My earlier put up was all about Pai, so this one could be all about attending to Pai from Chiangmai. Pai isn’t that removed from Chiangmai at round 146 km away. However the journey there takes nearly 2.5 to three hours because it includes driving via a whole lot of twists and turns with generally steep gradients of as much as 30°.
Route 1095 is a part of the route generally known as the Mae Hong Son Loop. This can be a round route of round 612 km that begins from Chiangmai, goes via Pai, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang earlier than ending again at Chiangmai. For this put up, it is going to be nearly getting from Chiangmai to Pai.
For myself, I rented a SUV because it was my first time going to Pai and I wasn’t positive concerning the street circumstances. Nevertheless, a traditional sedan automobile would just do tremendous for the journey. Loads of vacationers additionally lease scooters and motorbikes for the journey. The street circumstances are literally fairly good with correct asphalt roads and lane markings. Nevertheless, Thailand has the infamous fame of getting one of many world’s highest fatalities in visitors accidents (second place after South Africa). The principle risks could be motorists rushing/overtaking on the twisting roads and chopping head on into your lane when going spherical a few of the hairpin turns.
In case you don’t wish to danger driving/driving by your self, there are common bus providers that ply the route between Chiangmai and Pai. These bus providers are literally minivans which squeeze as many passengers as they’ll after which velocity via the quite a few bends at vomit inducing speeds. If multiple passenger begins throwing up within the cramped confines of a packed minivan, its going to be fairly insufferable.
If these activates the map makes your abdomen churn, then be warned there are 762 turns all through the entire journey (Yeah, somebody really counted). You possibly can fly to Pai from Chiangmai at one time, however the airport in Pai has been shutdown for years, so your solely choice is to go by land.
In addition to the a whole lot of twists and turns, there are a few fascinating stops alongside this part of the Mae Hong Son Loop which makes the journey a bit extra fascinating.
The Witch Cafe
If you’re a Halloween fan or like spooky stuff then that is the place for you. Its a espresso place and pit cease with a witch’s theme and decor.
This Witch Cafe type of marks the midway level the place the curves within the street grow to be extra like hairpin turns and the beginning of the steep climb up the mountains. To me it was a superb place to cease to relaxation and recharge my focus for the drive forward.
The Jet Aircraft Cafe
I got here throughout this place accidentally as I used to be doing a Google Map survey of the path to Pai. What’s a jet aircraft doing in the midst of nowhere at a street intersection?
Its referred to as the Air Diamond Café and its working out of a decommissioned Thai Airways Airbus A330. You will discover this place simply as its positioned on the intersection the place you flip west from Freeway 107 into Route 1095. It appears to be newly opened in 2021 and should have been standard then when no person may journey and if you happen to wanted to scratch your journey itch, you may come right here to relive the texture of air journey.
Though, this weblog put up solely covers a small part of the Mae Hong Son Loop, your entire route is likely one of the street journeys you must do if in case you have the time in Thailand. It ought to take you roughly per week to finish the loop, taking your time to benefit from the sights of every city alongside the route. Driving or driving gradual and regular is the important thing right here, and don’t rush.
