Perhaps Thailand is a country known for its big cities, but we shouldn’t look down on small cities like Pai. This beautiful city is located in the valley of the Pai River, in a natural area with waterfalls, gorges and hot springs. It is a cozy and lively place with a pedestrian street full of food stalls and craft shops. The traditional Chinese village of Baan Santichon is nearby. After spending a few days relaxing in Pai, head to Chiang Rai to pick up the pace of life in a place known for its spectacular Wat Rong Khun, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong temples. The beautiful Singha Park is nearby. Read on to find out the best way to travel from Pai to Chiang Rai.
Nice mountain roads between Pai and Chiang Mai © Sirikunkrittaphuk / Shutterstock.com
Travel options from Pai to Chiang Rai
The distance in a straight line from Pai to Chiang Rai is not too long, because from one place to another it is only 180 kilometers. Unfortunately, the only way to travel in a straight line is by flight, but at the moment there are no flights connecting these cities. The regional airline Wisdom Airways operated daily flights from Pai to Chiang Mai until recently, but no longer operates this route. Still, Chiang Mai is 190 kilometers away from Chiang Rai, so this option wouldn’t help much either. For now, to get from Pai to Chiang Rai, you can choose between bus, van and taxi.
From Pai to Chiang Rai by bus
Greenbus between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
The road from Pai to Chiang Rai is just over 300 kilometers long, as it crosses mountains and valleys, and the sections are very narrow and winding. Therefore, traveling by bus is not advisable for people who tend to get dizzy as there are many bends and bumps along the way. If you don’t mind the road condition or spend so much time on the bus, you should know that there are no direct buses from Pai to Chiang Rai, but you have to take a bus to Chiang Mai and change to another bus to go to Chiang Rai.
While this is a completely cost-effective option, it lengthens the journey and forces you to buy two bus tickets instead of one. You have to pay attention to timetables to be able to travel without problems. You will need to leave Pai early enough to reach Chiang Mai so you can catch the next bus to Chiang Rai. In total, the journey from Pai to Chiang Rai takes about 8.5 hours. The distance from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai takes about 3.5 hours in total.
From Pai to Chiang Rai by van
Toyota vehicle commonly used as a van or minivan in Thailand © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
Traveling by bus from Pai to Chiang Rai may be the cheapest option, but due to the hassle of changing trains in Chiang Mai and buying two different tickets, it’s not an ideal option. Traveling by van from Pai to Chiang Rai may be better for several reasons. First of all, although it is more expensive, it is not excessive. Traveling by van is much cheaper than traveling by taxi. Second if you book a van through the website 12Go.asia, you can buy one ticket for the entire journey from Pai to Chiang Rai. This means you don’t have to worry about changing flights or buying more than one ticket to reach your destination. Thirdly, traveling by van on mountain roads is often more comfortable than by bus, because vans are smaller and corner easier, thus providing a more comfortable ride. Finally, don’t forget that thanks to the easier roads, it is faster to travel from Pai to Chiang Rai by van than by bus.
You can book your ticket at Terminal Green through the 12Go website, departing from Pai at 7:00 AM. The scheduled travel time to Chiang Rai is 7.5 hours, which suggests they may travel slower and with more care than other companies. With 12Go, you can get instant confirmation and refund when booking at Terminal Green.
From Pai to Chiang Rai by taxi
If the idea of traveling in a shared van or bus doesn’t convince you, the only option is to take a private taxi from Pai to Chiang Rai. When we say private taxi, we mean a company-operated taxi that allows you to book in advance for certain routes, such as from Pai to Chiang Rai, for a predetermined fixed fee. It’s not the same as a public taxi that you can take down the street at a price set by the meter.
Private taxis can be booked through 12Go. The main advantage of taking a taxi from Pai to Chiang Rai is that it is completely flexible. You can book a taxi according to your plans by choosing where it will pick you up and at what time, and it will take you to the place of your choice in the city of Chiang Rai.
The only downside to a private taxi is the price. This is undoubtedly the most expensive transport option from Pai to Chiang Rai. But we must not forget that you are paying for a completely private and personalized service. If you are traveling with a group of friends or family, you can book a van for nine passengers and split the cost between them all. This way the final price per person is more reasonable.
All in all, if you are looking for a cheap and practical way to get from Pai to Chiang Rai, we recommend choosing a shared van. However, if you don’t mind spending more for a more flexible pick-up and drop-off solution, a private taxi would be best.