Chiang Mai or Pai: which place suits you?
Chiang Mai has temples, markets and cafés; Pai is a small town in a mountain valley with rice fields. Between them lie three to four and a half hours by minivan on a winding mountain road.
Chiang Mai and Pai compared
| Chiang Mai | Pai | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | North | North |
| Character | Temples and mountains in the north | Mountain valley in the north-west |
| Best time to visit | November to February: dry, warm by day, cool at night. | November to February: dry, warm by day, cool at night. |
| Getting there | Flight from Bangkok (Don Mueang) about 1 hr 10 to 1 hr 20 min, or by night train or bus | Minivan from Chiang Mai (Arcade bus station) about 3 to 4.5 hours on a winding mountain road. No flights at present. |
| Rain over the year | Chiang Mai station | Mae Hong Son station, approx. 49 km away |
| Highlights |
|
|
- dry under 60 mm
- changeable 60 to 150 mm
- rainy season over 150 mm
Bars: rain per month from January to December. Weather figures: Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), climate averages 1981 to 2010, rounded. All monthly figures are on the weather page: Chiang Mai and Pai.
How to decide
Choose Chiang Mai if you …
- want to see several temples in one day: Wat Phra Sing, Wat Chedi Luang and Doi Suthep are in or near the city.
- want an easy journey: the airport is only a few kilometres from the old town, and a taxi costs 150 baht. There are currently no flights to Pai.
- want hospitals nearby: Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai Ram have 24-hour emergency departments.
Choose Pai if you …
- are looking for scenery and quiet: around Pai there are rice fields, hills, waterfalls and hot springs; the Tha Pai springs cost 300 baht.
- like strolling in the evening: the Walking Street is closed to cars from about 18:00 to 22:00, after which small bars play live music.
- are looking for trips without an entry fee: Pai Canyon, about eight kilometres south, costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Chiang Mai to Pai?
Most people take the minivan from Arcade bus station (Terminal 2). It takes three to four and a half hours and costs 150 to 350 baht; book two or three days ahead. Route 1095 is 130 to 140 kilometres long, and people often talk of 762 bends. A private car costs 2,200 to 3,800 baht.
When is the air bad?
In Pai in March and April, sometimes into May. In Chiang Mai the smoke builds up from January and is worst in March and early April. If you have respiratory problems, it is best to visit both places between November and February.
How cold does it get at night?
In Pai, nights in December and January are only about 10 to 12 degrees. In Chiang Mai the average minimum temperature in January is around 15 degrees. You need a jacket in both.