Top things to do in Pai

10 Things To Do In Pai, Thailand

MAY 31, 2014 BY LESH JAZZA NOMADASAURUS 6 COMMENTS

The Best Things To Do In Pai

The chilled town of Pai in Northern Thailand is located 135km from the city of Chiang Mai. This relaxed destination has become a magnet for hippies, backpackers, nature lovers and active people looking to go trekking with hill tribes. It is the sort of place where you come for a day and stay for a week. One of the best descriptions we have heard is that it is a tropical island in the mountains! There is a lot to see here, and we’ve compiled our list of 10 of the best things to do in Pai.

Pai’s Walking Street

Every night the main street of Pai fills up with food vendors and market stalls selling everything from your quintessential hippie clothing and jewellery to personalised post cards. The selection of culinary delights is quite varied; sushi, Indian food, barbecued meats, fresh fruit smoothies and deep fried everything. You certainly won’t go hungry! Everyone ends up at the street market most nights so the people watching is great. Just watch out for first-time scooter riders who have no concept of how to drive. Entertaining, but dangerous! Hot tip – Crashing a scooter is not one of our recommended things to do in Pai!

Walking street.

Pai’s Waterfalls

There are tonnes of waterfalls in Pai, two of our favourites being Pombok and Mo Paeng Falls. At Mo Paeng Waterfalls there are great little pools with long, slippery rock faces running into them that you can slide down. The scenery is gorgeous and it makes for a fun place to spend a few hours. Pombok Waterfall is a little more secluded, the pool tends to be in the shade most of the time due to the high cliffs around it. There are also a couple of ledges you can climb to jump off. Be sure to check the water depth before taking the leap!

Mo Paeng Waterfalls

The Land Crack (Land Split)

Situated on the road to the Pombok falls is this great little place that is definitely worth a stop over. Several years ago, this farmer’s land began to split and crack due to some strange soil erosion. The thrifty farmer then decided to turn his property into a bit of a tourist attraction where he now offers you nuts, fruit, sweet potato, fresh rosella juice and alcohol – all by donation! Once you’ve filled up on food (he constantly brings you more to eat), you can walk up the hill to have a look at the split in the Earth. The family is very friendly and are just happy to have people stopping by. One of Pai’s more unique attractions.

Land Crack

Thom’s Elephant Camp

Elephant trekking is big business in Thailand. Unfortunately most of the places you visit treat the elephants quite poorly and view them only as a tourist trap. At Thom’s Elephant Camp And Guesthouse in Pai, the pachyderms are treated as one of the family. That’s because they are the family! Thom is a third generation elephant trainer and was raised with these creatures as her siblings. She opened up her elephant camp in 1992 and takes great pride in her little sanctuary. One hour long rides start from 800 baht ($27) and go right up to a 2500 baht ($83) all-day affair where they teach you how to train the elephants and learn about their moods and behaviour. One of the best parts about Thom’s though is you can just go spend time with the elephants while they’re not busy. The elephants hang by out the front of the property and the staff encourage you to play and feed them. No money is asked for, but there is a donation box if you choose to feed them bananas or pumpkins.

PRICING:
Play and hang out with them: FREE
Food for the elephants: 20 Baht
Each hour riding elephant bareback: 800 Baht
Day of training, bath, and learning about elephant: 2,500 Baht
2 weeks volunteer program (incl. food and board): 8,000 Baht

Thom’s Elephant Camp

Pai Circus School

In a bohemian community, everyone seems to practice different forms of entertainment such as fire dancing, juggling and slacklining. Here in Pai, there is a school you can attend to learn all these skills yourselves! The cost is 600 baht as a once-off membership fee and then you are entitled to lessons from experienced teachers in all the finer points of poi, staff, juggling, diablo and anything else you might be interested in. It is located in a beautiful elevated setting with views over the valleys and excellent gazebos you can relax in if you don’t feel like partaking in the activities.

Pai circus school

Hot Springs

When you find yourself wanting a relaxing soak, head to the Tha Pai Hot Springs. Only 7km from town, a cold-water stream flows over boiling-hot rocks to create a soothing, heated pool surrounded by lush scenery. A perfect way to kill a few hours in the winter months when temperatures in Pai can plummet. This is one place we didn’t visit due to the fact we were there in summer and the weather was already roasting. But if you are there in the cooler months, don’t miss it!

Caves

Not exactly located in Pai, but instead in a town 35km headed towards Mae Hong Son, there is a spectacular limestone system known as Lod (Spirit) Caves. A river flows through the caves and you can hire a guide to float through them on a bamboo raft. At certain points you can climb up stairs and ladders to explore the stalactites and stalagmites up close as well as the numerous ancient ceramics and wall paintings that are scattered throughout the complex. Definitely worth the drive/ride out there

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Tip – When you arrive, don’t pay at the ticket booth. To save money, instead walk down to the cave and organise a guide on your own.

Inside the Tham Lod Cave

Spend Time In The Unique Cafes

One thing that Pai does not lack is amazing cafes serving up delicious coffee and food. Most of them have interesting decors and amazing ambiance. You could easily spend 2 weeks here and not visit the same place twice! Dedicate some time to exploring all the cafes, both in town and on the outskirts.

The bakery in Pai

Explore Pai Canyon

Known as Thailand’s answer to the Grand Canyon (a very ambitious claim), Pai Canyon covers a large area that offers some brilliant views and fun hikes. If you are feeling very active you can scramble all the way down and spend hours climbing and getting lost in the nature. A favourite pastime is enjoying the sunset with a beer in hand, watching the sky change to an astonishing array of colours.

Pai Canyon

Chill In A Hammock

When you spend your days actively exploring everything Pai has to offer, it is only normal to need a break. Luckily Pai is one of the most relaxed places you are ever likely to visit. Watch the hours fade as you laze about in a hammock, reading a book or watching the world pass you by. Many ACCOMMODATION options have great views over the valley or by the river. Be sure to choose one of these and enjoy the vistas! Definitely one of the best things to do in Pai!

A different kind of hammock at the cafe, “The Container”

Accommodation – Where To Stay In Pai

Spicy Pai

The first time Jazza visited this mountain paradise he stayed at Spicy Pai. A great hostel with an amazing vibe, the fun seems to never stop! Spicy Pai offers cool, bamboo structures offering private ROOMS and dorms. The top level deck is a great place to hang out and enjoy the views over the rice fields, beer or “special cigarette” in hand!

Family Huts

When we visited Pai together we decided to stay in the Family Huts, on the other side of the bamboo bridge. A much more relaxed atmosphere compared to Spicy Pai, Family Huts is a bargain and situated right on the riverfront! Private hammocks and our own deck made this one of our favourite places we stayed in all of Thailand!

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