What to do in Pai: Thailand’s hippie mountain escape

Welcome to Pai, the laid-back oasis nestled in the heart of northern Thailand‘s captivating mountains. Wondering what to do in Pai? Stroll through the street markets, explore the local art scene or embrace lazy life with a good book at the quaint cafés. And don’t forget to explore Pai’s surroundings if you want to discover the real north, where you can find incredible viewpoints, walk over lush rice paddies or explore hidden waterfalls.

Pai is as opposite to Bangkok as humanly possible. It is a little hippie haven in a small village that immediately winds you down. I am not gonna lie, Pai is a touristy town and it lacks the authenticity of other areas in Thailand. Everything, from businesses to restaurants and accommodations are targeting Western visitors. That being said, it was a nice stop for us to unwind after a few months of traveling. And despite being a tourist hotspot, that doesn’t mean that you cannot find authentic things to discover, especially when you explore the surrounding areas. Let’s dive into what to do in Pai, one lazy day at a time!

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Top 10 things to do in Pai, Thailand

1. Watch the Sunset at the Pai Canyon

One of the most famous things to do in Pai is to watch the sunset from the Pai Canyon. The Pai Canyon is a small orange canyon located around 10 minutes drive from Pai. It has become a popular spot to watch the sunset, as the elevated view over the forest and mountains make for a perfect picture at sunset. As I said, it is popular, so don’t expect to be alone. Many tourists gather for the sunset at Pai Canyon, so try to arrive early and get to the farthest areas.

Price: free, Schedule: always open That being said, we didn’t get the feeling of the place being overcrowded, although some of the paths are narrow and it can get hard to walk through. There are street vendors from which you can purchase some cold drinks to enjoy the sunset with.

2. Wander Through the Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge

The Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge was one of the best experiences we had in Pai. The lush rice terraces where beautifully sculpted and the bamboo bridge over them makes for a fantastic view! There are many huts and covered areas to rest and enjoy the beauty.

Price: 30 THB (0.75€), Schedule: always open

The Bamboo Bridge was originally built so that the monks that lived in the monastery behind the fields could reach the village easily. However, now it can be used by everyone. It is truly a beautiful place so make sure that you save some time to explore it and relax. You should also have a nice coffee at Jaey café, where you can enjoy the views on a hammock overlooking the fields.

If you continue walking through the bridge, you’ll reach a temple and monastery. We didn’t see any other tourists reach the temple, but it was absolutely rewarding, as it is extremely peaceful and relaxing, surrounded by nature and silence. If you’re into meditating, this is a perfect spot to do so!

3. Enjoy the Views from the Big Buddha Statue

One of the best places to visit in Pai is Chedi Phra That Mae Yen. This temple is also known as the Big Buddha because of the large white Buddha statue perched on a hill overlooking the whole valley where Pai is located. The temple is located just outside of town, so it is very easy to reach on a motorbike, bike or even by foot! Once you get there, you’ll have to climb the 300-step staircase to reach the statue. Then just turn around and enjoy the amazing views!

Pai Canyon is the most popular spots to watch the sunset, so the Big Buddha receives much less visitors at that time. If you’re looking for an alternative place for asunset watching, this is it!

Price: free, Schedule: Mon-Sun 6am – 6pm

4. And get some nice views from Yun Lai viewpoint

You’ll get one of the best views in Pai at Yun Lai viewpoint. Located just behind the Santichon Chinese Village, Yun Lai offers a panoramic view of the valley where Pai is. There is a beautiful café at the top so you can have a nice cup of coffee while you enjoy the views. Also, the whole decor of the viewpoint gives fantastic Spirited Away vibes, and there are flower fields and tea plantations to walk around. Price: 20 THB (0,5€), Schedule: Mon-Sun 5am-8pm

5. Explore the Santichon Chinese Village

Santichon is a Chinese-themed village that tries to mimick a traditional Chinese village. Truth be told, it all seems pretty fake and more like a theme park than anything else. That being said, we had fun exploring the little village and, while I would not necessarily recommend that you go out of your way to visit it, it’s a nice stop on your way to the Yun Lai viewpoint.

