One of my favorite excursions from Chiang Mai is to the village of Pai. However, visiting in 2025 is nothing like visiting in 2016. Here’s my complete guide to Pai, including some important factors to keep in mind and some activities you can’t miss. Pai has changed enormously over the years, and my visit in 2024 was nothing like my first visit in 2016. Despite the town’s significant growth, the landscape is as beautiful as ever, and I would still highly recommend that everyone in Northern Thailand put Pai on their itinerary.
I’m a huge fan of Thailand and everything it has to offer. Even though things have changed recently there, I look forward to getting back as soon as I can. In the meanwhile, I’m sitting in Edinburgh going through my old photographs and gorging myself on as much Thai food as I can afford. If you manage to make it to northern Thailand before I do, these are the trips from Chiang Mai I’d recommend.
Although I’ve been on the road through three Christmases, this was the first time I spent it somewhere unique and special. Pai, Thailand. My brother arrived in Thailand…
If you like beautiful scenery, few tourists, a hippie culture and off-the-beaten-path attractions, Pai is the place for you. Hot springs, waterfalls, caves and Pai Canyon are just…