Pai is a small town located in northern Thailand and due to its charm and the lots of different things to do in Pai, it has become a popular place for travellers.
From checking out waterfalls and hiking the Pai Canyon, to checking out the big Buddha and exploring by scooter, Pai uses many attractions for backpackers, travellers, expats and everyone in between.
For such a small place, the list of things to do in Pai is huge! This town is growing and so are the lots of activities available in Pai for travellers. This is absolutely one of the best places to visit in Thailand.
The road between the northern city of Chiang Mai and Pai is an exciting adventure all on its own. In fact, this journey was the main reason I went to Pai in the first place.
But to my surprise, Pai was a town that stole my heart, and I would return to in a heartbeat. In fact, checking out Pai was one of my Southeast Asia highlights.
Here’s a list of the top 21 things to do in Pai you won’t want to miss!
Table of Contents
1. learn To ride a Scooter
2. wander the night Markets (one of the best things to do in Pai in the evening)
3. Climb to The big White Buddha (Wat Phra That Mae Yen)
4. party at Sunset Bar
5. Go Tubing on The Pai River
6. Whitewater Rafting (one of the a lot more adventurous things to do in Pai)
7. walk the WWII (Memorial) Bridge
8. eat healthy Food
9. eat street Food
10. practice Yoga
11. Hike the Pai Canyon
12. have a “ love Strawberry” Milkshake
13. visit Tham Lod Cave
14. Sai Ngam hot Springs
15. explore the Santichon Village
16. ride the Human Powered Ferris Wheel
17. Yun Lai Viewpoint
18. Go Piranha Fishing
19. Swim at Mor Paeng Waterfall
20. drink Mojitos
21. Drive to Chiang Mai
Now You know What To do in Pai!
1. learn To ride a Scooter
Learning to ride a scooter is first on my list of things to do in Pai for a reason — it’s generally an essential activity in this tiny town. like me, if you have never ridden a motorbike or scooter before, Pai is the place to don a helmet and try.
Why is learning to drive a scooter essential? Well, lots of of the activities in Pai aren’t actually in the town center, but a couple of minutes drive out-of-town.
Because Pai is popular for tourists renting scooters as their main mode of transportation, there aren’t too lots of tuk-tuks in town. Plus, part of the charm of Pai is that there isn’t much traffic, making it a good place for newbies to learn.
That all being said, tourists walk around Pai like mummies, all bandaged up from scooter accidents. So much so, that you don’t even need to ask somebody “what happened” when you see their battered knee, it’s just assumed it was a scooter accident.
Make sure you wear a helmet, drive cautiously, and of course, don’t drink and drive.
Me, about to ride a scooter for the first time!
I rented a scooter for two full days while I was in Pai and it cost 500 Baht for both days for an automatic scooter, which was a great deal. It was a lot of fun learning how to ride, and was also a beneficial indicates of transport for getting around to the lots of things to do in Pai.
There are lots of different rental shops along the main walking street in Pai. You will have to leave a cash deposit that you will get back once you return the scooter in its original condition — don’t leave your passport, even if they ask.
You can purchase insurance for the scooter from these rental shops as well which may be a good idea if it is your first time riding a scooter!
If you want to do a longer trip, the Mae Hong kid loop is Thailand’s a lot of popular and sensational journey. learn a lot more about it here.
2. wander the night Markets (one of the best things to do in Pai in the evening)
Wondering what to do in Pai in the evenings? Every night there are markets in Pai along the walking street. For such a small town, these markets are quite impressive. Here, you can find everything from clothing to food, with the best cheap street food options being found at the night markets.
At the night markets, you will also be tempted by the shopping. There are souvenirs, herbal remedies, clothing, and a lot more – generally anything you could think of, you’ll find!
But regardless of whether or not you want to get something, the markets are always a lot of fun and are one of the complimentary things to do in Pai.
See Also: things To do in Koh Lipe – 21 things You Don’t want To Miss
3. Climb to The big White Buddha (Wat Phra That Mae Yen)
If you have been backpacking Thailand for a while, checking out another Buddha statue might not sound all that appealing, but this one is worth it simply for the view!
The steps to get to the top will have you working up a sweat, but the panoramic view from next to the Buddha is worth it. Make sure you also have a look at the blindingly white Buddha statue, it’s pretty impressive.
A visit to the big Buddha is easy. You will see it from town so just drive in that direction and you will get there. checking out the big Buddha is complimentary and will take you about an hour to walk to the top, take pleasure in the views and take pictures, and walk back down. Make sure you dress appropriately and bring some water with you.
4. party at Sunset Bar
No trip to Pai would be complete without a visit to the Sunset Bar. The Sunset Bar is just as the name suggests, the place to go at sunset (and stay well after dark.)
The Sunset Bar is one of the most popular things to do in Pai amongst travellers as it’s situated just outside of the main town center, but still within walking distance (meaning you don’t have to drink and drive home).
The bar is up in the trees and uses a great view of the sunset each night. cushions line the floor as seating and create a kicked back atmosphere for backpackers wanting to share some travel stories over a drink. expect to pay around 100 Baht for a drink, but often they do have 2 for 1 specials.
See Also: cost Of Living in Thailand – A guide For Travellers, Expats and digital Nomads
5. Go Tubing on The Pai River
Tubing along the Pai river is one of the most popular things to do in Pai. It’s affordable, only takes about an hour, and is available a lot of months of the year.
Unfortunately, when I was there, there had just been some heavy rainfall and the river was flowing so rapidly that it was unsafe for tubing.
