The Ultimate Guide to Pai, Thailand

Disclaimer: This blog uses affiliate links, so if you choose to book something through them, I earn a small commission with no extra cost to you. All the recommendations here are things that I stand by and I think would add to your experience in Pai.

Should you add Pai to your Thailand itinerary? The answer is WITHOUT A DOUBT. Pai is a small laidback mountain town with river activities, hiking, temples, cool reggae bars, and delicious food.

I really wished that I was able to spend more time in Pai and I cannot wait to go back. You cannot miss Pai when backpacking through Thailand.

So let’s get into all the things you must do when visiting Pai, where to stay in Pai, how to get around Pai, and the best way to get to Pai from Chiang Mai!

TOP 7 THINGS TO DO IN PAI

1. Visit the White Buddha Temple

There is a Buddhist temple that has a Buddha at the top of a hill that overlooks Pai. It’s also called the Big Buddha Pai if you are unable to find it on Google Maps. It’s a very quick 10-minute ride from the city.

The view at the top is beautiful and worth the walk up. It definitely is a hike up to the top so bring some water. Ideally, it would be best to get there early in the morning when it’s not as hot or crowded. Or at sunset! It does close at 6 PM but with all the mountains, it is a perfect sunset spot in Pai.

Don’t forget to dress with your shoulders and knees covered. There are rentals in case you need them!

2. Pam Bok Waterfall and Bamboo Bridge

With Pai being a mountain town, there are tons of nature spots that you should see while you’re here. I put these two together because they are very close to each other so it’s easiest to go to both in one day.

Pam Bok Waterfall is a small waterfall with a short hike. I was lucky to have this area basically to myself the whole time. While the waterfall may be underwhelming in comparison to some others in Thailand — the quietness of makes it extra special.

I laid on the rocks and listened to the waterfall for a couple of hours and enjoyed every second. There was also someone who laid out a towel and was reading a book.

It’s just extremely serene and peaceful compared to some waterfalls that get very crowded. I highly recommend it. You do need to pay a small fee to have access to the waterfall. When visiting Pam Bok Waterfall, you can also visit the bamboo bridge which is just up the road. You can buy a ticket to both the waterfall and Bamboo Bridge at the waterfall.

Bamboo bridge is a man-made bridge out of bamboo — as the name says. It’s a popular tourist destination. I chose not to visit this because I wanted to spend more time at the waterfall instead.

3. Pai Canyon

This is another perfect sunset spot to add to your list! Honestly, Pai Canyon was much better than I expected it to be. I thought it would be a cool place to check out but I had so much fun here.

Pai canyon is filled with very narrow hiking trails and ledges that offer beautiful views of the valley. I would wear comfortable clothes and shoes because some of the paths are extremely narrow.

I headed here just before sunset and spent a little time hiking. Then I watched the sunset. There are some benches to sit on so you can relax while you enjoy the sunset.

4. Tipsy Tubing

A popular tourist activity in Pai is Tipsy Tubing. Basically, you just float down the river and drink with tons of other backpackers. There are also little stop-off bars along the river.

I actually didn’t do this while I was here because I had such a short amount of time in Pai, and there’s so much to see. But, I heard from several people that it is extremely fun. Tip: Apparently the best day to do this is Friday! So try to plan accordingly.

You can book with groups in the town or with a hostel that you are staying at.

6. Nam Lud Cave

Nam Lud Cave is one of the day trip options from Pai. It’s a large cave that you raft through with a guide.

Day trips are very easy to book in Pai whether you’re at a hostel or not. Check out some shops around town and you can easily book this for cheap! You’ll see signs for it all over the main city.

I was incredibly bummed that I also missed this. But again this is why you must go to Pai and make sure you have enough time! There’s too much to see here.

7. Two Huts Cafe

Two Huts Cafe takes the cake as the cutest coffee shop I’ve ever been to. I drove my scooter here and it was about 10 minutes outside of town. It felt like you were in the middle of nowhere because it is this little coffee shop with exceptional views just tucked away in the mountains.

The coffee is also great here. If you’re not into coffee, they do sell beer here! It’s a perfect spot to come and sit for a while to soak in some Northern Thailand mountain views. So come for the good vibes!

Some other popular spots that I didn’t want to visit but are common destinations in Pai:

• The Pai Hot Springs: I just felt I was already very hot so I didn’t want to get in hot water but totally check it out if you are interested!

• Love Strawberry Pai: I had heard it’s extremely tourist and more of a picture spot, which is not really my vibe but is definitely others’ vibe. So if this tickles your fancy, check it out!

How do you get to Pai from Chiang Mai? 

A quick 3-hour bus that you can book either through a hostel that you stay at in Chiang Mai OR through the city bus. The bus is a very easy ride (other than the curved mountain roads) with one stop along the way for a bathroom break. You can book a round trip if you will be heading back to Chiang Mai.

I will give you a fair warning that the bus is through very windy mountain roads, so it’s helpful to take some motion sickness medicine before if you are prone to car sickness.

Where should you stay in Pai?

I stayed at Pai Village Boutique Resort and it was easily my favorite place I stayed at in Thailand. It’s beautiful and in the perfect location. I literally would’ve moved into this little hut, I loved it that much.

I used some rewards from my Capital One Venture X credit card to stay at this BEAUTIFUL resort, but there are decent deals on staying here from time to time. It was only $40 a night when I booked it. So still check it out if you are looking for a budget option.

^ You see that, I had my OWN little hut! That’s special always but it’s extra special when you’ve been sharing a room with 7 strangers for a while.

There are also a few hostels in Pai if you are looking for a budget option. Check them out on Hostel World!

Disclosure: This link to Hostel World is an affiliate link, in which I earn a commission if you choose to use the link! I use Hostel World to book hostels and read reviews whenever I am traveling so I definitely recommend using them, but there is no pressure to use this link!

How do you get around Pai: 

I highly recommend getting the scooter, as long as you are comfortable driving one. The streets here don’t get too crowded and it makes it much easier to see everything!

There are several scooter rental shops in town. I paid 150 baht for a scooter for 24 hours. And there were cheaper ones at 100 baht. It was extremely cheap!

If you’re not used to driving a scooter, there are day trips that will take you to all of these as well (as stated above). Nothing dampens the mood like a trip to the hospital and redoing your bandages every day.

So, is Pai, Thailand worth visiting?

Before arriving in Thailand, I had heard very little about Pai. I had a friend that recommended it to me so I decided I would definitely check it out. I was really blown away by how great this little city is which then made me very bummed that I wasn’t able to spend more time here.

It’s interesting because typically I am not a fan of areas with a lot of tourists, and I will say that Pai is full of tourists — it has a special feeling to it. You feel it as soon as you arrive in the town on the bus.

Check out my blog post on two weeks in Thailand to help you schedule Pai into your Thailand itinerary!

Pai is a must-see when you are heading to Thailand!