Are 5 days in Pai Enough?

5 days in Pai is more than enough time to do all of the activities listed in this post. With 5 days in Pai, not only can you do all of these activities, but also fill in your free time with stuff that isn’t mentioned here.

The question of whether 5 days in Pai is enough for you to do everything that you want to do is another matter entirely. I could have easily stayed here longer, but at the end of the day, there are only so many things you can justify spending money on in one location.

Pai is small in size, and because of this I was surprised with how many things you can do in Pai. Pound for pound, there is a lot of things to do in Pai compared to some larger towns.

What’s Pai All About?

If you’re here and you don’t know about Pai, I have a Pai travel guide that can help you understand where it is, how to get here, how to get around and more.

To give you the gist of it though without too much detail, Pai is a former hidden gem, that is not so hidden now. It is a popular place with hippies who like to think they’re off the beaten path.

But there is a whole lot to do here, and the change of pace from the south is so welcome. You will love it.

*Disclaimer

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Things to do With 5 Days in Pai

Pai is an outdoorsy sort of place. A lot of the attractions here are natural attractions, far more so than man made.

In this post we will have a look at the things that I was able to do with 5 days in Pai, and then at the bottom I will list some of the other activities available to you that I was unable to do, or it was the wrong season for.

Generally speaking, Pai has great locations for sunrises, sunsets, scooter and motorbike rides. It has hot springs, caves, canyons and also a pretty cool town with plenty to eat and drink.

It is sort of built around tourism these days, so there is good infrastructure in place, but it is still small enough to give it a sense of freedom.

Pai Canyon

What is it?

Pai canyon is a bunch of thin dusty trails along the ridges of the canyon walls. There are no railings, there is no shade, there are no man made lookout points. It is like a maze of these trails that jut off in a few directions and you take the path that suits you.

You will get dirty the more adventurous you get and you will need to climb up or down some pretty sketchy sections with your hands as well. It looks like Yoshi Valley from Mario Kart 64, minus the gigantic rolling egg and bridge.

How much does it cost?

Entry to the canyon is free. There are stalls out the front for eating lunch or buying drinks and snacks.

Opening Hours?

Whenever you feel like coming, it is open.

What do you do here?

Most people come for the sunset. The canyon is elevated with steep drops, the views are fantastic and the lookout point is completely up to you. The further you go into the network of ridges, the less people there will be.

How do you get here?

Ride your scooter south towards Chiang Mai, it will take roughly 10 minutes. It is about 7.5km from the town on your right hand side as you ride south. If you hit the WW2 memorial bridge then you have gone too far.

You will more than likely have a SIM card so pop it into Google Maps. Otherwise look out for the signage or the car park with all the food stalls.

Once you park the scooter there are some stairs you need to climb for 2 minutes to get to the actual canyon itself.

How long will I spend here?

If you come for sunset you might spend an hour and a half here. Come a bit before sunset to walk around and find a spot you like.

When to come?

Sunrise or sunset.

Do you recommend it?

Yes, it is one of the coolest places in Pai, but be careful on the trails as they aren’t properly maintained. If you’re not confident climbing a section then stay where you are or find another way around.

(Shot on the Sony A7R III using the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4).

Tham Lod Cave

What is it?

Tham Lod Cave is a pretty impressive cave system a little bit to the north of Pai. The caves are quite big, with the ceilings being over 25m high for the majority of the cave and with gigantic stalactite and stalagmite formations.

It is home to plenty of life, with a lot of bats and in the river that flows through there are hundreds of catfish. The cave system is 1.6km long and there are 3 different levels of tours offered depending on how much you want to see or spend.

Getting to the cave is half the fun if you enjoy riding. The mountain roads are some of the best on offer. The road quality is good the whole way and it is peppered with nice views into the valleys below.

How much does it cost?

Prices range from ฿150 for the 30 minute tour, to ฿450 for the 90 minute tour.

These costs can be split by up to 3 people, so it is really cheap and great value for money if you are in a group.

Opening Hours?

08:00 – 17:30

What do you do here?

There are 3 tours on offer. See the image below to see the tours, their pricing and the expected duration. To me, if you come all this way you may as well do the longest and most involved tour on offer. 

I personally did the longest tour on offer. It took 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.

Don’t expect the tour guides to be great, they barely speak any English and the extent of the “tour” is them walking around with a light trying to set the pace. Then they point at things that look like something and say “crocodile, crocodile” or “elephant’s head, elephant’s head”.

