Places of Worship

Klang TempleWat Klang is located on Chaisongkram road just off walking street in Pai, directly behind Aya Service.

Wat Klang

It was built in 1792 and like Wat Luang, was for many years a deserted monastery.

Today Wat Klang is one of the more significant temples in Pai as it houses very old and revered Buddha statues.

The most striking aspect about the temple is the Mon (Burmese) golden pagoda that houses and protects these statues.

Wat Nam Hoo

Wat Nam HooThis is the story of its Buddha that makes this temple interesting and famous in Pai Province. For the rest do not expect to find a amzing architecture and breathtaking statues. The legend of the bronze Buddha one-mueang which some attribute to King Naresuan, who had offered it to his sister before she went to live as a hostage in the palace of the King of Burma, says that holy water sprung from the head of the statue and makes. That is why it is a particularly Buddha image. 

Believers come to pray and pay homage to its legendary statue but tourists mostly come to Wat Nam Hoo for the ride, combined with Chinese and Lisu villages and Mo Paeng waterfall.

Wat Luang Pai

Wat Luang is located on Hwy 1095,  (the stretch that actually goes through town) & is approximately 200m from the end of Walking Street.

Wat Luang Pai

It’s has a beautiful white Thai-Yai (Shan) Chedi in the middle of the temple grounds with smaller Mon Chedi’s surrounding it.

Wat Luang was built in 1803 & was, for a time, a deserted monastery with a large Buddha statute in its grounds. Later as Pai became established as a community centre, a former Ni-Amphur (Chief Administrator) of Pai, Phraya Rajcha, built the Chedi over the top of the statue to protect it because it is believed by locals that the statue protects the town.

What is actually revered about Wat Luang is hidden from plain view beneath the beautiful white Chedi.

Wat Phra Thart Jom Jaeng

Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng

Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng, aka Wat Phra That Jom Jang, is only a couple of kilometres beyond the much more famous Wat Phra That Cho Hae on the same 1022 road, around 10 kms to the east of Phrae City. Most visitors to Phrae will only get as far as Cho Hae but it is a pity as although.

Wat Phra That Mae Yen

Wat Phra That Mae Yen

This small temple on a hill 2 km from Pai is especially interesting for its setting and the view overlooking the city you have from it. 

The 353 steps long staircase to reach the temple is charming even if you can skip it and take the road to access to Wat Phra That Mae Yen. 

The temple consists of two buildings and a few small golden chedis. In front of the temple entrance, there is a little market with stalls where you can buy products, mainly hats and scarves knitted by the vendors. They can be very useful because it is cold at night and in the early morning in Pai. 

There are also two coffee shops. Behind the amrket, there is another Wihaan housing a reclining Buddha. And over the hill behind it, a large stitting Buddha is under construction and should be visible from far away. If you have the courage and the curiosity, you can already take the small path behind the building of the Reclining Buddha and have a look at the unfinished Big Buddha. 

Phra That Mae Yen is one of most accessible attraction by bicycle around Pai and a good introduction to your stay in Pai.

Read more details

http://www.thailandee.com/eng/see-visit-thailand/wat-nam-hoo-pai-163
http://paiexplorer.com/?p=3775

Pai reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Why Pai?

I've been visiting Pai regularly (at least a month each year) ever since my first encounter with the town and a teacher from the local junior school in 2003 (I ended up marrying the teacher), and going in to the school to help with English lessons is always a joy.
The town has changed enormously since my first visit - 7-11 stores, more banks, ATMs everywhere, resorts being built . . . there's even a car hire office now!!
Thankfully most of the people have managed to stay just the same, and it is they who make my visits a joy. I don't frequent the tourist bars and cafes, so I can offer no opinion on them, but if you are willing to get seriously into the local life and live like the permanent population then this is a community that offers a wonderful return on your investment.
Oh - a measure of Thai, a smattering of Shan and a few words of Lisu, Lahu and Karen help a lot.

• Sights & activities
• History & culture
• Scenery & environment
• Eat & drink

• Traveller's scene
• Romance
• Value for money
• I'll be back (or not)

The Right Place for the Right Person

I have been to Pai a few times now, and though I was at first intoxicated with infatuation for the place, my enthusiasm has become more tempered each time I visit. I am still a vocal advocate of Pai, but only for the right people.

To me, it is the perfect destination in The North for a first-time traveler, whether you’re the type that demands a Full English Breakfast every morning or someone who wants to see “the real Thailand.” It can satisfy both of those desires, while also catering to any travel convenience you might want. The town has excellent food, cheap ACCOMMODATION, and endless beauty extending in every direction.

Unfortunately, if you’ve been around the block so to speak, the town can feel all too manufactured, and the backpackers that fancy themselves New Age Nomad-Hippies, smelling as if they haven’t seen a bar of soap in 3 months (but have actually only been away from home for 3 weeks) will undoubtedly get a bit irritating. It can, however, be entertaining to hear the monologues on how they’ve come out to travel around for 2 months, hoping to “find themselves..”

