Getting Around Pai
No Train, No Metro — But There's a Scooter

A small automatic scooter rents for about ฿100–150 a day, with lots of shops around town and the Walking Street — the more days you rent, the more you can haggle. A 125–150cc bike handles the climbs around Pai fine. Leave a deposit or a passport copy, and return it with as much fuel as you took.

Tip: before you ride off, photograph any existing scratches so you're not charged for damage you didn't cause. Check the lights, horn and tyres, and test the brakes in the yard before you hit the road.

Straight up: the roads around Pai have loose gravel, steep village climbs and plenty of curves. Inexperienced riders fall and graze themselves so often it has a nickname — the "Pai tattoo" (road-rash from a spill). The hard rules: wear a helmet every time, never ride drunk, and slow right down in the rain, because the mountain roads turn slippery.

Most important of all: if you've never ridden a motorbike, or you're not confident, don't force it. Pai's roads are not the place to learn. A songthaew, a chartered car or a day tour is far safer and gets you to the same sights. It might cost a bit more, but it's well worth it for the peace of mind.

A chartered songthaew is the main option for non-riders. Use it for the nearer sights such as Pai Canyon and the Memorial Bridge, or charter one up to Santichon and the hot springs. The price depends on distance and the number of people, so agree the fare before you get in, every time.

The easiest way is to have your accommodation arrange the ride, since local drivers know the spots and the standard fares. With a few people splitting it, it works out well, and you avoid the risk of riding the mountain roads yourself.

A tour is the comfortable choice for non-riders. Pai town tours usually bundle Pai Canyon, the Memorial Bridge, Santichon, the Yun Lai viewpoint, a waterfall and the hot springs into one day, with a car and driver covering it all so you don't have to think about routes — handy if you're short on time or just want an easy day.

There are also tours to spots further out such as Pang Ung, Ban Rak Thai and Tham Lod Cave in Mae Hong Son, plus the Mae Hong Son loop. Book ahead and pay with peace of mind. See the outlying sights in our day trips from Pai.

Up front: Pai has no reliable Grab service the way Bangkok or Chiang Mai does. A car might occasionally turn up, but you can't count on it and there's often no driver to accept the ride. Don't plan your travel around Grab in Pai.

What actually works is renting a motorbike, walking around town, or hiring a songthaew or chartered car — and having your accommodation arrange a ride when you need to reach somewhere further out. Planning your transport ahead is much less stressful.

To be clear: Pai has no train and no scheduled flights. Most people arrive by shared minivan from Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Station over Route 1095, with its roughly 762 curves, taking about 3 hours for around ฿150–200 per person, leaving roughly hourly. If you get carsick easily, sit up front and take a travel-sickness tablet.

Coming from Bangkok, the usual route is to take a train or flight to Chiang Mai first, then transfer to the Pai minivan, since the nearest railway to Pai is in Chiang Mai. See every way to reach Pai in our getting to Pai guide.