Some people still tried to sell us the activity even though we were told by several others that the river was unsafe. keep your wits about you and only tube when it’s safe to do so. the most common months for heavy rain in Pai are from may to October.
It costs between 200-300 Baht ($6 – $9) for a trip which includes your tube rental as well as drop-off and pick-up. The tubing journey lasts for about one hour. Tubing can be booked easily through your accommodation, through a travel agency, or simply with one of the people walking around town trying to sell tubing tours.
☞ If you’re trying to find a lot more Thailand articles, make sure to check out our things To do in Koh Phangan article, and our things To do in Bangkok post. There are so lots of incredible places to visit in Thailand!
6. Whitewater Rafting (one of the a lot more adventurous things to do in Pai)
In Pai, whitewater rafting combined with hiking is becoming a popular activity. A few different excursion operators organize these kinds of trips and multi-day options are also available.
One of the most popular companies for this kind of trip is called active Thailand, they can be contacted on their website. There are also lots of travel agency booking places in Pai which can help organize this trip for you.
Prices depend on the number of people you can get together for a trip, the length or the trip, and the type of accommodation you require.
For a two-day, 1 night trip with basic accommodation (sleeping in a jungle camp on bamboo with mosquito nets) expect to pay about 3,500Baht or 100 USD. For the outdoor adventurer, this would be one of the best things to do in Pai.
7. walk the WWII (Memorial) Bridge
The WWII Bridge was built by the Japanese back in 1942. The bridge was used to transport weapons and supplies to Myanmar during WWII. Out of all the places to see in Pai, this bridge has the most historical significance.
But besides its history, it’s also just a great place to choose a walk. The bridge crosses a stunning river making for some good photo opportunities. Going to the WWII Bridge is free, but keep in mind that it is a popular vacationer hotspot so it can be very busy.
8. eat healthy Food
Unless your Southeast Asia trip has included Canggu Bali, you are probably craving a good salad complete with avocado! There are several different places in Pai where you can get that healthy food fix.
A café called earth Tone is a very popular restaurant serving high-quality vegetarian food. They have incredible waffles with fruit, sandwiches, salads, smoothies and more. earth Tone is just one of the lots of places to eat healthy while in Pai. In fact, you’ll find vegetarian and gluten-free options in cafes allover town.
9. eat street Food
While the healthy options are great in Pai, the unhealthy street food options are just as good! When the sun starts going down lots of different little street food stands open up and cheap food takes over the bustling daytime café scene.
Like anywhere in Thailand, Pad Thai and various other noodle dishes are available for only a few baht. but in Pai, the locals are a little a lot more creative with their street food, with stalls selling donuts and Indian food! Western food options like pizza and hamburgers are also readily available as well.
However, considering that one of the best things to do in Thailand is to eat Thai food, it’s recommended that you sample the local eats, you won’t be disappointed.
10. practice Yoga
Pai is a best little town for yoga lovers. There are few different yoga retreats around, but there are also places in Pai where visitors can just drop in for a class or two.
The popular Pai Circus Hostel uses yoga classes a lot of morning at 9:30 am. The Swadasee Pai resort also uses yoga classes a lot of mornings. I recommend asking at your hostel or hotel when you arrive about current yoga classes in the area, as the class times and locations can change.
See Also: things To do in Koh Tao – top 21 things For Travellers
11. Hike the Pai Canyon
In my opinion, out of all of the things to do in Pai, hiking the Pai Canyon is the best! The Pai Canyon is a beautiful canyon with various hiking trails and lookouts over the countryside.
You will need a scooter or tuk-tuk to get out to the Pai Canyon as it is a few minutes drive out of town. once you’re there, you’ll take pleasure in walking along the canyon ridges and being out in nature.
It’s really a beautiful place to visit. lots of people explore the Pai Canyon at sunset for even a lot more spectacular views. entrance to the Pai Canyon is completely free. just make sure you wear good walking shoes and bring plenty of water.
12. have a “ love Strawberry” Milkshake
The love Strawberry farm and store is a fun stop on the way back into town from the Pai Canyon. It is a bit of a vacationer trap, but that doesn’t indicate it isn’t worth visiting!
When I was there I had a strawberry milkshake which was delicious. exploring the property and taking some pictures are absolutely some of the most touristy things to do in Pai.
13. visit Tham Lod Cave
The Tham Lod Cave is huge (more than 1,600m long and 50m high), with a visit here being one of the most common things to do in Pai – but for good reason. due to its sheer size, this cave is known as one of the most excellent in Thailand.
Inside you’ll find lots of limestone stalactite and stalagmite formations hanging from above (and some bats!), and considering that the Lang River flows through this cave, a portion of the cave is only easily accessible by bamboo boat. because of this, a guide is mandatory in buy to enter.
From Pai, it’s possible to visit Tham Lod Cave on a excursion or to go on your own with a scooter. Either way, the drive takes about 45 minutes. expect to pay about 600 Baht ($18) for a full-day excursion from Pai including the guide once at Tham Lod Cave.
If you want to go independently, you will still have to pay for a guide once at the cave. The price depends on your group size but expect to pay about 200 Baht ($6) per person for the cave guide. Tham Lod Cave is one of the top places to visit in Pai, don’t miss it!
14. Sai Ngam hot Springs
The Sai Ngam hot Springs is also known as the “Secret” hot Springs as they are a little outside of town and less developed than some of the other hot springs around Pai. but honestly, they are no secret and can be quite busy!
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