Are you currently in Chiang Mai and thinking: is Pai worth visiting? Or are you planning a trip to Thailand and wondering if you should include Pai to your list of places to go? If you’re stuck with this dilemma, then worry not as this guide has got you covered.
We list down everything you need to know about going to Pai and give our opinion to the question: is Pai worth visiting? Hopefully, the pros and cons we list in this guide will help you make a more informed decision on whether you should visit Pai or not.
Where is Pai in Thailand
Pai: A Backpacker's Mountain Paradise
Before we answer the question – is Pai worth visiting? Let’s first tackle where in the world is Pai in Thailand anyway?
Pai is a small and vibrant village up in the mountains of Thailand, in the Mae Hong Son Province. The nearest jump-off point is to go to Pai from Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is about 146 kilometres away (i.e. 762 crazy twists and turns). Pai is also a stone’s throw away from the legendary Mae Hong Son Karen Village, just off the border of Myanmar.
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• HOW TO GET FROM CHIANG MAI TO PAI •
This little mountain town is often deemed to be a backpacker’s paradise. It’s tucked deep in the valley where you are literally in the middle of nowhere with endless mountains in the horizon and nature as your best friend.
But like many dreamy locations such as Bali, you may be wondering is Pai worth visiting? Below we go through the advantages and disadvantages of going to Pai.
Is Pai Worth Visiting: Reasons Why to Visit Pai
The unbeatable panoramic views
Being up in the mountain, Pai has many beautiful viewpoints you can discover. These include the Pai Canyon, Yun Lai Viewpoint and Phra That Mae Yen.
You’ll get to witness some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets in these areas, perfect for photographers. Once you’re at the top, you’ll see the Pai valley stretched above you and the beautiful silhouettes of the mountains beyond.
Great place for hikers with lots of trails to follow
Given that it’s in the middle of the jungle, there are many hiking trails, caves and waterfalls to find, which is one of the reasons why we loved visiting Pai. It’s the perfect town for people who are into outdoor activities, because there are so many trails that you can follow.
Some of these spots include the Namtok Mo Paeng Waterfall, Tham Lod Cave and Pam Bok Waterfall.
Fun nightlife scene that includes a bustling food market and parties
Every day, there’s a night market in the main street of Pai featuring all kinds of stalls from street food, tacos, accessories, Thai food, clothes, and so many more. We really enjoyed walking through this market because it was not crowded as compared to the markets in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and felt very chill.
If nightlife is important to you, there is also a huge party scene in Pai due to its many bars and hostels. These parties feature some of the coolest fire aerobatics and lights shows that we’ve ever seen and they are also quite chill but that may possibly be because of the time of the year that we went to Pai.
Laidback vibe and lush greenery everywhere
Pai, overall, is a very laidback town. Here, it feels like time slows down. Finding a quiet and isolated spot full of lush greenery just for yourself is really easy.
We didn’t feel that Pai was congested or crowded. But maybe that’s because we chose to stay in a cottage in the outskirts of town and rent a motorbike, rather than stay in the city center.
Doing so really allowed us to appreciate the nature and laidback energy that this town exudes, which is what we enjoyed about visiting Pai.
Accomodations, food, and rentals are super affordable
Pai is really cheap – even cheaper than Chiang Mai. In this town, we found really affordable food from different cuisines that elsewhere would have costed us a fortune. Even motorcycle rentals in Pai were cheaper than other destinations we’ve been to in Thailand.
To illustrate, a cottage in Chilling Hill Guesthouse for two people costed us 5 euros per night, so that’s literally 2.5 euros per person for a hut by yourself, in the middle of nature with the most epic views of the mountains. This is the accommodation we stayed at during at our time in Pai and one we definitely recommend you checking out. In some ways, we can understand why people come to Pai and never leave because of how affordable, laidback and beautiful it is to be living in this mountain jungle.
Is Pai Worth Visiting: Reasons Why NOT to Visit Pai
The lost of the town's culture with all the backpackers
Pai has become quite a destination for backpackers all around the globe. There is now a big westernized community in Pai, similar to what you would normally see in Bali or Chiang Mai. Because of this, it almost feels like the town is made to accommodate such kind of western tourism. There are also many new establishments like cafes, westernized restaurants, and bars that have been slowly opening through the years as more and more backpackers find themselves staying in Pai.
As a result, you might feel like you don’t get to interact with locals anymore or see the real culture of the town before it became a backpacker hub.
A hot spot for hippie communities
Similar to Bali, Pai has become known to the community of backpackers who are into yoga, vegan food, soul searching and solo travelling. Not to generalise the community who have chosen to live there, but you will get a sense of these elements when you visit Pai.
There are signs everywhere pertaining to yoga classes or vegan food, which might leave you feeling like — what happened to Pai to have become a place that caters to this “hippie” vibe? If you’re not into that, then you might not appreciate visiting Pai.
You may see some illegal activities going on
When visiting Pai, you may see some illegal activities going on especially in the aspect of nightlife. You may wonder if there are drug induced things happening. Hence, if you’re not into that kind of nightlife scene, then you might be put off by some of the behaviour that happens within these parties. The crowds are younger and more uninhibited.