Take your own headlamp and then you can go at your own pace without needing their light all the time, stop and take photos wherever you want and they will wait. Don’t expect to learn about the caves or the life inside.

How do you get here?

Ride your scooter north of Pai. It took me an hour, it will probably take most people an hour and 15 minutes or so depending on if you stop at the lookout as you cross the mountain, or how confident you are on the scooter.

The ride in 50km, you will be on the 1095 highway for 40km before taking a right for the last 10km. Just follow the signs, they’re hard to miss. Alternatively, you should have a SIM card and use Google Maps if you’re unsure.

Look out for snakes, I had one lunge at me on the scooter in the area near the caves they can be active.

How long will I spend here?

Do the long tour, it is an hour if you move quickly. I can see some people taking an hour and a half if they take photos of everything but trust me, the best and most photogenic part is the cave entrance, and the portion of the trip that you are on the bamboo raft.

If you include the ride here and back, you’re looking at 4-5 hours set aside for this activity.

When to come?

I came early in the morning, which was good because I had the cave to myself, but it meant there was nobody to split costs with. I still think it was good value for money though even paying for the whole thing myself.

If you want to see the exodus of bats from the cave mouth you will need to come in the afternoon just before the sunset.

Do you recommend it?

Yes, the ride here and back just added to the fun. I’ll admit I was kind of bored of the cave after about 45 minutes, the best part is the short bamboo raft ride to a different mouth of the cave to the one you enter, and then back again on the way out.

It is so peaceful, with huge catfish in the water and bats overhead, very enjoyable.

Tham Lod Cave Video

(Shot on the Sony A7R III using the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4).

White Buddha / Phra That Mae Yen

What is it?

Phra That Mae Yen is more commonly referred to simply as “White Buddha”.

You will see this monument from almost anywhere in Pai, it sits glowing white to the east of town, facing west towards the sunset.

How much does it cost?

Entry is free.

Opening Hours?

06:00 – 18:00 but it is always open later as people watch the sunset.

What do you do here?

It is a religious site, so some people come here to pray, but the majority of people are tourists who come here to enjoy the views over Pai. Because it is a religious site it is expected that you wear clothes covering your shoulders and knees.

How do you get here?

The Monument lies only 2km east of town, it is walkable technically but ride your scooter to the car park. After you park you have about 350 steps left to get to the top. It can be a little tiring if you’re here during the heat of the day.

How long will I spend here?

I think people that come just before sunset will spend about 1 hour at the top, watching the sunset and then seeing the colours that appear in the sky just afterwards.

When to come?

Sunset.

Do you recommend it?

Yes, it is a good view. I unfortunately came in burning season, but even then the sunset had a nice orange glow to it. It just meant the town below was much less visible.

(Shot on the Sony A7R III using the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6).

Yun Lai Viewpoint

What is it?

Yun Lai viewpoint is one of the highest elevations around the town of Pai. Instead of being a sunset location, it faces east which makes it an ideal spot to go and watch the sunrise over the mountains.

How much does it cost?

Entry is ฿20, which is incredibly cheap for such a nice place.

Opening Hours?

05:00 – 18:00

They will be open for sunrise, put it that way. Some people get there quite early.

What do you do here?

You can have some food and hot drinks at the small cafe up the top, they do hot teas and things for visitors because it can be very cold in the morning (by Southeast Asia standards).

Then you walk around, it is a large area and well kept. Take photos, set up your camera if you want a time-lapse and wait. Enjoy the sunrise and then head off to enjoy the rest of your day from there.

How do you get here?

Yun Lai viewpoint is about a 15 minute scooter ride to the west of Pai. The ride is only 6km but there is obviously elevation involved. As you get closer it will become steeper.

You don’t need a powerful scooter, a 110cc is fine, the road is in good condition and paved the entire way. Then you park in the car park and walk roughly 50m from there to the top. 

How long will I spend here?

You could spend 1 hour here. Watching the sunrise, drinking a hot drink and relaxing.

When to come?

Early, depending on the time of the sunrise on that given day, allow for at least 20 minutes before then in case you make a wrong turn or want to set up your camera. It is a nice quiet spot to walk around.

Do you recommend it?

Yes, the cost is essentially nothing.

Be warned that the views in the burning season (Feb – Apr) will not be as good. This does change day to day though and I still enjoyed it.

(Shot with the DJI Mavic 2 Pro using PolarPro filters).