I still rate it as a must-see in Northern Thailand, especially for newbies, but for those more experienced travelers or Thailand dwellers, a day or two will probably be enough before needing to move on to greener, more remote pastures, even if that just means staying further out of town.

• Sights & activities
• History & culture
• Scenery & environment
• Eat & drink

• Traveller's scene
• Romance
• Value for money
• I'll be back (or not)

Pai - more than meets the eye.

Pai has incurred some unjustified flack over recent years. Maybe it's time to reconsider Pai as the great destination that it is.

As is widely known, Pai was a hippie hang out. But, no more. As described above, the days of hippie's and other off the wall stuff have long gone. As the dialogue above describes, the town has developed well into an arts locale and new age 'scene' (or is it culture?). Faced with the full-on commercialism of Chiang Mai Pai, this less-commercial relaxedness is a major part of the reason why Pai has appeal.

Unlike Mae Hong Song (or similar towns), Pai is not a town primarily servicing the surrounding villages, and somewhat catering to tourists. Rather, Pai is much more focussed on tourist needs (and somewhat caters to surrounding locals). And, the charming locals of Pai do a good job of servicing tourist needs in a way that is laid back. I found touts selling whatever to be nicely absent.

Most towns servicing the wider community have a city centre (of some sort or another). Pai has no city centre with the obligatory business, rather, the town is quite spread out. This also means that wheels are almost a necessity (at my stage of life, its motorised wheels!). At night, the pub scene is great and the (usual) offerings of music mean that its likely you won't stop at the one place all night (again, wheels).

In some respects, the 'centre' of Pai is not the shopped streets, but the river. For here all sorts of activities abound.

One often overlooked activity of Pai - and hardly available elsewhere - is the river stroll on an elephant. Located some clicks from town, the originator - 'Thoms' - has competition. But, all seek to take the paying passenger (rider?) bare-back into the river. There, the passenger/s are sprayed with trunk water, slid sideways into the water, and exposed to all sorts of other elephantantics. To be in the river with an elephant - where it is in enjoyment - is far more enjoyable than merely being carted across the landscape.

Perhaps the main reason why Pai is an attractive tourist town is that it does have so many activities on offer, it is a reasonable example of a rural Thai town, it does cater well to & for the tourist, and importantly, it usually does not appear like a tourist hotspot.

If you are looking for the undisturbed, untouristed Thai town, Pai isn't it! But, if you want to see an less than full-on commercial rural Thai town, but with a host of activities to entertain, and a good choice of ACCOMMODATION AND food options, then Pai will certainly attract.

- - - - -

Why I chose the numbers...

Sights & activities: while each may not be the best available in Thailand, the host of offerings puts it 'up there'.

History & culture: Not much history evident, but the art & laid back culture boosts the ranking.

Scenery & environment: Like nearly all of Thailand, the environment is largely modified. But, there is plenty of vegetated scenery and in some places, the environment is 'there'.

Eat & drink: It's not Bangkok, but as a rural town, it has pretty much everything (including a good pub & music scene).

Traveller scene: Either you like being in a tourist town, or you don't. If remoteness & lack of tourists is your thing - too bad. If entertainment is the number, then you'll be heartened.

Romance: I'm 60+, I'm afraid I've lost the measure!!!

Value for money: depends, it's touristy, so its not cheap!

I'll be back or not: After I've visited everywhere else in the world, I'll definitely be back!

• Sights & activities
• History & culture
• Scenery & environment
• Eat & drink

• Traveller's scene
• Romance
• Value for money
• I'll be back (or not)

Read More Details

http://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/northern_thailand/mae_hong_son/pai

Pai Travel Guide

Once a gorgeous sleepy town, Pai, while still rather gorgeous, is well and truly on the traveller map through northern Thailand. Old timers and more experienced travellers may sneer at it, as it's certainly not the "real Thailand" any more but if you're a young backpacker on a first trip to Thailand it can seem like a great scene and it is easily accessible in every sense.

Pai old city, situated on the left bank of Pai river by Wiang Nur village, dates back to the Lanna period when it was an important regional centre, though there's nothing much left of it to see these days. During the 1970s it was probably a fairly dangerous spot, being a Kuomintang-controlledarea and an important opium transit centre. In the 1980s the area was cleaned up and a sealed road to Pai was built. The pesky KMT were offered decent farmland and Khun Sa and his Shan State Army were far enough away to not pose a threat, while the lingering KMT insurgency was restricted to remoter northern areas such as Nan, effectively making the area attractive to tourists at last.

Pai was relatively easily accessed from the existing tourism centre ofChiang Mai and soon became de rigueur on any northern Thailand trip. It was originally popularised as a rest-stop on what was once a far more gruelling bus trip from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, but adventurous trekkers soon started to flood in along with a wave of backpackers looking for cheap grass, easily available opium and something to do while waiting for the next Ko Pha Ngan full moon party.

