Don’t miss this one! 👀 💁♀️ 👇👇
Some places linger in your heart long before you’ve said goodbye — cities that make parting feel like leaving a piece of yourself behind.
For me, Pai was one of them.
I found myself missing Pai even before I’d left — it’s one of those places you know you’ll come back to.
Years ago, I heard a friend mention Pai, a little town up in northern Thailand that’s especially loved by backpackers and hippie types. Back then, I wasn’t interested at all. I didn’t care much for the whole hippie scene and ended up overlooking a place that turned out to be full of charm.
Beyond the hippie vibe, Pai surprised me with its peaceful rhythm, stunning natural scenery, and a kind of freedom I didn’t realize I was craving.
After returning to Chiang Mai, I couldn’t get Pai out of my head. Just a few days later, while chatting with a woman I’d just met, I found myself recommending Pai to her, completely unprompted. That’s the kind of place it is — the kind you want to share.
Getting to Pai from Chiang Mai is pretty straightforward. Minivans are basically the only option when it comes to public transportation.
The road between the two is packed with hills and sharp curves — 762 of them, actually. It’s far too winding for big tour buses. On my trips there and back, I didn’t spot a single one. The only large vehicles I saw were trucks hauling fruits, vegetables, and other supplies.For context, the distance between Chiang Mai and Pai is kind of like going from Taipei to Taichung ( two cities in Taiwan; Taipei is the capital). Technically, you could do it as a one-day trip — but that’s kind of a waste, honestly. If you can, stay at least 3 days and 2 nights. And if you’re doing a short trip, I definitely recommend buying your return ticket in advance, especially if you’re traveling on a weekend.
How to get from Chiang Mai to Pai – Transportation options
1. Minivan
🚐 Buy on-site
The departure point in Chiang Mai is at Chiang Mai Arcade 2.
If you’re taking a Bolt/Grab ride there, you can ask the driver to drive inside and stop at the location marked in the image below. You’ll find the AVIA ticket counter there.
📍Chiang Mai Bus Station (Chiang Mai Arcade 2): ⚝ Click here to view on Google Maps ⚝ (It’s also recommended to check the street view for reference.)
The Pai bus station is located on the main night market street. If your schedule is fixed, it’s a good idea to buy your return ticket to Chiang Mai when you arrive in Pai.
📍 Pai Bus Station: ⚝ Click here to view on Google Maps ⚝
🚐 Online Booking Guide (Chinese-English) ➡︎ Book Online in Advance (Seat Selection Available)
Originally, I planned to buy the ticket from Chiang Mai to Pai on-site, but after learning that online booking allows me to choose the seat next to the driver, I decided to book it online instead. Seat selection requires a small additional fee. The total cost was around 200 Baht ( 6 USD ).
1. Select the English version on the left side.
2. Choose departure and arrival stations, travel date, and number of passengers.
3. Select date and time.
4. Select your seat.
If you always get carsick, the seat next to the driver has the best view and the most legroom, which may help reduce motion sickness. 😉 ( I prefer this seat )
5. Click on the seat to select it.
6. Reminder: The confirmation email may go to your spam/junk folder. ( recommend to use Gmail )
7. Choose your payment method.
8. Payment successful.
After completing the booking, you will be notified that the confirmation email might go to your spam folder.
If you do not receive the confirmation email, you can contact them at the following email address and provide your Booking ID:
In my case, after several email exchanges, I still didn’t receive the confirmation. Eventually, they sent me a screenshot of the Thai version of the confirmation via email.
At the station, simply provide your English name. They have a list to verify bookings.
The Booking ID is just for backup. It’s recommended to have the confirmation email ready, in case they cannot find your booking information on site.
2. Ride a motorbike
Riding takes around 3 hours, but with stops along the way, it usually takes a little over 3 hours to reach Pai.
Personally, I’d recommend avoiding motorbike rides during the rainy season (mid-April to late October) if possible.
If you’re planning to go between late October and early April (Thailand’s cooler, drier season), it’s still a good idea to check the mountain weather conditions before your trip — especially if it has rained recently or there’s been flooding. Heavy rain can cause landslides and make the roads pretty dangerous.
For safety reasons, taking a minivan is still the option I’d recommend.
3. Private Car
Hire a private car for the trip.
If you’re heading back on a weekend, it’s a good idea to buy your ticket the day before.
