Pai Thailand. Have you heard of it? Well, we hadn’t, until we were preparing for our 6 month journey in Asia starting with Thailand. Once we did a bit of research, we decided it was a must for our itinerary. After a few days acclimating to the time change in Chiang Mai, we set off on the 3 hour bus ride to the small town of Pai.
First and foremost, my boyfriend (Tom) and I are big fans of small towns, and tend to shy away from bigger cities. We have a running list of our favorite places, and they are usually on the smaller side. It’s always very difficult for us to leave, and Pai Thailand was just that.. At a glance, Pai is a small hipster town that has a very tight knit feel. People that live/stay there even call it the “Pai family”. We had a couple mention that you can get stuck in the “Pai hole” and never want to leave – you’ll know what I mean when you go there! It has plenty of delicious organic/vegan/vegetarian food options, adventures close by, day trips for exploring, trekking and the ability to disconnect.
In this guide, you will learn how to get to Pai, things to do, where to eat, where to stay, what to pack and other tips and tricks I have for you!
Want some quick tips on things to do? Check out my post with 17 amazing things to do in Pai!
My thoughts on Pai
I personally believe that we must take ownership of the type of experience we have anywhere we go. We had an incredible experience in Pai. We were huge fans of all the organic cafes and smoothie spots, along with all the incredibly delicious Thai food we got to eat. The customer service we received everywhere we went was wonderful. Our accommodation was peaceful and unique. The freedom we felt driving the vespai’s to all the different sites to see and throughout the countryside. Seriously every day we had here for three days was all we dreamed it would be.
With that said, I do want to point out that Pai is very touristy. This is the hipster location of Thailand. I’m pretty sure everyone looking to escape real life comes to Pai to either visit or live their day to day differently. The town is catered to tourists. There are western restaurants, coffee/organic smoothie shops, and tour companies calling your name everywhere you look.
I loved Pai, seriously. But I do think it’s important to know that it is how you make it. Don’t be afraid to relax. Talk to new people. Try the street food. I just wanted to prepare you that it isn’t the getaway from the tourist oasis that it may have once been. It is 100% a tourist destination, but for good reason.
How to get to Pai Thailand
By bus: The country has made it very easy (and affordable) for tourists to get from place to place. We took a 3 hour bus from Chiang Mai to Pai for 200 Baht each ($13.21 total for two). Coming from Chiang Mai is the easiest and most popular way of getting here. However, if you’re coming from another location, just ask your accommodation, a tourist center or bus station.
NOTE: This is a WINDY ride. I read this, but didn’t prepare whatsoever, thinking it would be fine. Do not take this lightly, especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Get the paper medication before you leave. You can get these pills from any pharmacy.
By motorbike: You can also get to Pai by motorbike, but would only recommend if you are highly experienced. It’s a long ride. Also, note that you should get your international drivers license. While it’s not necessary in order to rent one, you may get stopped by the police and have to pay a fine.
Getting around in Pai Thailand
Walking: Pai in general is very walkable. You can get anywhere in the center of Pai by walking. It’s when you want to do the activities that are outside of town that you will need a different form of transportation.
Motorbike: This is the best form of transportation as it gives you the freedom to explore at your leisure. No need to be on anyone else’s schedule but your own. If you don’t know how, head to Vespai Rental, where the owner will charge you 100 Baht for a lesson. He is amazing and won’t let you leave until you feel comfortable. His vespai’s cost between 200-250 baht per day, but if you know how to ride, you can definitely price shop at different locations. We heard of some being as low as 150 Baht per day.
Note: don’t be intimidated to learn! That’s the best part of travel – challenging yourself in new ways. Just make sure to be cautious, take your time, don’t panic and pay attention!
Taxi / Tours: These are not necessarily needed if you are down for a motorbike. However, if you don’t feel comfortable riding, then these could be viable to get around. Most hostels put on day trips for a small fee!
Best time to go
We went to Pai in late January. The weather is extremely cool at night and in the mornings (around 50 degrees F), then get’s up to the 80s during the day. It was perfect too as the peak tourist season ends in early January.
From Nov-Feb it is the cooler season, which is the best time to visit Pai and Northern Thailand.
From March-June is the hot and dry season. It gets extremely hot, all times of the day. In March, it is also best not to come as it is the farmers burning season. They burn their areas for regrowth, so the air quality and outdoor activities will not be as enjoyable.
