The small mountain city of Pai is kind of well-known within the backpacker group and has been an everyday cease over for hippie vacationers plying Thailand’s north. I made a decision to make a visit to Pai once I visited Chiangmai this yr to see what the fuss was about it.
Pai is round 146 km from Chiangmai and requires nearly 3 hours of driving up winding and steep roads. The street to Pai is worthy of it’s personal weblog put up and I shall put up it up later. For this put up, I’ll simply contact on the sights that you could find in Pai and it’s environment.
The City
Pai lies on the banks of the Pai River and appears to get its identify from it. The city itself is unfold out over a valley and surrounded by mountains. With a small inhabitants of two,284 (2006 information) primarily descended from Shan tribes out of Myanmar, the tradition right here is kind of totally different from what you will see in Chiangmai. From its former farming group days, Pai now depends primarily on tourism with many of the city’s inhabitants serving the vacationer greenback (or baht).
The Pai River from which Pai will get its identify I assume. There’s a small bamboo bridge which connects some visitor homes to the primary strolling avenue space in order that guests don’t need to make a giant detour.Regardless of its flimsy look, this bamboo bridge has a metal body beneath so it’s truly fairly sturdy and a everlasting construction.Sure, you possibly can go tubing within the Pai River, though I don’t know the place these 2 ended up at.A waterwheel made for vacationers. On the left are visitor homes. One of many tubers received caught on the waterwheel and began screaming up a ruckus.Upstream of the Pai River which comes from the upper mountain vary.The streets in Pai are often quiet and empty throughout the day because of the warmth. You can see many small retailers, eating places, guesthouses and boutique lodges alongside the streets.The primary attraction on the town is the strolling avenue or night time market which comes alive very night. You can see all types of stalls promoting avenue meals and knick knacks. My go to occurred to coincide with the Loy Krathong Competition, and the city’s people truly had a grand parade on my first night time. For a small mountain city, the parade was actually grand. I assume everybody was glad that Covid was roughly over and vacationers had been again.An ethnic dance carried out by the Shan individuals. I’m undecided what animal that is imagined to symbolize however individuals had been providing cash to it.In addition to the Shan individuals, I additionally observed a sizeable Muslim group who had been behind most of the avenue stalls.
They even had a small mosque for the Muslims alongside the primary strolling avenue.
I’d say this was my favorite avenue meals stall, and I ended up shopping for supper from them throughout my 2 nights keep.Pai additionally has its seedy aspect. From its hippie beginnings and now with the legalization of medical hashish in Thailand, weed joints are fairly widespread regardless of it being unlawful.
White Buddha on the Hill (Wat Phra That Mae Yen)
To start with, I ought to level out that you will want some type of motorized transport to go to the assorted sights round Pai effectively. I did see some vacationers mountain climbing or biking alongside the roads. Though I wouldn’t suggest it as mid day temperatures can go as much as greater than 30°C, and you will want to be a Tour de France champ to cycle a few of the steep slopes and unpaved roads.
One of many closest sights to Pai is the large white Buddha on a hill simply exterior city. You can stroll or cycle there, however most vacationers hire motorbikes or automobiles, or get a taxi service from the city middle.
To get to the white Buddha, you will want to come back to the bottom of the hill the place you could find this large stairs and the ticket workplace. I don’t keep in mind paying any charge, however the individuals on the workplace would verify in case you are dressed appropriately to go to the Buddha.Nagas guard the doorway on either side. Its a brief climb to the highest the place the white Buddha sits.On the high is the large white Buddha statue. Its seen higher days with elements of the concrete cracked and fallen off. Having fun with some solitude earlier than the vacationer crowd is available in to observe sundown.The white Buddha is a good place to observe sundown because it faces west and overlooks Pai city.
The following 3 locations are alongside the street that results in Pai from Chiangmai. You’ll in all probability go them alongside the best way when coming into Pai. As a consequence of their proximity to one another, you could possibly attempt to see them on the similar time.
Memorial Bridge
This can be a metal bridge that crosses the Pai River exterior of city. It dates again to World Struggle 2 when the Japanese military needed to determine a route from Thailand to assault Burma which was beneath British colonial rule then. The bridge was inbuilt 1941 with the assistance of elephants dragging timber and villagers compelled to work on it. The unique bridge was made from wooden and was burnt down by the Japanese after they left after the warfare. The villagers rebuilt the wood bridge but it surely was washed away throughout a flood and a metal bridge was erected in 1976. That is the one which we see immediately.
The Memorial metal truss bridge beside the extra fashionable concrete bridge which is utilized by vehicular site visitors. The Memorial Bridge is principally utilized by vacationers to view the Pai River.
Tha Pai Scorching Spring
Regardless of it being a non volcanic area, there are a number of scorching springs positioned round Pai. Not removed from the Memorial Bridge is Tha Pai Scorching Spring. This is among the largest scorching springs in Pai. The doorway charge is 300 baht for foreigners however you possibly can keep for so long as you want.
There are a selection of scorching spring swimming pools the place you possibly can soak your self. The swimming pools increased up are hotter than these on the decrease degree. The supply of the new spring comes from these pure springs the place scorching water bubbles up from the bottom.On the supply, the water temperature is round 80°C. I ponder how the grass remains to be rising across the scorching water.
Even the timber and their roots are surviving the new water with out being cooked.
Pai Canyon
That is in all probability the preferred attraction in Pai, drawing hordes of vacationers each night to catch sundown right here. Though its referred to as a canyon, its extra like sandstone cliffs which were eroded away.