6. Stroll Through the Pai Night Market and Walking Street

As I mentioned in the introduction, I found Pai too westernized for my taste and, thus, I enjoyed the surroundings more than the village itself. That being said, it was nice to see the main street turning into a Night Market and stopping traffic for people to enjoy the little food stalls and vendors lining the streets. The sleepy town that Pai is in the morning turns into a vibrant street market, and it is one of the most fun things to do in town! Also, you get to taste more authentic food than in most of the restaurants around, so there’s that!

7. Explore the Tham Lod Cave

If you’ve already explored Pai and are looking for a day trip, look no further: The Tham Lod (or Nam Lod) cave is one of the most spectacular rock formations around Pai, and that’s saying a lot! The only way to explore it is with a guide, which will carry a lantern for you to see the beautiful stalactites and -mites on this limestone river cave. There are actually three caves to visit, and one of them can only be accessed by a bamboo raft, since the river floods the entrance.

Price: 200 THB (5€) for two caves, 300 THB (7.5€) for one way bamboo raft into the third cave, 400 THB (10€) for the return ticket, Schedule: 9am-6pm (two caves are closed during the wet season)

The guides don’t speak a lot of English, but you’ll get a good laugh playing with them to try and deciphe

Inside the caves, you’ll see (hear and smell) plenty of bats and birds. There are also a lot of fish in the river, so you can also pay 20 THB (0,5€) for fish food in order to feed the fish. I’m not a fan of feeding wild animals as a tourist attraction but I thought you should know.

Travel tip: the availability of caves to visit depends on the season. Cave 1 is always open, but caves 2 and 3 are only open in the dry season (November – February).

8. Soak at the Hot Springs around Pai

The whole area around Pai is blessed with some thermal waters. That is why there are many hot springs in the area that you can enjoy and relax in after a day of exploring the countryside.

Tha Pai Hot Spring

One of the most popular hot springs around Pai is the Tha Pai Hot Spring. This hot spring is located only 8 km south of Pai, so it is easily reachable by motorbike or bicycle. There are several shallow pools at 80ºC that are perfect to relax under the mix of sun and shade provided by the forest canopy. The first few pools are usually more crowded, so take a longer walk and dip yourself in the pools farther away. There are toilets and changing rooms as well as a restaurant in the premises.

Price: 300 THB (7.5€), Schedule: 8am – 6pm

Sai Ngam Hot Spring

The Sai Ngam Hot Spring is the most beautiful and relaxing of the Pai hot springs. It is located further away from the village and it is not yet as known as Tha Pai (although it is getting there). It is located inside Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary, so you’ll have to pay an entrance fee to the sanctuary as well as another one for the pools. After the checkpoint there are approximately 2km of easy trails (that you can drive in as well) to get to the hot springs. The water is not as warm as in Tha Pai, but it is very well maintained and clean. There are toilets and changing rooms in the area. Price: 200 THB (5€) to enter the Lum Nam Wildlife Sanctuary + 20 THB (0,5€) for the hot springs, Schedule: 8am – 6pm.

9. Visit the Pam Bok Waterfall

Pom Bok is a small waterfall located a short bike ride away from Pai. While it may not be the biggest or most impressive waterfall in the region, it compensates with a scenic (short) hike and a great swimming place in the canyon. There is also an alternative pathway on the right side before you climb down to the canyon that will lead you to a lesser known area of the river with some more pools with less people.

Price: 40 THB (1€), Schedule: I am not sure there’s a specific schedule

EDIT 2024: now the price for tourists is apparently 400 THB (10€). If that’s the case, I suggest you visit other waterfalls in Pai, such as Mae Yen waterfall, which you can visit for free, or Mo Pang waterfall, which you can swim in for 100 THB (2.5€).

