Looking to create the perfect 3 day itinerary of Pai in Thailand? From waterfalls to flowering sunset vistas – well, you’re in the right place!

Northern Thailand has so many beautiful places to visit. It is easy to get lost in a sea of recommendations and suggestions. After spending three days exploring beautiful Pai sights, an extremely northern backpacker-orientated town in Thailand.

I have narrowed my favorite attractions into a three-day Pai itinerary that is easily completed by rented motorcycle. Riding along some beautiful rural roads and over mountains made this little town a highlight of Thailand.

I was unable to make it to Pai during my first ever visit to Thailand in 2017. So, in 2018 when I returned to Thailand, I went out of my way (Pai is quite north) to make it here, and I am so glad I did!

Pai sits in the most Northern Province of Thailand, Mae Hong Son, which borders Myanmar (formerly Burma). There are no pristine waters like those of Phi Phi Island or Railay Beach here, but these stunning rolling green hills more than makeup for that loss.

 

Getting To Pai

 

Getting to Pai is easy enough, a three-hour bus leaves twice a day from Chiang Rai; one around 9 am and then 2 pm. My hostel owner organized my tickets and I was picked up from the front door. However, if you’re prone to motion sickness you might want to pay attention here.

This road is as straight as a pot of cooked spaghetti; in fact, it has a whopping 762 curves in it. Luckily, I had leftover sea-sickness tablets from diving on Koh Tao – they sold the exact same tablets at the rest stop on the ride up to Pai. The entrance to the bathroom – where you are asked to provide a tip – is where I spotted them.

As I was told about the windy road to Pai, the three-hour trip began to make me nervous. However, I have been on much worse. Sure, there were quite a few hairpin turns taken at a little faster than necessary, but nothing compared to other South East Asian roads – looking at you, Laos. I was even able to write my journal and take a nap along the way!

 

Three Day Pai Itinerary

The order I have written these are not in order of favoritism (my favorite actually comes in second last place in this post), but rather the order that I visited them. While this is to give a solid three day Pai itinerary, picking and choosing only one or two of these beautiful Pai sights will give you a wonderful insight into this beautiful area.

For this three day Pai itinerary, hiring a motorbike was pretty much essential. Some of the attractions have a decent amount of distance between them. Plus the freedom of having your own wheel is unbeatable! I give tips for hiring a motorbike in Pai at the end of this post.

Looking for a comprehensive guide to the country? Click here – 14-day itinerary covering Thailand.

Day 1 of 3 in Pai

Your first day in Pai, Thailand covers a few of the most popular sites. I’ve intentionally left this day a little light, you may be running short on time.

You can easily add some things to do in Pai by visiting the section at the bottom of the post with extra things to do in this small town.

 

Giant White Buddha

My first sight in Pai was the well known Giant White Buddha. It also goes by “Temple on the Hill” or ‘Wat Phra That Mae Yen’ in the local dialect. It is a great way to get acquainted with the town of Pai as it gives a beautiful view of the town and surrounding mountains.

Although I didn’t go for sunset, it is quite a popular spot, as looking over the valley and the mountains behind which the sun dips is beautiful.  Unfortunately, at my time of visiting, the temple of ‘Wat Phra That Mae’ was barricaded off, due to being gutted with fire.

 

World War II Memorial Bridge

 

Along the road from the Giant White Buddha to this bridge, the scenery is stunning and I made quite a few random stops. A straight forward drive as the roads are a little hilly, but smooth and well maintained.

The bridge itself is a lovely, albeit short walk. During night time the length of the bridge is lit up by bulbs strung out along its railings. It makes a good stop for a stroll if sitting on the bike is getting a little tiresome.

On the Pai town side of the bridge, there is plenty of parking out the front of one of the few restaurants.

 

Pai Canyon Sunset

Pai sights don’t get much more picturesque than the canyon situated just south of downtown Pai. The name pretty much speaks for itself – the earth is sculptured into giant cracks of red dirt and rock.

A narrow walking trail winds it’s way along the cliff’s edge, sometimes coming a little close to the rocky drop-off. This path forms a loop from one bank to the other. Snaking its way through the middle of the two edges, what I assume to be a dry river bed, it weaves its way through the towering cliff sides. Walking along this river bed can be a little disorientating as it weaves back and forth.

