Nestled 3 hours north of Chiang Mai lies Pai, a laid-back town known for its stunning viewpoints, beautiful sunsets and relaxed vibe. We stayed here for 3 days but definitely could have stayed longer (I’d recommend 4-5 days to really unwind and explore the area). It’s our favourite place in South East Asia so far and we’d definitely go back and do it all over again.
The main highlights are accessible through guided tours, including Bamboo Bridge, Big Buddha, Pai Canyon, Yun Lai Viewpoint, Mor Paeng Waterfall and Two Huts, but if you have the correct driving license you can explore further afield by hiring a moped. On Tuesdays, you can also go Tipsy Tubing where you float down the river in a rubber ring playing drinking games along the way. You can book this through your hostel or the tourist information hub on the main walking street.
Getting to Pai
We took a 3 hour bus from Chiang Mai to Pai, which we booked through our hostel the day before for 200 baht. If you get travel sick like I do, then it can be a rough 3 hours as the road to Pai has 762 bends. Just remember to stock up on travel sickness tablets beforehand!
Where to stay
We stayed in Atlas Central Hostel, which, as the name suggests, is in the centre of Pai just seconds from the bustling night market. It had a great pool and garden area with sun loungers and the beds were spacious, clean and comfortable. Affordable and well-located, I’d highly recommend this hostel if you are visiting Pai!
Day one: Bamboo Bridge, Big Buddha and sunset at Pai Canyon.
On the first day, we went to Milo’s Kitchen for breakfast, just a 2 minute walk from our hostel on the main walking street. They have such a good breakfast menu so I definitely recommend it in the morning.
Our first stop of the day was Bamboo Bridge, which we expected to be really busy but it was surprisingly calm and quiet. The scenery was beautiful and you can stroll along the bridge in a roughly half an hour loop. We then stopped at Pambok Café, a great viewpoint café where you can sit in comfy hanging egg chairs or cushions and admire the view whilst enjoying great food.
Our next stop was the Big Buddha, a giant statue of Buddha overlooking the city. There are quite a few steps to the top but the view is worth the aching calves.
Around 16:30, we went to Pai Canyon to watch the sunset. The views here are incredible and it’s a huge place to explore, although at sunset it does get quite busy.
For dinner, we explored the night market – it’s not huge but there is a lot of good choice and there’s also a lot of bars and restaurants you can try too.
Day 2: Yun Lai Viewpoint, Mor Paeng Waterfalls and sunset at Two Huts
On the second day, we headed to Yun Lai Viewpoint via the Chinese village. The village has some small Chinese restaurants, tourist shops and a mini Great Wall of China replica, but other than that there’s isn’t a great deal to see so we only spent 10 minutes there before continuing to the viewpoint. After paying just 30 baht entry, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Thai countryside, plus there is a café and shop too.
We then stopped for lunch at a small local café called Pairwa Home and had the best green curry I’ve ever eaten. Just 5 minutes from there is Mor Paeng Waterfall which was 100 baht entry but worth every penny. Surrounded by forest, the waterfall has a natural swimming pool and slide. We loved it there because it was a great vibe where you can relax in the sun and go swimming.
In the late afternoon, we watched the beautiful sunset at Two Huts. There is a lively atmosphere here with a bar and restaurant and lots of outdoor tables, so you can eat your dinner or have a drink whilst you watch the sun go down. The food is good and reasonably priced but I’d recommend going early to get a table because it’s very busy!
Day 3 – Gym and pool day
On our final day, we decided to just have a chilled day going to the gym, getting a nice lunch from Milo’s kitchen and relaxing by the pool at our hostel, before taking the 762 bends back to Chiang Mai.