WW2 Memorial Bridge

What is it?

The bridge was first built by the villagers of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai under order of the Japanese army in 1941 to help the Japanese plan an attack on Burma (Myanmar), which was under British rule at the time.

When the war ended however the Japanese burnt down the bridge as they retreated. The villagers rebuilt the bridge as it was more convenient than crossing by boat all the time.

The bridge was damaged by a major flood in 1973, and then once more was rebuilt, this time with steel for strength.

It is no longer used for transporting goods, as it sits right besides a more modern concrete bridge that crosses the river only 10 metres away. This more modern bridge is the road into and out of Pai, with the historical bridge remaining now only as a tourist attraction.

How much does it cost?

Entry is free, you can walk along the bridge and look down at the river below.

Opening Hours?

The bridge is always open, there are no gates or restrictions on entry.

What do you do here?

Honetly, not a whole lot. During the wet season when the river is flowing it will make for a more impressive setting. It is a nice place to grab a few snaps on your way south to other attractions like the land split or the bamboo bridge.

You will be heading in that direction already and only need to continue and extra minute or two to reach the bridge.

How do you get here?

Ride your scooter south out of town, the bridge itself is right next to the bridge that you will ride across to cross the Pai river. It is 10km from the centre of town and will take 12 minutes on the scooter.

How long will I spend here?

Less than 30 minutes. Maybe longer if you want to fly your drone around or something.

When to come?

The bridge can be done at any time. Come here as a part of your day when you go to Pai canyon, the land split, Pam Bok waterfall or any of the other activities south of town.

Do you recommend it?

It’s ok, for 20 minutes of your day and a free activity. It won’t be overly memorable for you in the grand scheme of things but it’s right next to everything else and there’s no real reason not to do it.

(Shot on the Sony A7R III using the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6).

Sai Ngam Hot Springs

What is it?

Natural hot springs that are about 35°C.

This is one of only 3 hot springs in the area that are safe for humans to swim in.

How much does it cost?

Entry here, if you’re riding a scooter is ฿240 total.

฿200 for entry to the area that the hot springs are in, ฿20 per scooter and ฿20 for the hot springs lockers and toilets usage.

Opening Hours?

08:00 – 18:00

What do you do here?

Just relax in the hot springs, the water is warm, but just cooler than body temperature so eventually you might get cold. I was in there for 30 minutes with no issues though.

How do you get here?

Ride north out of town for 12km on road 1095 and then there will be a right hand turn onto the road that leads to the hot springs. This road will have a boom gate and a booth where you will be charged ฿220 for entry on a scooter.

After this it is a 4km ride to the hot springs themselves where you can park up and then ฿20 to use the lockers and toilets at the hot springs.

You won’t miss it as it is clearly sign posted as you are driving along the main road.

How long will I spend here?

1 hour in the water.

When to come?

Come early to avoid crowds. You can have the whole place to yourself if you come early.

After 10:00 or thereabouts you are likely to be sharing the hot springs with others. For me it was 11 Spanish people who rocked up and started speaking loudly and ruining the atmosphere, then as I was leaving another 4 tourists rocked up as well.

Do you recommend it?

It is pricey, so it is up to you if you want to relax in the hot springs then go early. I would have been annoyed to pay ฿240 for the hot springs save for the fact I had them mostly to myself.

I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it, it is just a bit over priced for tourists, they gouge you for being a foreigner.

(Shot on the Sony A7R III using the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4).

Pam Bok Waterfall

What is it?

A waterfall, supposedly.

How much does it cost?

฿40

Opening Hours?

Although the waterfall is open all the time, there are charges. I am unsure what hours the gate is manned though.

What do you do here?

It is a swim spot for people to cool off at.

How do you get here?

Ride south out of town towards the WW2 memorial bridge and the Pai canyon. After 4km riding south there is a righ hand turn that leads to Pam Bok Waterfall, Bamboo Bridge, and Pai Land Split.

Follow the signs for either of these 3 attractions as they are all going to the same spot more or less. After the turn off it is 4km to Pam Bok Waterfall.

How long will I spend here?

1 hour maximum.

When to come?

During the rainy season only: June – November.

Do you recommend it?

No. Not in the dry season anyway.

Waste of time, not worth ฿40, no water flow means the water is dirty.

Even in the wet season it is not super impressive, but would at least be worth the ฿40 entry fee. If you are going elsewhere in Thailand like Khao Sok National Park, or even out to Chiang Rai, then you can comfortably give this a miss.