 

Vantage points for sunset here are so many that the hundreds of tourists vying for a view can do so easily and spread out. As the sun sets behind the mountains beyond the valley floor, the beautiful soft light turns purple for a stunning view.

Side Tip – Even though the days are hot, once night covers Pai it becomes quite chilly! Especially driving a motorbike with very thin clothing on! It caught me out pretty much every night in Pai – so maybe bring an extra layer or two.

Day 2 in Pai

Hiking to Mae Yen Waterfall

 

Early morning on my second day I drove to Mae Yen Waterfall, and the early morning start is something I highly suggest. Not only do you bypass a lot of the humidity and heat of the sweltering midday, but the trail is also a lot less busy in the morning.

One-way to the waterfall takes around 2hours, give or take 15-20 minutes depending on your pace. The start of the trail is a short drive out of the town – about 10 to 15 minutes.

I began my hike around 8 am and by the time I finished at 1230 pm, I was sweating bullets. Being concealed from any breeze underneath the thick jungle canopy, the resulting heat and humidity only increase the difficulty of the walk.

 

Most of the trail is a flat, smooth path. However, there are sections that raise the overall difficulty. One extremely steep ascent near the waterfall end of the trail is exhausting. You will also be required to wade through some rivers.

None of the depths surpassed my knees, but my shoes were thoroughly soaked. After the first crossing when your shoes become saturated, the rest of them are nowhere near as awful, even kind of fun I thought.

I would suggest decent shoes even though they will most likely get wet – I did see one guy with bone-dry shoes jumping from one slippery rock to the next. I would rather get wet shoes than a concussion from one misjudged hop! There are around 15 river crossings each way of the hike.

Mae Yen Waterfall itself was a little smaller than I expected but beautiful in its own right. There is a small pool for a refreshing, but chilly, dip. However, I personally think the star of the hike was the trail itself. Beautiful dense forests with patches of huge bamboo shoots and crystal streams were found along the whole trail.

 

Land Split in Pai

If I had to choose only one sight within the town of Pai, it would have to be the “Land Split”. This whole area used to be valuable farming land, however in 2008 and again in 2011, the land…split. Not as big gaps in the earth as Pai Canyon in size, but enough to make farming impossible. Sensing the land was no longer profitable, this opportunistic farmer turned his property into a tourist attraction. The loop around the land split attraction is small but beautiful and interesting (around 20-30 minute walk – if you’re taking your time). It is, however, the owners that make this place worth visiting so much.

As soon as I was within shouting distance, I was welcomed and waved over to try a Northern Thailand specialty. Like in Chiang Rai, hibiscus tea is made from boiling the dried flowers of the Roselle Plant. While my first one in Chiang Rai was difficult to finish as it was so bitter, it had grown on me and I finished two of these refreshing drinks with ease.

 

The bright red flower of the Roselle Plant is highly versatile also. I was able to try jam and wine from the leaf. I even tried the raw, sour leaf! It was a fantastic insight into the way of life in relaxed northern Thailand.

A donation box sits on the counter, and while entrance to the whole establishment, even for tastings, is technically cost-free, the owners ask you to pay “what you think it is worth”. Safe to say I enjoyed the experience enough to tip a few dollars.

 

Eat out at the Pai Walking Street Markets

Every night from 6-10 pm a large ‘T’ section right down the road from Common Grounds hostel is closed off to vehicles, turning it into a pedestrian street. This area comes alive with sizzling barbecues offering a wonderful variety of foods and the chatter of locals and tourists alike. It’s also a fantastic place for souvenirs; I was a little tipsy and spent a little more than I anticipated, but totally worth it!

Not many Southeast Asian Night Bazaars’ I have visited hold a candle to Pai’s. I visited, ate and drank here every night of my stay in Pai, and I would 100% go back! While I would like to try everything (I never did make it to the dumplings), I have a few suggestions of what I deem to be unmissable along the chaotic walking street.

A few stalls offer an amazing selection of BBQ skewers. You get a little basket, fill it to the brim with what you want, the vendor will fry them and you’ll be eating within minutes. Try the Okra! Cheap, filling and satisfying. All three nights ended with my stomach way too full for its own good! Definitely, seek out coconut pancakes, won’t be disappointed!