From June-November, it is their rainy season, so expect a good amount of rain with warmer temperatures.
Where to stay in Pai Thailand
I did a good amount of research on where to stay before we came to Pai. Mostly because I wanted to make sure it was somewhere super cool. There are tons of options including hostels, guesthouses and hotels, all in different price ranges.
Luckily, we are traveling with two, so a guesthouse that is $20 per night is actually $10 per person. Totally doable if you are on a budget!
We ended up staying at Pai Pan Now Guesthouse, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone. We fell in love with it here, partly because of the owner. Originally we booked it for 2 nights, and ended up staying for 4. For just $26 per night (see note below) it includes breakfast, filtered water, snacks throughout the day, towels, and a comfortable stay.
Note: we paid through booking.com, which is a reliable resource. However, they do have an additional fee for booking through them, just like any liaison company. What I would recommend is to book 1 night, then take your chances and book the other nights directly through the guesthouse. Online we spent 800 Baht, and when we booked directly with her it was 600 Baht per night.
Other places I looked into that would be great options if you’re on a solo backpacker budget:
- Deejai Pai Backpackers: This hostel is a bit of a walk outside the city center, but if you’re into yoga and trying to chill, this is for you. And the view looks insane too.
- The Lounging Penguin: This one I also found to have good ratings and amazing reviews. Hostels are great if you are trying to meet new people easily too!
- Pai Village Farm Homestay: If you are willing to spend a little bit more, this Village Farm Homestay looks dreamy. It has great reviews and I love the vibe just from the pictures!
What to do in Pai Thailand
There is so much to do in Pai. There are plenty of things to do right in town, or within driving distance. We would wake up early for sunrise to explore while everyone was still sleeping, relax during the day (to help avoid the heat because Tom is a baby), then start again in the late afternoon. These were a few of my favorites.
For more things to do, check out my 17 awesome things to do in Pai post here.
Relax and chill at organic cafes
One of the great things about Pai is the amount of incredible organic cafes there are. I know it’s not typical Thai, but it’s an amazing way to take a deep breath and relax. Also, the smoothies and smoothie bowls are just incredible.
A few of our favorites were:
- Fat Cat – This was our top choice. It was recommended by a friend. It has incredible smoothies and a treehouse feel. It’s on the way to the White Buddha so you could do this on the way or on the way back.
- Blossom – This was a little off the beaten path which I liked. It’s owned by a couple who live next door. They have lots of good food, smoothie and treat options.
- Earth Tone – This is right up the street from Fat Cat. Although I liked the food and vibe there, it was really, really busy. However, I still recommend it because it was still great!
Explore by motorbike
If you really want a local experience, go explore by motorbike. It’s the best way to feel freedom and go to all your destinations on your own time. Wake up for sunrise and go, or take in a sunset and stay for a while. It’s all dependent on how you feel in the moment.
Sunset at Pai Canyon
Pai Canyon is a magical place. Think of a very mini Grand Canyon with mountains surrounding it. And when I say mini, I mean you can explore it within an hour or two. But the sunsets are so stunning here. You should arrive at least an hour beforehand and get your spot as it gets extremely busy!
Wander through the Bamboo Bridge
I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a bamboo bridge. The bridge wraps all around this pretty large piece of land. Usually it is filled with nice vibrant green grass below, but since we were there in dry season, it was pretty desaturated. Still amazing though! It costs 30 Baht per person to get in.
Where to eat in Pai Thailand
You will walk around Pai and be totally confused on where to eat, because everything seriously looks SO GOOD. We were stumped, but ended on 2 places that we can highly recommend. Oh, and plus the night market!
- Friendship Concept – Perfect for dinner. This was started by 2 French friends who came to Pai. One night at 3am, they decided they didn’t want to go home. Instead they wanted to start a restaurant in Pai. 1 year later, here they are and their restaurant is so delicious. It is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant with delicious options.
- Na’s Kitchen – we stumbled on this Thai restaurant and thank god we did. It was packed with people and for good reason. We got two meals and two smoothies, all for $6, and it was the best Thai food we’ve had yet. We were also seated with another solo traveler and had a wonderful conversation with him.
