Dodge the City Stress in the Pai Valley

A mere four hours by bus from Chiang Mai, Pai Thailand is a quiet, relaxed little town nestled in a stunning valley. It is a favorite with both Thai and foreign visitors trying to escape from the urban jungle. There are quite a few charming old Thai style buildings in Pai and also a few guesthouses that aresimply bamboo bungalows – perfect for those who are tired of cement walls.

Like many prior visitors you might fall in love with Pai Thailand the second you arrive the town. Quite a few of these visitors had intended to come for the weekend or a week, but ended up staying in Pai for years! There is definitely some magic to the town that puts visitors under its spell and causes them to remain.

Getting to the Pai Valley and Getting Around the Pai Valley

It’s possible to take the orange public bus or the private van from Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai. Careful about the mini-vans however; quite a few of these drivers believe they are rally racers. It’s a bad idea to indulge in a heavy breakfast prior to your trip! But this journey will take you through many winding and twisting roads, passing through stunning views of the mountains. In and around Pai town, you can stroll about, bicycle or rent a motorbike.

Entertain Yourself in Pai

The temple called Wat Mae Yen is a fast and easy stroll from the center of town. The temple can be found at the top of a little hill and after you arrive you’ll be treated to a splendid view of Pai as well as the nearby mountains and bright green rice paddies below you.

A bit further afield you can find the Mo Pang Falls where a refreshing dip or exciting water slide is possible even in the dry season. You should also take the time to stop by Further away are Mo Pang Waterfall where you can cool off or even water slide all yaer long. Worth a look too is the Pai Canyon, located on the road coming into Pai Town Thailand from Chiang Mai. A short climb up the hill and you'll have a wonderful view of the Pai valley and mountains. This is a great destination to watch the sunset as it sinks behind the mountains. Both destinations are best reached by motorbike.

Elephant rides and river rafting are other popular tourist entertainments in Pai Town Thailand. Most of the elephant safaris offer riding bare back on the elephants either through the river or jungle or both. If you choose the river, be careful to get wet since part of the program is a rodeo ride on the elephant! For rafting, you can enjoy a 2 day trip on the Pai River rapids.

Finally, you can do what quite a few other tourists do and that is quite simply nothing. Grab a seat at a local café and sip some local coffee or Chai tea and gaze at the people passing by as you fall into the charming spell of Pai Town Thailand. Keep in mind that recent growth has seen the town lose some of its charm so you may want to visit sooner rather than later.

If you are interested in learning more about Pai Valley then take a look at the authors website where he covers not only Pai, but all areas of this astounding country called Thailand.