Pai Land Split

What is it?

A split in the land formed by an earth quake in 2008. This isn’t a massive canyon or anything, but there is a walking path around and then through the split in the land that you can take.

How much does it cost?

Entry is free, but you make donations for things if you sit down and eat especially, but also if you want to be nice.

Opening Hours?

09:00 – 17:00

What do you do here?

When you enter you will be offered snacks and drinks from the local farmer who owns the property. It is all stuff off his own farm, including a nice rosella juice. Of course you don’t need to accept this stuff, you can go straight to the walk.

The walk itself will only take about 20 minutes to complete the loop and stop for some quick photos as you go. It is not a challenging hike or anything, more of a pathway around the farm and through the split in the land.

How do you get here?

Taking the road out south of town, there will be a turn on your right hand side after 4km. There will be signage for: bamboo bridge, land split, and pam bok waterfall. All three activities are along this one turn off.

After you make the right hand turn, the land split will be the first of the three activities that you come across, about 1.5km in from the main road. You can do it now, or go to the others and do it on the way back out to the main road. 

How long will I spend here?

30 minutes.

When to come?

It is up to you, come early to avoid the heat of the day.

Do you recommend it?

I think it is one of those things that you can’t really regret, because it is so cheap and the owner is so nice. This isn’t going to make or break anyone’s holiday. Think of it more as a pleasant way to kill 30 minutes rather than a “must see activity”.

Summary

So there you have some great, and not so great activities available to you with 5 days in Pai. This isn’t an extensive list of all the things to do in Pai but it is the vast majority of the best activities in Pai.

Pai offers a lot of outdoors beauty, the sunsets in particular are great here. Pai has some of the best roads around for those who want to go an an adventure with a rented motorbike or even a scooter.

Other Activities to do With 5 Days in Pai

There are a number of other things to do in Pai that I haven’t yet written about that I will briefly cover here just so that you are aware of them. There are three different locations for hot springs close to town that are cool enough for people to swim in which will be mentioned below.

Bamboo Bridge

These bamboo bridges make for an incredible place to visit, with a nice scenic walk over the rice fields on the bamboo bridge providing great photo opportunities and a relaxed atmosphere.

฿30 entry fee is extremely good for the area, not overpriced like the hot spring listed below. Unfortunately for me I came here in the burning season, at the peak of the dry season and was therefore met with a sea of dead grass.

Not quite the same as you will see in Google images. So if you’re here at the right time of year definitely check this out.

Tha Pai Hot Springs

Reviews show a lot of disappointed customers. ฿300 entry fee for some smaller, poorly kept hot springs just to the south of town. That is why I didn’t bother. I had to make my choice of the three, and I chose to try Sai Ngam Hot Springs.

Tha Pai Hot Springs Spa Resort

This is different to the hot springs mentioned above! This place is a spa resort, they also have accommodation, but you can simply pay ฿100 to use the hot springs and the swimming pool.

This way you can swap from the hot water to the cold and vice versa, this is good value for money but I never got around to coming here, hence I didn’t write about it at length. Some Google Reviews are for the accommodation, but those reviewing the ฿100 entry for the springs are positive.

Mo Paeng Waterfall

Avoid this like the plague in dry season, they still charge ฿100 entry and they recycle the water through with pumps. People report that it is dirty and regret going in the dry season.

In the wet season it would be fresh water. These waterfalls create a slide on the smooth rocks that you can go down. The water is very cold though.

The 1 Activity I Regret Not Doing

I don’t regret not doing it per se, but the Bamboo Bridge would be something that I would like to do if the timing was right. I did ride out to it, I stopped and had a drink at the bar, but as I looked out over the dead grass I decided it wasn’t worth the heat of the middle of the day given the conditions.

In a future trip to Pai, I will try time it for the very beginning of the dry season when the fields are lush and green.

A Map Showing The Activities Locations

This map should help visualise the layout of the area. As you can see there are things to do all around Pai. To give you a sense of scale, Tham Lod Cave is 50km away by road. Most of the best things to do in Pai can be reached in under 15 minutes.

That’s it folks. There’s some of the best things to do in Pai. A lot of people will get to Pai and decide to stay longer, it has a different pace than the rest of Thailand. Either way, I’ve never met anyone who regretted going there.

Until next time!

Yours sensually,

The Browne Town.