- The night market – if you are looking for some good, local Thai food, the night market is where you should go. There is a huge assortment of different meats, fruits, crepes, and more. And it’s also a good place to go if you are on a budget.
What to pack for Pai Thailand
This obviously depends on the time of year you are going, Since we came in January, here is a few items we are so happy we had.
A reusable water bottle: There are plenty of places (including your accommodation) to fill up your water bottle. You can definitely double check that it is filtered, but most are. Don’t be lame and buy plastic – reuse! I have the LARQ filtered water bottle and the large Hydroflask. Oh, it will also save you money since filtered water is generally free.
Warm layers: Especially in the “winter” time (Dec – Feb), during the mornings and evenings it can get reallyyyy cold. Make sure to bring some warm layers. We brought our REI jackets plus gloves and hats.
A sarong: This is mostly for the ladies, but sarongs are a great multi-purpose item to bring to Asia with you. You can use it as a blanket, or to wrap around your legs when visiting temples. If you don’t cover up your legs/shoulders, plan to pay extra money to rent one!
A kindle: My boyfriend and I are generally book readers, and never thought we’d own a kindle. For this trip though, we knew we needed something a little more space friendly. That’s where the kindle came in and it has been such a game changer. Highly recommend doing this in terms of reading!
Have more time?
If you have more time and are traveling around, here are some places and idea for you to add to your itinerary.
- Spend some time in Mae Hong Son: A lot of travelers plan a trip to Mae Hong Son to do a VISA run in Myanmar. However, we heard from several people that we were missing out by not going there. This is a part of the country that not many people go to, but there is plenty to do. It is also a great way to enter into Myanmar if that is on your journey!
- Do a meditation retreat: I was told about this from a girl planning to do it after her time in Pai, so I looked it up and there is a great blog post from Two Wandering Soles here. They explain everything you need to know to do the retreat!
Additional Tips & tricks
Like with anywhere we go, there are so many tips and tricks we learned. Here are some quick things to keep in mind when traveling to Pai.
- Money:
- Make sure you have cash. We have not used our credit card anywhere but 7Eleven. It’s best to take out cash and have it on hand. Scared of ATM fees? I was too. That’s why I opened up a Charles Schwab Checking account which reimburses all ATM fees! It will save us hundreds of dollars throughout our travels!
- Haggle! Don’t be afraid to ask them to cut costs. The worst they can say is no. Typically they start off high, assuming you will bring them lower.
- Safety: We felt extremely safe in Pai, and saw plenty of solo travelers who felt the same. However, like in all places you go, just be smart. Keep your items close to you and tucked away. Watch your belongings, and your back.
- Food / Drinks:
- The common rule of thumb for fruit is if you can peel it, eat it. If you can’t, don’t. Fruits like strawberries have seeds that bacteria can soak and live in.
- Although the street food is amazing, take caution, especially when eating meat. You’re always risking getting sick when eating meat in Asia.
- For water, a lot of the accommodations you will stay in have filtered water. So make sure you have a water bottle with you. If you have a filtered water bottle, then even better!
- General:
- The more friends you have, the better. Especially for taxis and group activities. They generally give you a cost by car, so the more people = the cheaper it is for everyone!
- The air quality is really, really bad, especially during “burning season” (Feb-Mar). Whether you are sensitive or not, it’s good to have a mask or scarf to put over your face for breathing. Especially if you are riding a scooter.
- Bring toilet paper with you anytime you leave your accommodation. There aren’t many places that supply it for you.
- Make sure to check the times and openings for restaurants. They are often closed on random days, and can also open and close at odd times.
- “Paper towels” = toilet paper. All of the signs say do not put paper towels in the toilet, but they are talking about ANYTHING including toilet paper. Everything will go in the trash can.
Get travel insurance
Look, things happen. Most of the time you’ll be lucky, but those few times you aren’t, you are going to want protection. Getting travel insurance before traveling is HIGHLY recommended. Why? Well… let me paint a picture for you.
My friend was traveling, and wanted to pet a cute dog. The dog bit her, so she was rushed to go get a rabies shot. Do you know how much that would have cost her out of pocket if she didn’t have travel insurance? A LOT.
There are so many reasons to get travel insurance, and I personally use World Nomads. They are highly recommended by other well traveled bloggers as well. Not only are they extremely affordable, they offer comprehensive packages and are super easy to use. Click below link to get a quote!
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