to Pai from Chiang Mai, I do not recommend doing so.
Getting to Pai is an experience in itself. Therefore, it is better to skip Pai rather than to rush it.
Herds of cows were independently crossing the winding roads
Then, who is Pai best suited for?
I highly recommend Pai to these 2 groups of travellers.
- Budget and/or slow travellers
The cost of living is relatively cheap compared to the other regions in Thailand. Additionally, the laid-back culture enables travellers to thoroughly experience the local culture.
During my 3 days in Pai, I met many backpackers on a budget travelling through Southeast Asia. Backpackers shared that Pai is a great place for them to relax and indulge in the local culture before continuing their backpacking travels of moving places every few days.
Locals enjoying their dinner at Pai Night Market
- Travellers looking to unwind and focus on themselves
There are minimal distractions in Pai town. So, naturally, Pai town gives you the right ambience and encourages reflection and working on yourself.
There are many wellness studios and yoga classes in Pai town, nice spots along the river to just be with yourself or enjoy the sunset over the hills with someone.
Throughout my 3 days in Pai, it’s the kind of place where doing less feels like doing more – perfect for anyone looking for a place to breathe and think.
I met many digital nomads during my 3-day stay in Pai. Internet connection in Pai town is as fast, so there is no good reason to not be able to stay focused!
Sat on a bench by the river, enjoying the peaceful, reflective moment that summed up the best travel I’ve experienced
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Guide to Pai: Things to do in Pai
- People watch at a coffee shop
People watching is my favourite activity and is the best thing to do in Pai town.
Whether you are sipping a cup of iced coffee at a street-side cafe or a freshly blended smoothie, people watching gives the best opportunity to observe and learn about the local cultural norms.
During my visit to Pai, I spent half my time at local coffee shops, enjoying the ambience and coffee. I had a lovely chat with a frequent traveller to Pai, where he shared some of the best stories on how to live a good life.
If you are looking for coffee shops with a nice ambience and good coffee selection, I’d recommend these coffee shops.
A quiet morning with a cup of coffee at Khaotha Coffee / Roastered Pai
- Pai Canyon
Pai Canyon was on my must-visit list after seeing a glimpse of the beauty on a friend’s Instagram story. The narrow red sandstone ridges and cliffs among lush green valleys gave the feel of being in a miniature Grand Canyon.
The trails are unfenced and rugged, so be careful and watch your footing! Wear a good pair of walking shoes to avoid blisters on your feet.
At sunset, the sun’s rays casting long shadows on the narrow sandstone paths is a beautiful sight to witness.
Cautiously making my way up Pai Canyon
How to get to Pai Canyon?
The easiest way is to rent a scooter. Rental prices of scooters are reasonable. It is the most convenient way to travel.
Alternatively, if you are not confident to ride a scooter, you may consider joining one of the evening tours to visit Pai Canyon. There ar multiple tour companies offering a half-day tour in Pai town.
Tips for the best experience:
Plan to arrive 45 minutes before sunset.
The pathways to the top of Pai Canyon are narrow. I’ll recommend to walk in a single path, where possible.
Arriving there 45 minutes before sunset enables you to make it to the top of the canyon without the crowd and provides sufficient time to find the best spot to watch the sunset.
Found the best spot to witness the sunset on Pai Canyon
- White Buddha
The White Buddha is located on a hilltop and gives a perfect view of the town. Although it is slightly away from Pai town, if you are riding a scooter, the entrance to the White Buddha is only a 2-minute detour from the main road.
This spot is less crowded, and it felt peaceful. If you are looking for some stillness and want to have a moment of gratitude, this is the place.
Remember to wear long-sleeved tops and trousers as this is a place of worship. There is no entrance fee to visit the White Buddha. However, there are some temple staff or monks around to ensure all rules are respected.
White Buddha at the top of the stairs
- Pai Bamboo Bridge
Pai bamboo bridge, also known as Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge, is one of my favourite places to witness the sunset.
The 800m bridge spans across multiple plots of rice paddies and was built for monks to travel between the temple and nearby villages during the rainy season.
As I carefully walked along the bamboo bridge, I spotted a unique spot which looked like a “Staircase to Heaven”. I walked up those stairs – and oh my, the view from just a few steps above was breathtaking.
About 10 minutes later, a solo traveller joined me at the top.
Catch up with a fellow solo traveller at the top of “Staircase to Heaven”
Is there an entrance fee to Pai Bamboo Bridge?
Yes, 30 Thai Baht (USD 0.90).
The entrance fee enables the local team to upkeep the facilities. The views of the vast rice paddies and the walking experience on bamboo bridges make the entrance fee worthwhile.
The Bamboo Bridge that connects the temple and nearby villages
- Pai night market
No trip to a town in Thailand is complete without a trip to the night market.
Pai night market is centrally located, just off Pai’s main walking street. There is a variety of food sold – from pad thai to local desserts. Being in Northern Thailand, I opted to enjoy a comforting bowl of Khao Soi.
Finding the best trinket to bring home at Pai Night Market
Khao Soi is a local curry noodle dish, especially popular in Northern Thailand. It is a rich, coconut milk-based broth, served over soft egg noodles and topped with crispy noodles, fresh lime and pickled mustard greens.
How many days in Pai?
As I write this Guide to Pai, I recommend 3 days.
This gives you 2 sunset evenings in Pai. Spend one of the sunsets at Pai Canyon and the other evening at Pai Bamboo Bridge. You will not regret the decision!
However, if you opt to spend only a night in Pai town, I recommend spending the sunset at Pai Canyon.
Guide to geting to and around Pai
The most convenient way to travel to Pai is from Chiang Mai.
