Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COURSES
Cookery classes Pai Cookery School, Th Wan Chalerm
( T 081 706 3799), holds Thai cooking courses of two hours
(B500), four hours (B750) or up to three days, including a
trip to the market to learn about ingredients; vegetarians
catered for.
Massage and massage courses Mr Jan's is famous for
its Thai and Burmese/Shan massages (from B150/hr;
see below). Pai Traditional Thai Massage on Th Wangtai
(PTTM; T 053 699121) teaches a three-day massage
course (B2500) and gives excellent massages (B180/1hr).
Swimming and hot springs
On the east side of town is Fluid, a large
open-air swimming pool with a gym,
restaurant and free wi-fi (daily 9am-sunset;
B60; W fluidswimmingpool.com). About
7km southeast of town, down the minor
road beyond the swimming pool, the hot
springs (200B) aren't up to much, but
nearby spas put the piped hot water to
much better use. Pai Hotsprings Spa Resort
( T 053 065748, W paihotspringssparesort
.com), down a side road about 1km north
of the springs, has a large pool (B100) and
offers massages and other treatments.
10
ACCOMMODATION
Duang 5 Th Rungsiyanon T 053 699101. Opposite the
bus station, this is a clean and reliable place to stay,
with hot showers throughout, whether sh ared o r en suite,
though it all feels a little cramped. Double B200
Golden Hut North of Edible Jazz, next to the river T 053
699949. Very cheap bamboo fan rooms with shared hot
showers, in a quiet garden set ba ck fro m the river, or
riverside bungalows on stilts. Double B200
Mountain View 500m up a side road by the tourist police
at the south end of town T 086 180 5998, W themountain
viewpai.com. Laidback resort of wood and woven bamboo
bungalows, most with private bathrooms, on ten acres
of land. Free pick-ups if you call, an d free access to Fluid
swimming pool (see above). Double B160
Mr Jan's 3 Th Sukhaphibun T 053 699554. In a mess of
alleys behind Th Chaisongkhram, Mr Jan's offers quiet,
double rooms with h ot showers set in a medicinal herb
garden. Double B250
Pai Nai Fun T 081 641 5493, W painaifun.com. Meaning
“Pai in a Dream”, this spot has prime position among
several resorts with bamboo bathing platforms that line
the east bank of the river here. The cheapest rooms are
Trekking, elephants and rafting
Pai is a centre both for undemanding valley
walks and for trekking (around B800/day,
plus extra for rafting and elephant-riding)
through varied terrain to Karen, Lisu and
Lahu villages. hese can be arranged either
through guesthouses such as Duang or via
Back Trax at 17 hanon Chaisongkhram
( T 053 699739, E backtraxinpai@yahoo
.com). Among several elephant camps
about 5km south of town on the hot
springs road, hom's maintains an o ce in
town on h Runsiyanon ( T 053 065778,
W
thomelephant.com). Here you can
arrange rides that include going into the
river with the elephants, as well as one-day
mahout training courses. From early June
to early February you can take an
impressive two-day rubber-raft trip down
the Pai River to Mae Hong Son with
hai Adventure Rafting, hanon
Rungsiyanon( T 053 699111, W thairafting
.com; B2900), who also run treks and
mountain-biking trips. Agencies in town
can also arrange bamboo-rafting, kayaking
and tubing on the Pai River.
TREAT YOURSELF
Hotel des Artists (Rose of Pai)
Th Chaisongkhram T 053 699539,
W hotelartists.com. On a corner plot near
the river and centred around an attractive
glass-sided living room, this stylish new
hotel has just fourteen bedrooms, the
best of which have fantastic terraces that
face out across the water. In the spacious
rooms, bell-shaped lanterns illuminate the
beds (which are raised off the ground on
platforms made from local wood) while
facilities include a/c, TVs, DVD players,
minibars and artfully tiled en-suite
bathrooms. Rates, which include breakfast,
are significantly lower betw een April and
mid-October. Double B3600
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Domestic airline Kan Airlines ( W kanairlines
.com) flies to Pai from Chiang Mai (3 weekly; 25min),
landing at the airstrip on the north side of town.
By bus and minibus There's now only one bus a day
(non-a/c) between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son via Pai.
A/c minibuses cover the route at least hourly, through
either Prempracha at the bus station or Aya, a nearby
travel agent which also organizes minibuses to Chiang
Khong, Chiang Rai and Mae Sai.
Destinations Chiang Mai (hourly; 3-4hr); Mae Hong Son
(hourly; 3-4hr).
 
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