On my last day in Pai, I didn’t want to rush to catch the bus, so I had a leisurely lunch before heading back to the hotel to grab my bags. I took my time getting to the bus station.
However, as I was waiting in line to buy a ticket, a Thai woman struck up a conversation with me. Her English wasn’t great, but another Thai tourist helped translate. She said the buses were full for the day but that the woman could drive me back to Chiang Mai for 500 baht. My radar immediately went up ( I wanted to avoid being scammed ), so I politely declined and told her I’d check with the ticket seller.
When I got to the counter, it turned out the buses were indeed full for the day. This was a total mess, and I started wondering if I’d need to change my plans. I asked the ticket seller if I could buy a ticket for the day and wait for no-shows, but she said I’d need to have a specific time. I asked her about tomorrow, and she said any time was fine.
I hesitated at the counter for a moment and told her I needed to think about it. I decided to go ask the driver.
Luckily, there were two minivans with seats next to the driver available. One of the drivers waved me over, indicating I could buy a ticket at the counter and then board.
So, I rushed back to the counter, stood in line again, and bought my ticket. While I was waiting, an elderly woman with luggage spoke to one of the drivers — probably asking to change her departure time. The other driver waved me over and told me I could buy my ticket now and get on the bus.
In the end, I managed to catch the bus. The other driver, the one who had told me to buy my ticket first, seemed to know a little Cantonese. When we bumped into each other at the rest stop on the road back to Chiang Mai, he asked where I was from. I told him Taiwan, and he asked in Cantonese if I understood it. I responded, with my very broken Cantonese, that I understood a little.😂
Looking back, I couldn’t help but wonder if the woman who talked to me in line and the elderly woman in the waiting area were part of a scheme. Maybe they had bought tickets the day before, leaving no tickets available for the rest of us. Then, they could try to lure tourists like me into paying for a ride with one of them. Even though Pai feels much more laid-back compared to other places, the encounter with the ticket-selling woman definitely made me suspicious.
🔎 Recommended reading：
Chiang Mai to Pai Q&A
Where is the departure point in Chiang Mai?
The departure point in Chiang Mai is at Chiang Mai Arcade2.
⚝ Click here for the Google Maps ⚝
( I also recommend checking out the street view for a better idea ).
Where is the drop-off point in Pai for the minivan?
The minivan departs and drops off at Pai Bus Station.
⚝ Click here for the Google Maps ⚝
If you’ve already confirmed your return time to Chiang Mai and it’s a weekend, buying your ticket in advance is best.
How long is the journey?
The ride takes about 3.5 hours.
How early should I book my ticket?
If your schedule isn’t tight, you can usually buy tickets on the same day. But if you want to pick your seat, I recommend booking at least a week ahead.
I highly recommend buying your ticket early for the return trip from Pai to Chiang Mai. I almost missed the minivan on a Sunday because the tickets were sold out. I noticed many people had already bought their return tickets in advance while we were waiting in line for tickets.
You can also buy your return ticket on the same day you arrive in Pai, and if you need to change your plans, you can just go to the ticket counter to modify it.
Will I still get car sick if I take motion sickness pills?
I took a motion sickness pill about an hour before the ride to Pai, and before returning to Chiang Mai, I took one after breakfast.
Since I sat next to the driver, the view was great and I didn’t feel motion sick at all. None of the other passengers on the minivan got sick either.
But if you’re prone to motion sickness, take the pill early — otherwise, you’ll definitely be in for a rough ride.
Will there be a stop for a restroom break during the ride?
There will definitely be a stop at a rest stop, as shown on the map below.
You’ll have enough time to use the restroom and grab a drink or snack.
It’s a good break to stretch out, especially if you’re sitting in the back (the back can be a bit more prone to motion sickness).
Rest stop location: ⚝ Click here to view on Google Maps ⚝
How big of a suitcase should I bring?
I wouldn’t recommend bringing anything larger than a 28-inch suitcase unless it’s really light.
My luggage was already about 19kg when I left Taiwan (I always bring too many things 😂😅), and I was worried it wouldn’t fit in the minivan, so I left most of it at a Chiang Mai hostel. ( some hostels won’t allow you to leave things there, so make sure with the staff if you can leave your luggage there )
I just packed enough for 4 days and 3 nights — around 10kg. As long as your luggage fits on the roof or under the backseat, it’s good. For my return trip, I had to fit mine under the A1 seat, which is next to the driver’s seat.