A few words of warning for Common Grounds guests: When this street closes to vehicles, you are not supposed to drive your bike through the hordes of people. However, people still do, and I was one of them, as there were very little places to park and no back entrance to the hostel (there is a little gate at the opposite school, but it’s usually shut).

To pedestrians: People do drive through, even though it is not technically allowed. To the drivers (like myself):  Take it slow! While Pai is a backpacker haven, lots of people, including children, are out and walking.

 

Day 3 in Pai

Pai Sights – Pang Mapha Lookout

 

Heading west from Pai, toward the Myanmar border, finds the majestic lookout of Pang Mapha. It signals roughly the halfway point between Pai and the caves, including the unique Tham Lod Cave. Driving to this lookout takes around 90 minutes, obviously depending on your speed and any stops along the way.

This view at Pang Mapha is the most popular along the road between the caves and the town of Pai, and with great reason. The vista looking down towards Pai is amazing. You’re so high up, Pai is all but white dots on the horizon.

If you’re after a little stroll after sitting on top of a vibrating engine for hours, across the road from the Pang Mapha lookout stop there is a road that is quite steep heading up to another, less popular view – probably due to the unmaintained, steep and daunting pathway. While it is walkable, I recommend driving – just take your time on the derelict road.

 

Judging by the guard outpost I drove past, with faded admission prices and a boom gate that is now permanently tied open, this road used to be a lot more popular with tourists. Now it is left to ruin, with weeds and dead leaves coating the road waiting to make your motorbike’s tire lose traction and slip towards the un-barricaded cliffside.

I drove up this section, around 1 km of steep hill and parked near a fenced-off tower. Along the way, I did encounter one other truck that took up 90% of the road, so drive this section with care.

I parked my bike at a gated compound and continued on foot along the only possible path. By following this path you’re lead to a slightly different and higher outlook over Pai and the opposite valley. While there are a couple of shacks and structures, grass has overgrown the smaller paths. I enjoyed the walk just to stretch my legs!

 

Tham Lod Cave

After a small search online, I decided to visit only one of the many caves near Pai. Tham Lod Cave was my choice, and within my three day trip of Pai and it’s surroundings, it was by far my favorite attraction. Between my personal “Lantern Tour” guide and the cave itself, I felt like it deserved it’s very own post!

Costing 200Baht ($6.50 USD) I received a guide who lit his lantern and ventured into two of the cave’s three caverns. It was absolutely amazing and is one of my favorite caving experiences I have ever done. Check out my dedicated blog post to Tham Lod Cave!

 

Yun Lai Viewpoint

 

I returned to Pai after Tham Lod Cave, and for my last sunset I hit up Yun Lai Viewpoint. It is, with good reason, an extremely popular viewpoint to watch the sunset over the close mountains. This wide-open valley, with soft, inspiring colors, it was magnificent. It was high enough in elevation to give a beautiful view of the valley below. Along with a gorgeous flower garden surrounding the vantage points, all up it is a very beautiful place to visit.

 

Renting a motorbike in Pai, Thailand

Like usual in Asia, insurance is a made-up word and your passport is needed for renting a moto. As a backpacker for over half a decade now, this still makes me sweat just thinking about handing it over. I asked around for good motorbike recommendations in the hostel common area.

A company called “AYA” was vouched for quite a lot. They were also by far the cheapest (I was told 150 Baht or $6 AUD per day), but when I arrived there to rent they were unfortunately completely sold out.

My usual tactic for hiring a motorbike in an Asian country is to do so through my hostel. By using a hostel affiliate company, IF something went wrong, having someone in my corner can’t hurt right?

I am yet to run into a problem through this method, while I constantly hear horror stories of scams and poorly maintained bikes. I ended up hiring through my hostel ‘Common Grounds’, and highly recommend them.

 

A final warning about traveling through Pai Thailand

While that is the end of my three-day itinerary of Pai, Thailand, there is one last thing that deserves a mention. As the title suggests, I was drug searched on a back road of Pai. By searched, I mean vigorously searched. To read more about my unexpected experience, check out my more detailed blog post here!

Along the main highway 1095 from Tham Lod Cave to Yun Lai viewpoint, I turned off onto a small, secondary road. I was stopped by an officer, who announced to me I was being searched for marijuana. I had nothing on me, the severe penalty of being caught with illegal drugs in Thailand is rarely enforced, it just isn’t worth it in my mind to take the risk.

