Staying in Pai, Mae Hong Son
A mountain valley town with hot springs, a canyon and a walking street. Where to stay in Pai, getting there from Chiang Mai and the best season.
Pai is a small town in a wide mountain valley in Mae Hong Son province, about three hours from Chiang Mai. Once a quiet Shan village, it is now one of northern Thailand’s best-known stops, with a relaxed, artsy atmosphere that attracts both young travellers and Thai tourists.
Where to stay
- In town, around the walking street and the Pai River, you are within walking distance of restaurants, bars and the evening market. It can be noisy at night.
- Across the river, reached by bamboo or concrete bridges, are quieter bungalows and small resorts.
- In the valley outside town, resorts among rice fields and hills offer views and calm, but you will need transport.
Things to do
Pai Canyon at sunset, the Tha Pai and Sai Ngam hot springs, Mo Paeng and Pam Bok waterfalls, the Chinese village of Santichon, the white Buddha of Wat Phra That Mae Yen and viewpoints such as Yun Lai. The Memorial Bridge dates from the Second World War.
Getting there
The road from Chiang Mai has hundreds of bends. Minivans make the trip several times a day; take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to it. Many travellers rent a car or motorbike to continue on the Mae Hong Son Loop.
When to go
November to February brings cool, misty mornings and is the peak season, especially around New Year. Air quality is often poor from February to April. The rainy season is green but can disrupt mountain roads.