The small town of Pai, nestled in the mountains of Northern Thailand, is known today as one of Thailand’s backpacker havens. With waterfalls, caves, a vibrant nightlife and more, Pai has something for everyone.
We originally planned to spend 3 days in Pai, but ended up extending our time there, as so many do. In the end, we stayed for just over a week, making Pai one of the longest stays we had at a single location in Thailand.
Here is our list of the top things to do in Pai:
Tham Lod Cave
Admission: ฿150 + plus transport
Tham Lod Cave is a full-day trip from Pai via motorbike. If you are uncomfortable on a bike, there are also guided tours from Pai. In our opinion, the drive up was almost equally as stunning as the cave itself.
Technically, admission to the cave is free, but in order to enter, it’s required that you hire a guide for ฿150 (max 3 people per guide). Generally, I’m skeptical of hiring a guide for excursions like this, but it this case it was certainly necessary. The cave is absolutely massive, and your guide leads you through the caverns with only the light from a handheld lantern.
The cave is made accessible via bamboo stairs and bridges, and you have the option to board a bamboo raft that takes you a short ways up the river further into the cave.
Tip: Stop in Baan Jabo Village during the drive from Pai. Here you can enjoy an excellent bowl of noodle soup on the wooden terraces, while taking in the breathtaking views.
Pai Land Split
Admission: Free
The Pai Land Split is the natural result of the 2008 earthquake. It’s fascinating to walk through the chasm and imagine the force it would have taken to move so much land. Overall, the experience only takes a maximum of 30 minutes as the “canyon” is rather short. For this reason, the Pai Land Split is a destination that can be combined with others on this list over the course of a day.
Tubing on Pai River
Admission: ฿300 (includes tube and transport)
One morning over breakfast, our hostel rallied ~15 people to go tubing on Pai River. Tubing in Pai wasn’t necessarily high on our list of things to do, but we are so glad we went.
Transport arrived at our hostel later that morning and took our group a couple miles upstream to begin the float. You will be provided with a tube, but make sure to bring a drybag if you plan to bring any valuables along. Everything you bring will get wet. For the most part, this is a leisurely excursion. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the afternoon sun with friends while taking in the scenery. The only “hazard” on the river is the reeds near the shore that unaware tubers tend to drift towards. We had a good laugh seeing members of our party become momentarily stranded in the tall grass.
Tip: You should bring a few cans of Chang to keep you company in your innertube.
Pai Canyon
Admission: Free
Pai Canyon is the best place in town to enjoy a sunset. Calling this place a canyon is semi-misleading, as it is primarily a collection of ridges that extend over a shallow valley. Depending on your hiking ability, you can either scale the narrow ridges, or simply remain on the rim near the main trail. We had a great time adventuring across the ridges, and enjoyed being further removed from the crowds that assembled on the rim during sunset.
Mor Paeng and Pam Bok Waterfalls
Pam Bok Admission: ฿40
Mor Paeng Admission: Free
Mor Paeng waterfall and Pam Bok waterfall are easily the two most popular waterfalls in Pai. While neither is the most impressive waterfall you will see in Thailand, each is worth a short day trip from town.
Of the two popular falls in Pai, we preferred Mor Paeng for it’s multi-leveled pools and natural waterslide. Because of these features, we spent much more time here than we did at Pam Bok. Pam Bok is a more traditional waterfall with a swimming pool near the base.
Tip: Both waterfalls are a very short trip from town and can easily be combined with other activities over the course of a day. Pam Bok waterfall and Pai Bamboo Bridge are less than 2 km apart.
Pai Walking Street Market
Admission: Free
Every night, starting at around 6:00 pm, Pai’s main street transforms into a market full of street food, crafts and more. Thailand is famous for it’s robust night markets, and Pai Walking Street is right up to par.
We ventured into the night market multiple times during our stay. Like you would at most markets in Thailand, we browsed the shops, snacked on street food and enjoyed the atmosphere.
Pai is also one of the most popular places in Thailand to learn how to ride a scooter. The roads are in good shape and it’s generally a much safer place to learn in Pai than on the busy streets of Chiang Mai or Bangkok. When the night market is open, the street is pedestrian traffic only, but this is a great place to look for scooter rentals if they aren’t offered at your accommodation.
Locals, tourists and dogs park their scooters on the sides of Pai Walking Street before entering the market.
Bonus: This is where Anna and I met. Check out our story for more of the trilling tale.
Pai Bamboo Bridge
Admission: ฿30
Pai Bamboo Bridge is very aptly named. The bridge, constructed of woven bamboo stands, winds over approximately a kilometer of rice fields. The whole experience makes for a terrific photo opportunity, and it’s worth the cheap admission if you’re like great scenery with minimal trekking.
Tip: The road to Pai Bamboo Bridge is pretty sketchy. The last kilometer is full of large rocks with a few steep areas, and we witnessed a crash on the way there. Be extra careful on your scooter during this stretch.
Nightlife
- Bars/Clubs: Pai’s main bar street is located perpendicular to the night market, beginning on the northeast corner of town. Our group particularly enjoyed Boom Bar and Don’t Cry Bar, which stays open playing techno music late into the night. This whole street is loaded with bars, so it’s easy to assemble a group and find one that fits the vibe you’re looking for.
- Jungle Party: Once a month, there is a massive party held in the middle of the jungle on the outskirts of town. Our hostel helped us purchase tickets, and drove what felt like the entire population of the hostel to the party. The setting takes place in a jungle clearing, with bamboo buildings that make up a stage on one end and a full bar on the other. It felt like the entire backpacker population of Pai had assembled in this space. Local DJs filled the air with techno music and we all danced the night away before catching one of the shuttles back into town.
Where we stayed: Deejai Pai Backpackers
We cannot speak highly enough of Deejai Pai Backpackers. This hostel, located near the rice fields just outside of town, has it all. Through 7 months traveling in Asia, this hostel still stacks up as one of the most enjoyable experiences we had.
Vibe:
We found Deejai Pai to be very social, yet also relaxed. We met a great group of friends during our week here, and there was always a group at breakfast in the mornings planning excisions to the various attractions around town. During the day, plenty of guests participated in the free yoga classes or elected to lounge in hammocks around the property.
Facilities:
The common area is structured in an open-air format with tables, chairs, hammocks and swings for the use of guests. With a view overlooking the rice fields, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunset after a day of adventure around Pai.
The dorms are fairly standard for what you can expect at a good hostel in Thailand. The bunks are clean and well-kept, but lack curtains for privacy. Given the cement architecture, we found that they generally stayed cool on even the hottest days.
Amenities:
- Free yoga classes
- Gym
- Book swap
- Delicious food ranging from traditional Pad Thai to avocado toast
- Beer sold by front desk
- Discounted group rates on experiences