Pai Canyon consists of sandstone ridgelines that are linked collectively by slim and steep paths.A few of these paths are actually slim with close to vertical drops on either side. I do assume its form of harmful with none security obstacles to stop vacationers from falling off. The sandstone can be fairly unstable and crumbles beneath your toes. That didn’t cease most individuals from crossing anyway.If you’re courageous sufficient to cross a few of these slim and steep paths you could find some unimaginable surroundings all to your self.The primary attraction that everybody comes right here is to catch sundown. Nevertheless, I believe its overrated due to the crowds and would suggest catching sundown on the White Buddha as a substitute.I got here right here once more within the early morning and there have been no crowds of vacationers. The morning mists additionally gave an ethereal really feel to the place.
The following 2 locations are positioned on the west aspect of Pai and you could possibly go to them at one go. Nevertheless, the street resulting in them is admittedly steep and bumpy at some locations. So you need to get some good wheels to make the journey.
Pambok Waterfall
That is truly a small waterfall, however its form of spectacular as you need to undergo a small ravine to get to it. Plainly they’ve additionally raised the entry charge to see the waterfall, which now prices 200 baht per particular person.
The path that results in the ravine the place you will see Pambok Waterfall. Its a brief stroll and you need to see the waterfall after 5 minutes.
The outflow of the waterfall as I headed additional up the path.
The waterfall flows down from round 10m above into this ravine forming a small pool of calm water the place you possibly can swim or soak your self.The mouth of the ravine the place I got here in from. The realm is kind of small and its an excellent factor this place just isn’t that accessible in any other case it could have been overcrowded.
Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
Now that is truly a manufactured vacationer attraction, however its a phenomenal one. The bamboo bridge is a protracted wood walkway raised above paddy fields. It runs for nearly 1 km and has a number of pavilions for enjoyable in. You need to drive additional in from Pambok Waterfall going via some steep and unpaved roads to get to it.
The entry street to Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge is thru this slim wood bridge and in the direction of the paddy fields.A really good welcome signal and a ticket sales space the place you acquire entry for the very reasonably priced worth of 30 baht.The wood walkway is made from bamboo strips, therefore the identify. It splits in numerous instructions, some resulting in a a few cafes and video games space. However the primary path continues additional into the paddy fields.There are additionally some pavilions the place you possibly can take cowl from the mid day Solar. I discovered that the patterns of paddy fields and the bamboo walkway makes for a really attention-grabbing aerial picture.Whereas resting at one of many pavilions, I observed some employees threshing the stalks of rice grains.Proceed alongside the walkway and also you’ll discover some spots that are made for Instagrammers.Paddy fields cowl the valley ground across the bamboo bridge space.On the finish of the bamboo walkway is that this temple hidden within the timber. It’s nothing spectacular however you’ll need to stroll nearly 1 km one technique to get right here.Strolling again to the doorway, I discovered this moderately good view of the bamboo walkway and a really good pavilion.
Santichon Village (山地村)
On the northwestern finish of Pai is Santichon Village. The historical past of this village begins from the overthrow of Basic Chiang KaiShek by Mao ZeDong and the communists in China. Members of the Republican military in Yunnan fled to Pai and settled right here. Over time, they’ve inter married with the locals however nonetheless maintaining their Yunnan tradition. They’ve since given up their battle with communist China and traded their weapons for tourism as a substitute,
The doorway to Santichon Village is over the bridge and thru the Chinese language type gate.Retailers line the primary avenue resulting in the village. It’s beginning to look very touristy.
The signal says there’s even a church right here however I couldn’t discover it.
A part of the village appears to be transformed into some form of theme park with mud homes become retailers.There’s Yun Lai Viewpoint halfway up on the hill which I’ll contact on later.They even constructed a duplicate of the Nice Wall of China behind the village.I had my lunch right here, making an attempt out their well-known Yunnan type pig trotters and oolong tea.
Santichon Village is form of attention-grabbing to go to if you recognize the historical past of the way it received right here. In any other case, it could look like a cheesy theme park capitalizing on historical past. The villagers nonetheless preserve their Chinese language tradition like their meals, and I discovered that I might converse with them in Mandarin which made communication a lot simpler when ordering my lunch and discovering out details about the village.
Yun Lai Viewpoint (云来定)
If you wish to discover the perfect place in Pai to catch the dawn, that is it. It’s a small hill overlooking Santichon Village and is run by the villagers. It’s very touristy however very good however.
I got here right here within the afternoon to recce the route since I’d be driving right here in the dead of night earlier than dawn on the following day. This path leads as much as the highest of the hill the place you need to pay 20 baht to an outdated man to enter.They needed to make this spot a romantic one for the lovers and {couples} to take their photographs.The lone tree on the high of the hill has even grow to be a wishing tree. Guests can buy tokens based mostly on what they want for; love or cash.You possibly can see the city of Pai within the valley under and the White Buddha in the gap on the mountain aspect.
To view the dawn, you would need to come right here very early within the morning. For me it was 4.30 am because the dawn was round 5.30 am. Nevertheless, the villagers don’t enable outsiders to drive up the hill in the dead of night and through peak season because the street is admittedly slim and a method. They might ferry guests on pickup vans to the highest for a charge. You can e-book the entire truck for a 2 method switch which value me 300 baht as I didn’t need to wait, or watch for extra guests to fill the truck and pay on a per head foundation.
I managed to catch the “Sea of Clouds” throughout that day’s dawn. The lights of Santichon Village might be seen under. That purple patch of sunshine is from the lanterns alongside the entry bridge into the village.
A brand new day begins because the Solar rises over the mountains.A chicken’s eye view of Yun Lai Viewpoint. The morning mist appears like a sea of clouds protecting the valley under. Someplace within the mist is Pai.
You possibly can go to Santichon Village after watching dawn at Yun Lai Viewpoint. The village opens very early within the morning to cater to vacationers catching the dawn.
