The Best Things To Do in Pai - Do Not Miss These!
A trip to Thailand would not be complete without a trip to Pai and here are the best things to do whilst you are there.
Pai is a small mountain city but it has more of a town or community feel to it. That is in the North of Thailand and surrounded by mountains and forests and jungles. Most people arrive by minibus from Chiang Mai and are met with a unique backpacker experience
Tourists have been visiting Pai for over 50 years and it’s not hard to see why. When you arrive you will experience Pai’s charm in the form of a laidback way of living. It is no surprise that this off the beaten track town has become a well established destination for hippies and backpackers alike.
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Canyon
The Pai canyon is only a quick 10-15 minute drive out of the main town of Pai and it is easy to rent a motorbike and ride up to it. There is no admission fee for the canyon which is always a plus in our books when staying on budget – it always helps to leave a donation for the upkeep though. There are only a few steps up to the top of the canyon where visitors are met with stunning views of mountains, forests and valleys.
Most people understandably decide to visit for sunset when it is a little cooler and the views are spectacular. As always this makes it very crowded on the canyon which can be quite dangerous on the thin walkways and ledges of the canyon. We recommend coming prepared with sturdy shoes and walking further away from the crowds following the paths of the canyon.
Please take care when visiting as there is a risk of falling or injuring yourself at this tourist destination. Be responsible and stick to the paths.
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Bamboo Bridge
When we visited Pai for the first time we overlooked this attraction and nearly missed it the second time too. It is located a little bit away from town close to the Pam Bok waterfall and the only reason we visited is because we were at the waterfall and decided on a whim to check it out. When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised with a fresh green landscape and a rickety bridge made of woven bamboo.
The bridge does not cross any water, it is just a raised platform that you can walk along. We were really impressed mostly with the beauty of the surroundings around the bamboo bridge and liked walking in this peaceful area. There are some local cafes serving cold refreshments and local Thai dishes just outside of the bridge so you could easily spend an afternoon here.
Waterfalls
If you are looking to escape the heat of Thailand then heading to a waterfall is a great idea as despite being located in the mountains Pai is no cooler than the rest of North Thailand.
There are a few waterfalls to choose from when visiting Pai which vary in difficulty of reaching the actual waterfall.
A beginner Waterfall would be Pam Bok Waterfall which is a quick 25 minute drive out of the main town. The price of admission is quite high at 200 Baht: we have visited this waterfall a few times, firstly back in 2019 when we remember the price was a lot lower and no more than 30 Baht. The price is worth it however as the actual walk to the waterfall is very easy with only a little elevation and many man-made bridges which makes reaching the waterfall very easy. Once there, plunging into the natural pool is refreshing and fun. In honesty we didn’t spend too much time here as it was a little too crowded to really enjoy the setting.
A lesser popular but maybe even more impressive waterfall is Mae Yen Waterfall which is completely free to visit and set in a jungle oasis. The hike is around 2 hours to the waterfall and takes you through flat shrubbery into thick jungle settings and finally the waterfalls which have small and larger pools great for cooling off after the hike. Back down to the starting point is another 2 hours back to the starting point so you can see why this Waterfall is less visited as not many people want to brave the hike in the hot Pai climate.
The last Waterfall you could visit is Mo Paeng which is a collection of small natural swimming pools and completely free to enter. This is visited a lot more by locals it seems and is a little less touristy than Pam Bok so a great alternative if you want a quieter visit.
Whichever you choose you will be rewarded with cool water and a refreshing dip that is well worth the journey.
Tipsy Tubing
Heavily influenced by the Tipsy Tubing in Laos on the Mekong River – Pai has recently started offering this wild activity. You are given inflatable rings, alcohol and a river and from there you are left to make your own fun. Getting a group of friends together and taking to the tubes is one of the most popular ways travellers in Pai spend their time.
You can book through tour operators in the main town or usually through your hostel and it costs around 300 Baht. Ticket prices include transport to the Pai river plus the black inflatable rings to tube along the river in.
A good tip is to leave all valuables behind and only bring what is needed in a completely waterproof bag. There is nowhere to leave your valuables once you arrive.
Hot Springs
A surprising activity that Pai has to offer is visiting one of the natural hot springs in the area surrounding the town.
When in Pai we took a trip to Tha Pai Hot Springs and after paying 300 Baht entrance we walked a short distance to the top of the hot springs. We were amazed seeing the steam rising from the ground and even people boiling eggs in the 74°C Water.
