Your Travel Guide to Thailand
All information & tips to prepare your trip in Thailand
How to get to and from Pai?
How to get to Pai ?
To go to Pai, you will first have to go to Chiang Mai and then get to Pai by local bus or passenger van from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal. There are vans leaving very regularly. It is advisable to book your seat in advance if you want to be sure to leave at a specific time (see below).If Pai has a small airport, there are no more any commercial airline that offer flights to Pai since Kan Air ceased operations. Only Air Asia offers a formula combining a Bangkok - Chiang Mai flight with a transfer by van to Pai (better to book it directly on the airline's website). The road to pai through the mountains is very winding so take your precautions if you are car sick. Every time I went there, people vomited.
And to go to Chiang Mai by transport, you can choose between the train, the plane or the bus depending on your departure city and your budget. Passenger minivans also regularly connect Mae Hong Son to Pai as well as a local bus.
Buses and minivans to Pai
Please note: many buses can only be booked 30 days before departure, so they will not appear in our booking partner's results if you search earlier.
Leaving from Pai ?
To leave from Pai except if it is to get to Mae Hong Son, the best way is to go first to Chiang Mai and from there choose between train, plane or bus to continue your trip depending on where you want to go and the money you are willing to spend. It is best to book your minivan seat in advance, places sell quick, especially if you go to Mae Hong Son (online booking possible here). There are no commercial flights to or from Pai airport anymore.Buses and minivans from Pai
Please note: many buses can only be booked 30 days before departure, so they will not appear in our booking partner's results if you search earlier.
Transportation in Thailand
Travelling by train in Thailand
The train is the cheapest way to travel in Thailand, especially in 3rd class. It is also where you get the closest to local people – an amazing experience...
Domestic flights in Thailand
Flying around Thailand is often not much more expensive than taking the bus, especially with the many special offers, and it is so much faster!
Travelling by bus in Thailand
The train doesn't go everywhere in Thailand and doesn't serve some of the destinations tourists love. But by bus, you can get almost anywhere in the country...
Boats to the islands of Thailand
Thailand has a great many islands with beautiful beaches, and apart from Koh Samui and Phuket, the boat is the only way to get there.