Where to Stay in Pai
Stay in the outskirts of Pai for a more authentic experience
As we previously mentioned, we recommend you stay in the outskirts of the town if you want to have a more authentic and offbeat experience to your stay in Pai. This will allow you to be more isolated in nature and really appreciate the beautiful sceneries that the town has to offer. This will also give you a chance to meet more locals who are running smaller scale guest houses outside of the center.
Here’s a short list we’ve compiled of the best accommodations in Pai, further outside of town, for no more than 10 euros:
- Chilling Hill Guest House
– Cottage rates for two people start at 5 euros per night. - Slow Life Sabaidee Pai Bed and Breakfast
– Room rates for two people start at 9 euros per night. - Tribal Pai Backpackers
– Cottage rates for two people start at 8 euros per night. - Pai Yard Guesthouse
– Cottage rates for two people start at 7 euros per night. - Pai Country Hut
– Cottage rates with shared bathroom for two people start at 10 euros per night.
Conclusion: Is Pai Worth Visiting?
So there you have it! These are the two sides to the question — is Pai worth visiting? For us, our answer would be yes, it was still worth visiting Pai. Maybe it’s because we chose to stay in the outskirts of town so we had a better experience just being surrounded by the mountains and nature. Or that we didn’t let ourselves be bothered too much by the evolving backpacker or hippie culture in Pai and just made the most out of it in our own way.
We honestly think that there is so much beauty to be seen in Pai despite the reputation it has grown to become. It’s really more up to you how you choose to experience this town and not let the other aspects ruin your experience.
What about you? Have you been to Pai? Is Pai worth visiting for you? Let us know of your experiences or questions in the comments below!
I have heard a lot of good things about Pai and the natural beauty in the area and I would say, yes, I would love to go there when I eventually get there with my family. Thailand has been on my list for a long time. Dont get me wrong, Chang Mai looks like it has to be done as well. So many beautiful places in Thailand I want to explore, I think the question I have to anyone out there…..how long do I need to spend in Thailand with kids? 😀 Sigh…too many beautiful places on our planet and so little time. Great advice here, Pai…I be with you shortly. 🙂
We feel the same way Danik! There’s truly too many beautiful places in this world and we can’t wait to keep exploring it as things get better. Definitely, spend at least a month with your family in Thailand and yes, Chiang Mai and Pai are both must-sees.
You raise some good points and I am glad you give both the pros and cons of visiting Pai. I love that its in the middle of a jungle, that it has a vibrant culture and of course that it is affordable. I don’t necessarily love that it has become so westernized, but I have been to other places like that for example Sayulita, Mexico and I still loved the place anyway. I think as long as you visit with the right expectations then it would be worth the visit.
You couldn’t have said it better Cecilia! For us as well, it’s really about visiting any place with the right expectations and having a mindful outlook to do the research beforehand and make the experience into our own once we are there, no matter what reputation the place already has. Thanks a lot and we’re glad this has been useful for you!
I am a slow travel person
So for me Pai looks PERFECT. You can sleep a lot, do nothing and still have a beautiful world around you. It’s picture perfect. And then when you feel like, just go for a short hike qnd enjoy the breeze.
Pai has been on my bucket list forever! Thanks for listing the pros and cons of visiting– while you had the number of backpackers in the cons, I feel like it would be a great way for solo-travelers to meet each other. The laidback vibe and beautiful hiking trails are reason enough to move Pai up my bucket list! Thanks for sharing.
When I traveled around Thailand, Chiang Mai was the one place I didn’t have time to make it to. Your guide makes Pai sound very appealing as well, maybe even moreso than Chiang Mai! I am a yogi/vegan/hippie so even the negatives sound attractive to me. I like how you said it’s a great place to slow down because I did find Thailand to be very bustling and busy. Thank you for the information!
I’ve been to Chiang Mai, I’ve been to Chiang Rai, but haven’t been to Pai so far. I wish I had visited this charming place during my 3 visits to Thailand. I hope I’ll be back there one day. I love Thai food, nature, and culture. The place seems to be a great place to live for nomads and backpackers. I really like your photos and numerous tips about this place.
I went to Chiang Mai long time ago and visited the Karen Village as well. If there’s only one Karen Village near Chiang Mai, then I drove through Pai and probably that’s where I spent a night. After reading that it turned to a big westernized backpacker community, I would just spend no more than one night here if I go there again.
After seeing what I just saw I would love to be there in Pai. The only places I have visited in Thailand is Bangkok & Pattaya and so it’s time to explore further. Got a good idea of what to expect in Pai. The valley looks enticing and so does the food market.
Wow I was in Chiang Mai a few years ago, wish I had known about Pai as I feel that place is definitely for me. I love hiking and hiking trails are my thing. I have added this place to my list.
Pai is Northern Thailand’s best-kept secret, Raksha! We hope you’ll get to come back one day. 😊
Nice pictures and love to read the articles thank you for sharing the informative articles and pictures.