Then you can walk down to the small pools starting at around 36°C and take a plunge into the healing water. The pools decrease in temperature the further you get away from the top of the spring so it is best to choose a cooler temperature if you have never experienced a hot spring before.
Make sure you have lots of liquids on hand as you can feel surprisingly dehydrated after a quick dip.
Walking Street
The Walking Street of Pai is one of the main attractions for any visitors of this mountain town and for good reason. This 800m stretch of road becomes closed off to cars and scooters around 8pm ready for the hoards of people that come to this street.
There are hundreds of food stalls selling very unique Thai and Western food including a lot of Vegetarian and Vegan options. The north of Thailand has some truly delicious cuisine so be sure to try some local dishes. The prices vary but you can expect to get a good meal from 50-100 Baht.
There are also a lot of market stalls selling the usual South East Asian buys like elephant trousers, printed graphic t-shirts and fridge magnets. There are also a few small stalls selling homemade jewellery or paintings which makes this street a great place to do some shopping for souvenirs.
Behind the street food and market stalls the street is made up of small bars, restaurants and since 2022 a lot of Marijuana dispensaries – see below for more on this new arrival in Thailand.
The bars stay open late and invite a large crowd of backpackers every night of the week.
Nightlife
As mentioned above, Pai has a great nightlife scene that has become popular amongst visitors of the town. If you are searching for a party it is best to take a stroll along the walking street and pick a bar that looks like fun. Some will close earlier than others so if you want to stay out all night just follow the crowds and you will be sure to find the most popular spots. People are very friendly at the bars and they seem to have the ‘backpacker vibe’ of people meeting and getting to know one another, so worry not if you are alone.
The best nightlife spots that seem to be busy no matter what day of the week include:
- Why Not Bar which is a bar usually covered in young backpackers dancing on tables and enjoying cheap cocktail buckets. Drinks are quite reasonable and priced between 80 and 120 Baht for beers and small cocktails. The music is a mix of popular rap and party classics which forces many people to dance enthusiastically making this bar a great place to party.
- Jazz Bar is a little quieter and located on a street just off the main walking one. Drinks are a little more expensive but the price is well worth it for the experience. This is a great open air bar with a large stage playing live music every night, not just jazz but many different styles from classic rock to even freestyle spoken poetry. The owner usually finishes the night on stage with some musical show and the vibe of this bar is very open and friendly. There is a hostel at the bar as well so music stops around 11pm in order for the residents to sleep but if you like good live music then definitely head to this venue for a few drinks at the start of the night.
- Jungle Rave is a well known party that takes place at different locations just outside of Pai around once a week. Many bars on the walking street will sell tickets for this rave for around 300 Baht or 350 Baht if you buy at the door, most people will pre-drink at the bar they bought their ticket from so we recommend saving a bit of money and pre-buying. Around 11pm the trucks pick up loads of backpackers and escort them to the ‘jungle’. From what we have heard it is a great party with many different DJ’s and trance music playing until the early hours of the morning.
Cafes with a View
Benefiting from it’s lush scenery many Pai cafes have set up shop on the edge of roads in order to offer customers a great viewpoint of the Mountain backdrop while enjoying cold refreshments. As most things in Pai these cafes are located outside of the main town but easily accessible by motorbike as there are many dotted along the one main road out of Pai.
Our favourite to visit was the Love Strawberry Pai Cafe which you may have seen on Instagram as it is a very picturesque cafe. The main thing that surprised us about this place was that there was really a strawberry farm on the grounds! Strawberries don’t really mix with the humid South East Asian climate so eating some fresh sweet strawberries was such a treat for two Brits away from home. The Cafe is covered in fun strawberry decorations and is a great place to get some surprisingly cheap eats and drinks.
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Weed Culture
A surprising new part of Pai culture is the many Marijuana Dispensaries that have popped up all over town; since the semi-legalisation of this drug in Thailand in 2022. As a stereotypical hippie area, weed has always been prevalent in Pai but not to the extent that you can find nowadays. It seems that every bar or restaurant sells it and everyone in the bars smokes it.
That being said it is still a grey area as to whether tourists will find themselves in trouble if found possessing or smoking cannabis. But we decided to include it in our list of things to do in Pai because it would be a misrepresentation of Pai if not mentioned.
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