If you've been to Northern Thailand then you've probably heard of Pai. It's a small hippy town northwest of Chiang Mai towards the Burmese border on the beaten path. Only a three hour drive through windy hills and lush landscapes makes Pai the perfect overnight day trip from Chiang Mai.
*Warning must be able to ride a moped or be with someone who you can ride with because most of the activities are a bit outside of pai and you'll want to do the exploring on your own.
How to Get there:
Rent a moped in Chiang Mai and make the 3 hour journey from Chiang Mai through the jungle. The roads are windy so drive with care but man is it beautiful.
Where to Stay:
We stayed at Soi One Boutique Bedrooms and loved it. The location was perfection right in town, steps away from the night market/ walking street but tucked away that it was quiet to sleep. The rooms were big, comfortable, and clean. It's a great value. Check out more hotel options, prices, and reviews here.
Rent a Scooter
Rent a moped at one of the many moped rentals in town. Since you will be driving outside of Pai rent a moped with over 100 cc's, it will cost you 150 BAHT for 24 hours, which is about 4.50 $USD.
Mor Pang Waterfall
Head out to explore the Mor Pang Waterfall and get there before 11 am which is when some guided tours will arrive. The waterfall is a half hour moped ride on paved roads. Plug the Mor Pang Waterfall into your google maps and it will take you right to the entrance, there will also be signs. There are three tiers of waterfalls and its an easy hike to walk to all of them. You can swim in the pools in front of some of the waterfalls and even use the slippery rocks as a slide (check the deepness of the pool before you try this though).
Once you've explored all the waterfalls hop back on the moped and go for a short drive as its scenic with rice fields and panoramic views!
Lunch at Earth Tone
Head back towards town and eat lunch at Earth Tone. Located about a quarter mile outside of town across the street from the Maeyan Temple (the large White Buddha). Earth Tone is a restaurant and health shop that offers vegan and vegetarian food, natural products , raw- vegan- gluten free desserts, vegan ice- cream, fruit shakes, and kombucha. *They are closed on Saturdays so plan accordingly. The menu is large and oh so delicious, you won't be disappointed.
Maeyan Temple
Once you're done gorging yourself on delicious eats head up to the White Buddha Temple to see an overlook of Pai. Make sure you have a coverup or are dressed properly to climb the stairs to reach the top of the temple.
Hot Springs
Next, keep heading out of town and go to the Secret Hot Springs. It should be called the 'Not So' Secret Hot Springs as the secrets out. If you're not staying at the resort it costs 100 BAHT to use the facilities which include the hot springs and a large, inviting swimming pool. Relax and spend the rest of the afternoon hopping back and forth from the hot springs to the pool.
Night Market
Spend the evening walking up and down the night market sampling all the tasty street food vendors, do some shopping, and check out the new and used book store. There are dozens of food vendors selling all types of food made to order. I'm talking falafel's, pad thai, healthy vegetable and chicken wraps, fried sandwiches, fruit shakes, fresh donuts, and you name your flavor of waffles or bite size pancakes. If you crave it, theres probably someone there able to make it for you. Full yet? To wind down your day, grab a cocktail or beer at one of the bars that line the night market street to sink in and listen to live music.
If you love live music and an abudance of healthy foods then a trip to Pai is a MUST when visiting Thailand! Subscribe to www.IMJESSTRAVELING.com for more travel guides and tips.