Steeped in history, Chiang Mai is a fantastic city to experience Thai culture and traditions. After discovering this city, head north to the small town of Pai to enjoy some of the most amazing scenery in the country. Pai’s laid-back atmosphere has made it a popular destination with backpackers, but anyone who enjoys nature will love Pai. Popular with both domestic and western tourists, Pai continues to grow and there are more and more transportation options to get there.
What are the options to get from Chiang Mai to Pai?
Pai may be a small city, but being quite a popular destination, there are several transportation options to get from Chiang Mai to Pai. The road between the two cities is 150 kilometers (93 miles). Although it doesn’t look like much, keep in mind that the road winds between the mountains, and this entails a large number of bends. If you’ve already done a little research to travel from Chiang Mai to Pai, you may have read reviews from travelers who got dizzy or got scared on the way. We will discuss this in detail below, but we will explain that traveling by car is not the only option, as you can also fly from Chiang Mai to Pai by plane.
Road from Chiang Mai to Pai
Beautiful mountain roads between Chiang Mai and Pai © Sirikunkrittaphuk / Shutterstock.com
It is often said that the journey is part of the fun, but if we are talking about a long and winding road through the mountains, this saying may not apply. Some travelers have complained that van drivers drive like crazy and overtake around corners, scaring passengers and making them dizzy. Unfortunately, some drivers undeservedly defamed the road from Chiang Mai to Pai. Route 1095 (name of the road) is a very nice road that every traveler should be able to enjoy. Vans are the only option to reach Pai from Chiang Mai. You can also take a taxi, bus or rent a car or motorbike to go on your own.
From Chiang Mai to Pai by minivan
Prem Pacha minivans stop at a parking lot on the outskirts of Chiang Mai © jointstar / Shutterstock.com
Minivans have the advantage of being very cheap and often have more comfortable seats than public buses, as well as air conditioning. They have hourly departures all day, from 6:30am to 5:30pm, so it’s easy to find an option that fits your itinerary. The estimated time is 4 hours and 20 minutes, although if there are no traffic jams and the driver is driving a bit too fast, you can reach your destination in about 3 hours.
Vans traveling from Chiang Mai to Pai are operated by a company called Prem Pacha, although you can also find services operated by other companies. If you tend to get dizzy while traveling, it is strongly recommended that you take your medication before starting your trek through the mountains. The first part of the trip is on fairly straight roads, but as the altitude increases, the bends become more frequent. There are said to be 762 turns in total, so anyone can get dizzy. Sitting forward facing can relieve nausea.
From Chiang Mai to Pai by public bus
Public buses are the cheapest way to travel from Chiang Mai to Pai, but they are not very comfortable. These are quite old buses with hard seats, so it is recommended to bring a pillow if you have the opportunity. They also don’t have air conditioning and although you can expect a lot of heat, driving with the windows open through the mountains is quite a pleasant experience. Public buses take longer because they are slower and stop along the way, but if you’re not in a hurry, it’s a good option to take this route.
Expensive option: Taxi from Chiang Mai to Pai
Taxis waiting at Chiang Mai bus station. Not as easy to find here as in Bangkok © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
Another option is a taxi from Chiang Mai to Pai. Taking a taxi is great if you want to enjoy the scenery but don’t want to drive yourself. Of course, taxis are very expensive compared to a bus or van, but if you think of it as a private tour, it is certainly reasonably priced. The taxi can stop at any time and the drivers know the best attractions along the way.
Flights from Chiang Mai to Pai
Kan Airlines operates small propeller planes to Pai © Sudpoth Sirirattanasakul / Shutterstock.com
Although Pai is a small city, it has its own airport. Pai Airport is just 1 kilometer from the city, so it’s easy to get to from there. Kan Air is the only airline operating from Chiang Mai to Pai. It’s only a 25-minute flight, making it the quickest way to get there.
The downside is that flying to Pai is much more expensive than taking a bus or van, although it’s cheaper than a taxi, so technically flying isn’t the most expensive means of transport.
So what is the best way to travel from Chiang Mai to Pai? The choice depends in part on your preferences. If you want to get there as soon as possible, choose a plane. Although, as we mentioned earlier, the journey is part of the fun, and the landscapes that can be admired on the way from Chiang Mai to Pai are so spectacular that we recommend choosing a van. Also read our Pai to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai guides.