The drugs scene has now been seriously clamped down upon and Pai has had a bit of a rebranding as a rural Chiang Mai with wholesome activities, picturesque scenery and a chilled out scene. The influx of farang with northern Thai wives setting up cafes or guesthouses in Pai has been followed by a second influx of pseudo-hippy types from the further reaches of Chattuchak market and Ko Pha Ngan, who have set up resorts for weekender Thai yuppies from the big cities. Shops selling handicrafts, jewellery, tattoos, mojitos and traditional Lisu cheesecake and cappuccinos now abound.

Bangkokians looking for a sea change too have bought up land and built either resorts or personal homes in an attempt to recreate what they feel has been lost in Thailand's urban centres. A strong new age scene translates into an organic food industry and all manner of holistic courses being offered. Yoga courses and classes, Thai cooking schools and a near endless range of massage and spa treatments all vie for attention.

Unlike Chiang Mai and to a lesser extent Mae Hong Son, Pai doesn't have much to see in the traditional sense of sightseeing. Rather people come to either just hang out and bide their time, or to explore the hinterland. A plethora of activities are available, including exploring the countryside by foot, motorbike, elephant or bamboo raft. The mountainous scenery and proximity to the Burmese border has seen several ethnic minority groups settle in the area and these villages are often visited by the treks striking out from Pai -- as are some of the surrounding waterfalls. In more recent years white-water rafting has become popular and it's possible to raft almost all of the way to Mae Hong Son.

Thai tourists now far outweigh the backpackers during high season and Chaisongkran Road turns into a rural replica of Saturday night Khao San Road. You can be hard pushed to find a ROOM, a table in a restaurant or get someone to serve you in a coffee shop and you'd be even more hard pushed to find a local -- even the Lisu vendors can come from anything up to 100km away!

Needless to say, Pai is best avoided during high season from November to January, when most ACCOMMODATION prices double and sometimes even triple. Try out one of the genuinely bucolic rural villages in other northern provinces, though you may have to forgo the mojitos, cheesecakes and Facebook access, or move up to Soppong. If you can't avoid peak season but still want to visit Pai, look carefully as you'll still find some reasonable deals -- it's worth looking farther out of town to at least escape the crowds.

Orientation
Pai is a pretty small place with a very simple layout. Nothing is far away. Pai's main tourist drag is Chaisongkran Road, which winds from the river and footbridge up past the bus station to the crossroads with Rungsiyanon Rd before heading out west past the hospital to the town's edge. The section between the river and bus station is the liveliest being lined almost non stop with guesthouses, cafes, restaurants, trekking agents, internet shops, motorbike hire shops and bars.

The road side is bordered with Lisu vendors and there's even the obligatory 'Combie van cocktail bar'! Yes it's Pai's own Khao San Road and in the peak season can be just as crowded! Hoards of young Thais, seemingly permanently on their cell phones to their mates in Bangkok, wander up and down the street wrapped up in their winter woolies and groups of Western backpackers lucky enough to have found ROOMS sit around with their buckets of VodkaRedBull and laugh at the Thai dogs wearing Man Utd. T-shirts.

Rungsiyanon Road is the wide (well, for Pai) road that leads from the crossroads with Chaisongkran Road right through the centre of town, eventually mutating into the Pai - Chiang Mai highway once it leaves town to the south. The cafes, restaurants, banks, and 7-Eleven are mostly grouped at its northern end while small HOTELS AND guesthouses dot both sides of the street. A small night market is open in the evenings.

Wanchalerm Rd runs parallel to Rungsiyanon and hosts a string of small guesthouses. Many of these are fairly cramped affairs, looking as if somebody with a large garden deciding to hop on the bandwagon, stick a few chalets or ROOMSin it and call it a guesthouse. Raddamrong Road is a wide road leading from the traffic lights on Rungsiyanon Road down to the bridge over the River Pai contains a good Thai restaurant or two at the top end and an average Italian at the bottom, a couple of bars and the interesting Unicorn.

Flood warning: In 2005 Pai was decimated by flash floods which washed away entire riverside resorts. Flooding in the wet season remains a threat, but the 2005 floods have been the worst in recent memory. If you're opting for a riverside shack in wet season, it's a good idea to opt for a sturdy one.

Pai has at least two ATMs in town. One is in front of Duang's Guesthouse, opposite the bus station, the other is around the corner, attached to Krung Thai Bank on Rungsiyon Rd. Inside the bank there is a full exchange service, open from 08:30 until 16:30 except on weekends and holidays. Many guesthouses also offer exchange services.

Internet cafes dot town and a small, but growing number of cafes and guesthouses offer WiFi services -- sometimes complementary.

The post office is a bit of a walk from the centre of things, towards the southern end of Khetkalang Rd.

There's a small hospital at the western end of town on Chaisongkhram Rd.

Read more details

http://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/northern_thailand/mae_hong_son/pai

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

.

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!

Read more details

http://www.nomadasaurus.com/10-things-to-do-in-pai-thailand/

Pai Hotel

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