There are 2 ways to travel to Pai:
- Ride a scooter
- Ride in a private shuttle minivan
Option 1: Ride a scooter
The option to ride a scooter is straightforward. Rent a scooter from Chiang Mai and scoot away.
The perks of riding the scooter from Chiang Mai to Pai enable you to pay for a slightly cheaper scooter rental relative to renting scooters in Pai.
Additionally, if you are travelling during the peak season, then you are assured that you have access to a scooter to travel around. My friend and I travelled to Pai during the peak season and we struggled to rent a scooter as the majority of the rental shops were out of scooters.
However, if you are not a very experienced rider, this option is not recommended. The road is winding and dangerous, especially during poor weather conditions.
Scooters for rental
Option 2: Ride in a private shuttle minivan
There is only one private shuttle minivan company operating the Pai-Chiang Mai route. Therefore, if you are travelling during the peak season, it is advised to book your tickets at least 1 day in advance.
The minivan departs hourly between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM. The journey will take 4 to 5 hours, depending on road traffic and weather conditions. The minivan driver will stop once at a rest house for a short 10-minute break.
Ticket costs between 150 to 200 Thai baht (USD 4.60 to 6.20).
At the rest stop to stretch our legs
From Chiang Mai to Pai
Chiang Mai pick-up
The pick-up point in Chiang Mai depends on where the ticket is purchased. There are three ways to purchase the tickets:
- At Arcade Bus Terminal 2
Head to the bus terminal a little earlier than the bus departure time to purchase the ticket at the ticket counter. After that, proceed to board the shuttle to Chiang Mai at one of the bus platforms.
However, I don’t recommend this option as the bus terminal is not within walking distance of the city. You’ll need to take a 10- to 15-minute Grab bike ride to get there.
If you are travelling during the peak season, you will likely need to make 2 separate trips to the bus terminal – one to purchase the bus ticket, and another on the day of travel to catch your bus.
- A travel agent in Chiang Mai town
The pickup point depends on the travel agent, so be sure to check with the respective travel agents when making your inquiry.
I’d say this is the best option if you’re planning to book a large number of tickets, as travel agents may offer a lump sum discount for group bookings.
- Your hotel reception
Most hotels offer a service to book bus tickets on the guests’ behalf.
For solo travellers, this is often the easiest and most convenient option.
Booking the bus ticket through your hotel will save you both time and money, as the pick-up point is usually at your hotel – meaning there is no need to travel to the bus terminal!
Pai drop off
Upon reaching Pai, the shuttle bus will drop off near Pai night market, located along the town’s main road.
The many bags at the Travel agent, after checking out and waiting for our private shuttle
From Pai to Chiang Mai
Pai pick-up point
The pick-up point in Pai will be where you purchased your ticket from the ticket counter on the main road. There are 2 ticket counters selling tickets to Chiang Mai, along the town’s main road.
Don’t worry if you can’t immediately spot the ticket counter — Pai is a small town with just one main road, and everything is within walking distance. You’ll find it easily, even if you’re not looking too hard.
Chiang Mai drop-off
The drop-off point in Chiang Mai is at Tha Phae Gate.
Although this is a centrally located drop-off area, what makes this a poor location is the incredibly busy traffic.
On my arrival in Chiang Mai, it took 20 minutes for the bus driver to drive 200m (650 ft) to drop all passengers off. There is not much you could do about it. Patience is key.
Guide to Pai: Best time to visit
Visit Pai between November and February. The weather is cool and dry, making it comfortable to travel around.
This season also coincides with Loy Krathong Festival, one of the biggest celebrations in Northern Thailand.
During this festival, “krathong”, a small basket traditionally made from the trunk of a banana plant, and sky lanterns are released onto waterways and the sky, respectively. This is action is a symbol of letting go of negativity and bad luck.
Avoid the summer months (March to July). It is also the burning season as farmers work diligently to clear their lands for the next planting season. Agricultural waste is burnt, resulting in poor air quality.
August to October – the rainy season. Sometimes, flash floods or road washouts may occur, especially in rural areas. However, it is temporarily and the water subsides in a few hours.
If you are travelling to Pai during these months, it is recommended to bring a rain jacket and waterproof sandals. Avoid riding the scooter during heavy rain as the road is slippery and potentially muddy.
Guide to Pai for Solo Travellers
In my opinion, Pai is one of the best places for solo travellers. During my 3-day in Pai, I noticed majority of the travellers are travelling solo.
While people watching, you may observe that the travellers are travelling in groups. However, if you watch even closer or have a quick chat with any of them, they will share that they are travelling solo and they have met each other in the previous city.
Pai, especially for women, is safe. There is no one point in time that I felt that my safety was compromised. I was comfortable walking back to my accommodation after enjoying my dinner at Pai night market.
Campsites near the river after sunset
Best tips for the best Pai experience
- Visit Pai between November and February.
- Plan a day ahead to secure your public transport tickets, as they may run out during the winter season
- Bring cash. There are ATMs easily available to redraw cash if needed. Search for the best ATM redrawal fee online to avoid surprises when checking your bank account.
- During winter, there is a significant temperature difference between day and night. Keep a light jacket handy to keep warm.
- During the rainy season, bring a rain jacket and waterproof sandals to avoid being soaked for long periods.
- Internet coverage is good, considering that we are in a mountainous region. Connect and share these amazing views with your loved ones!
Lunch at a cafe, overlooking the mountains
Guide to Pai: Is it worth it?
So, there you go – the best guide to having the best experience in Pai. I wrote this article based on my experience in Pai.
Looking back, I will return to Pai as the best place to relax after working throughout the year.
Sun rays overcasting the rice paddies at Pai Bamboo Bridge