10. Check Out the Fish at Wat Nam Hu Temple

To be honest, I haven’t seen this temple in any blogs while researching what to do in Pai. I understand that, given the incredible temples that you can find in Thailand, perhaps Wat Nam Hu doesn’t stand out that much. However, this is an important pilgrimage site for the local people, so it has important cultural significance that you will enjoy if you want to immerse yourself into Pai’s heritage.

The temple is believed to have been built by King Naresuan around 400 years ago for his sister, who was sent as a hostage by the King of Burma. The head of the Buddha image in the shrine has a hollow head from which water flows. Locals drink that water to bring good luck. There is a pond around the floating shrine, which is filled with fish and turtles. I know this is not particularly impressive, but I found it to be peaceful and beautiful. You can visit the temple for free and you’ll have it to yourself, unless you go during a religious ceremony. (VIDEO)

11. Eat Noodles with a View at Ban Jabo Viewpoint

If you love a good view, the best one around Pai is located at Ban Jabo village. The Noodle Soup House Ban Jabo has the best views in town, and it also helps that you can have delicious noodles or just a warm cup of coffee while you watch the sunset over the mountains of nothern Thailand. This village is located around 1h drive from Pai, so plan accordingly. However, it is only a very short detour from the Mae Hong Son loop, so if your following this route, it is a perfect spot for a pit stop!

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Where to Eat in Pai, Thailand

Despite having become rather touristy, you can still get some amazing local food in Pai. Since this is a large topic, I suggest you have a look into my post about it: READ: Where to Eat in Pai, Thailand

How to Get to Pai, Thailand

Coming from Chiang Mai

To get to Pai, you’ll need to get to Northern Thailand, with the most abundant options in Chaing Mai. You can travel to Chaing Mai easily and cheaply by bus or train, since it’s very well connected with other nearby cities and with the capital, Bangkok. Don’t forget that, as Thailand’s second largest city, Chiang Mai has an international airport with direct flights from Bangkok, other cities and islands in Thailand, and even other cities worldwide-wide like Singapore or Dubai.

Once you’re in Chiang Mai, you can get to Pai by taking a direct van from Chang Phueak Bus Terminal. You can buy your tickets directly at the station. However, since Pai is an increasingly popular tourist destination and the vans have few seats, they are filled quickly. Avoid staying behind by booking your tickets in advance below:

Lastly, if you are very short on time, you can always visit the highlights of Pai as a day trip from Chiang Mai, although I don’t fully recommend that as it would involve a great amount of driving and it won’t let you enjoy the unwinding that Pai excells at!

The Mae Hong Son Loop

Pai is located 130 km northwest of Chiang Mai and it is part of the Mae Hong Son loop that connects Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son – Mae Sariang. Although perhaps not as jaw-dropping as its counterpart in Vietnam, the Ha Giang loop, it is still a fantastic motorbike route that will bring you closer to the wonders of the northern mountains in Thailand and immersd yourself with the hill tribes, hot springs and beautiful natural parks. To explore this region through the Mae Hong Son loop, I still would suggest that you start it in Chiang Mai, since it has the most transportation options, but you can really start anywhere! Just rent a motorbike and pick a direction for this loop that can take anything from 3-4 days to weeks, depending on how much you wish to explore. 

How to Move Around in Pai, Thailand

Moving around in Pai (village) is easy, since it’s small enough to walk everywhere in town. To visit sites outside of the village (and you should) the only good option is to rent a motorbike. This is a perfect way to explore the countryside, since there is very little traffic. Some of the roads are not perfectly paved, so beware if you’re not very used to drive a motorbike. There are plenty of bike shops around to rent motorbikes for a very affordable price.

Travel tip: make sure to take pictures of your motorbike when you pick it up to avoid being charged for reparations of scratches that were already there!

 If you’re not confortable driving, your best choice is to join a tour, which can take you to many of the places on this list!