All officers, including the commanding officer who was sporting a glistening golden holstered pistol, were incredibly professional and nice. The even had a sense of humor by making fun of the cold Canadian winters after I told him where I currently live. This was amplified when my searching policeman apologized for what he was about to do. With a stern two fingers and a gentle grope, he checked…down there (over the clothes). He was extremely thorough…

As I drove on to Yun Lai Viewpoint, it became obvious what was going on. I was offered weed by around eight ladies, shouting at me from their front yards. One even running out on the road in front of me, as if to announce some sort of emergency! Nope, just weed.

 

Pai Sights – Information

All of these sights can be easily viewed with three days of solid driving. A few sections of the road cross mountains, and while the asphalt is smooth, driving the roads can be daunting.

While these sights are stunning, so many amazing vantage spots can be found along random streets, like the sunset view on my second night in Pai. Don’t forget to always be watching for unexpected beauty within the journey.

As I mentioned before, Common Grounds is an amazing hostel to relax and meet like-minded travelers. If you’re visiting Pai, look no further than Common Grounds Hostel. As Common Grounds is usually booked out, I also stayed at SpicyPai Backpackers and I really enjoyed the laid back environment.

There are also plenty of guided tours to places around Pai, as well as shuttles to Chiang Mai you can book online so you have more time exploring this northern Thailand gem.

 

Extra things to do in Pai, Thailand

Want to swap out a few things listed in this 3 day Pai itinerary? Or just got some spare time and want some extra things to do in Pai? Read on below, this section is for you!

• Have a drink or 3 at the Sunset Bar

The Sunset Bar in Pai does exactly what the name suggests. Have a drink while watching the sun set! It’s a popular place to watch the sun go down in Pai.

• Swim at Mor Paeng Waterfall

Super close to the center of Pai and only a short 200m walk to the waterfall itself. Being so close to the center of town, it’s one of the most popular waterfalls in Pai.

• Go white water rafting down the Pai River

After an adrenaline rush in Pai? White water rafting might be exactly what you’re looking for. A number of companies offer this service, so just ask your hostel staff and they will likely help you set it all up.

 

Travel itinerary of Pai Thailand

Here’s a short video on what to see in Pai, Thailand. If you enjoyed this video, make sure you subscribe to my Youtube Channel (use the top left-hand button).

 

Three Day Pai Itinerary Map

 

Pai Sights – Tips

 

Renting a bike affiliated with the hostel I am a guest of is always my suggestion. It will help to have someone to be able to communicate for you, should something go wrong.

Pai’s Walking Street is a great place to walk, not so much drive through. To get through to Common Grounds parking lot for bikes (right out the front entrance) from 6-10pm driving though Walking Street is your best bet. There is a metal sliding gate that was open once for me around 8 pm, so I was able to scoot around the edge of Walking Street, but the other two nights it was locked.

At Tham Lod Cave, you are given the option to buy fish food for 20 Baht ($0.60 USD). I was slightly rushed into making the purchase. Throwing the little pellets into the water, causing chaos between the giant codfish fighting each other for a meal, did make me feel sorry for them. I feel this is a tourist trap that is worth skipping.

Seek out that bitter hibiscus flower! The drink is quite common I found, and hard to drink at first, but it definitely grew on me!

 

 

Pai Sights Highlights

• Tham Lod Cave, while around 1.5 hours out of Pai, takes the top spot as my favorite place I was able to visit. If you have the time, take the bamboo raft boat ride for a few extra Baht.
• Sunsets at either Yun Lai Viewpoint or Pai Canyon are spectacular. Yun Lai was a lot less busy than the well-known canyon in the center of Pai.

 

Thailand is full of amazing places and experiences to add to your bucket list. Check out Koh Tao Island, a great place to scuba dive and hike. Diving Phi Phi Island is one of my all-time favorite activities I’ve done on the road, plus see some beautiful Phi Phi sights along the way, or hike the stunning Dragon’s Crest Trail near Krabi.

 

Summary of what to see in Pai, Thailand

So that’s the best things to do in Pai with a few days in this small but colorful small town in northern Thailand. What do you think should/shouldn’t be in this travel itinerary of Pai Thailand? Let me know in the comments below and make sure you pick up your free PDF planning checklist.

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown