Pai
Pai in a few words
The city of Pai, in the northern Thailand, is pretty well-known by tourists (be it thai people or foreigners) and can get quite packed during high season… but is usually pretty laid-back and quiet.
Pai is sympathetic city, full of resources, especially when the night comes. There’s an interesting (and always crowded) market every night on the main streets, that are turned into walking streets.
There are lots of going out venues, bars with extremely different moods and styles, very close to each other… which makes the city perfect for a colorful bar-hopping night.
Pai is quite chilly, especially at night! Take a warm jacket with you… or warm yourself at one of the many bonfires that you will be able to find in most of the open-air bars.
Check out my map of points of interest in Pai, Thailand
Nature around Pai
Bar-hopping
Here’s how I do it!
- Let’s start at Riverside which (as its name stands for) sits on the border of the river, in a very quiet and cosy environment: you sit on cushions on the floor, or around one of the several bonfires. There’s ambient, electronical sweet music and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to attend a nice fireshow performance.
- Then hop on to Lun Laa Bar, which offers a nice selection of live music (thai, rock, reggae usually) and has the friendliest staff around.
- Continue to the Bebop, at the entrance of the city – where locals have loads of fun on old school rythms (80′s), rock, reggae or thai music (this is, to date, one of the most renowned bars in Pai).
- End up either at the Bamboo Bar, or at the Don’t Cry Bar, or at both – there’s direct neighbors anyway. Enjoy the bonfires, and excellent thai food at Bamboo Bar. It seems to me that those are the longest-lasting open places in town, so tourists and locals meet up there at the end of their journey.
Muangpang hotsprings
Pai and around
By day, Pai’s sight-seeing is quite quickly done… But the nature around offers tons of possible escapes! You can go get yourself lost in the streets, find yourself next to a ricefield, or one of the many natural hotsprings, a green valley (for example, at Muangpang)… Or you can head to the Pai Canyon, where you can play climbing (watch out, it’s very high and steep) and enjoy an amazing sunset with the many locals.
Pai Canyon
Accommodation in Pai
Accommodation prices vary a lot also – they can get from simple to triple through high season in the same resort.
There are several resorts offering bamboo bungalows for a more than reasonable price. They offer all comfort, including a private hot shower, but can it can be quite chilly at night.
I tried two places over there:
- Don’t Cry Bungalows: far enough but close enough to the mumbling of the city, they’re built in the middle of the rice fields, therefore they are really quiet. Expect to pay between 250 and 350bht per night and per bungalow.
- Baan Tawaan: this is more of a classy resort, huge rooms with air-con, private shower, sparkling clean and cosy bed, terrace… Although prices are reasonable during low season (350/450bht per room and per night) they can go to triple during high season. This may be, though, a good alternative for those looking for more comfort.
How to reach Pai?
- By bus | You can buy a ticket everyday at the bus station or through a tourism agency. Be aware that sometimes busses may be full, so you better make a reservation a little bit in advance. It takes around 3:30/4 hours to reach Pai.
- By motorbike | Seriously, it’s a ton of fun! There are 746 curves on the way to Pai. Just rent yourself a motorbike for a few days (150/250bht per day in Chiang Mai) and enjoy! It will take you around 3:30/4 hours to reach the city if you take your time and drive safely. If you speed up like crazy you can do it in 2:30, too.
- By car | (same same, but different)
- By dirt-bike | Yep, you can do it the adventure way! Book a motocross tour around and reach Pai through the jungle and the villages. I can guarantee you tons of adrenaline and good feelings… but also a big pain in the arse after your first day ride :p