Where to Stay in Pai, Thailand

Choosing where to stay in Pai is easy, since the village is quite small. If you want to be close to the action, stay along the Walking Street. This is where most upscale and boutique hotels are. In my opinion, the best area is below the central quarter. The whole region between Rat Damrong Rd and the football field. Here you’ll still be at walking distance from the central area but will avoid the noise of the party goers at night! If you want something more connected to nature, there are plenty of options outside of town but still close enough to get there in a quick bike ride.

Budget

One of the very best places to stay in Pai is Pai Country Hut, a beautiful and unassuming guest house that offers bungalows on a budget. Each bungalow has a terrace with a hammock, which is exactly whay you need to unwind after a day of exploring the region. It is also very well located. A similar option would be Pai Homey. If you’re really on a tight budget, then you should choose one of the many hostels in town. If you’re looking for a more social experience, check out Yor Song Hostel, a cute hostel in the northern part of town that also serves delicious food! Keep in mind that you’ll need to walk a bit more from these accommodations to the center. If you’re a group of 6 people, nothing will ever be cheaper than renting a house at Chill In Pai, a cottage hotel that rents out basic but comfortable 6-bed houses with a private bathroom for only 6€! (that’s 1€ per person per night people).

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Mid-range

We had a perfect stay at Serene Resort. It is a quiet and beautiful homestay with nice bungalows and a beautiful lush garden with a pool. You will be within walking distance to everything but will be able to enjoy the peace. A similar option with a more hippie vibe is The Sylvana Pai, located just one street from the Walking Street and next to the river. For those that want luxury without breaking the bank in a more isolated location, your best choice is Puripai Villa, one of the most beautiful hotels in the area for a very reasonable price. An even cheaper alternative is Kuad Khon Thoe Pai Cottage, offering colorful cottages with bathroom and a terrace and full access to the swimming pool, located close to the Pai Canyon.

Luxury

If you’re looking for the best of the best, then you should book a room at Reverie Siam. This is probably the best hotel in town. It has an on point decor that screams class and comfort without being too much in your face. It also allows for a local feel within the luxury, which I really appreciate. Reverie Siam has fantastic rooms and a great outdoors area with a gorgeous swimming pool. If you’re more into modern decor and the feeling of a luxurious resort, a great alternative is Family House Zen Boutique Resort.

For those more into coziness (hygge in Scandinavia!) and a nature setting, look no further and book The Farmhouse at Pai. It is a new beautiful cottage filled with white decor and comfort in the countryside. The cottages are surrounded by flower fields and cute little farm animals (that you don’t have to tend to but can pet!). It’s a really special stay in Pai.

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Map of Pai, Thailand

To make things easier for you, I’ve created this map with all the spots I mention in this post, including twhat to do in Pai and places to visit. I will also include my food and accommodation recommendations.

Closing statement

Visiting Pai has become a staple in many backpacker itineraries in northern Thailand. It has also become a mandatory stop in the Mae Hong Son loop. Use this post to plan your next adventure in Thailand’s hippiest hill retreat and get ready to unwind and become more relaxed than ever!

If you are visiting Thailand, some of these posts may be useful:

Chiang Mai Travel Guide: Top 12 Must-Do Activities

What to do in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Best Temples in Sukhothai: Ultimate Guide to Thailand’s Ancient Capital

What to do in Bangkok: top 10 activities Ayutthaya: a day trip from Bangkok, Thailand Also, since you’re thinking of visiting Southeast Asia, maybe these will inspire you: Ultimate 3 weeks Vietnam Itinerary: North to South Perfect 3 days itinerary in Ubud, Bali What to do in Singapore: Top 11 things to do in Singapore Ultimate 3 Weeks Malaysia Itinerary for First Timers Perfect 10 days Flores itinerary in Indonesia A 4-day Komodo boat expedition in Indonesia with Wanua Adventure

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