Northern Thailand - Thailand - page 780

TRANSPORT TO/FROM PAI

DESTINATION AIR BUS MINIVAN

Chiang Mai 1990B; 20min; daily 80B; 3-4hr; noon 150B; 3hr; hourly 7am-4.30pm

Mae Hong Son 75B; 3-4hr; 11am 150B; 2½hr; 8.30am

Soppong
(Pangmapha)

45B; 1½hr; 11am 100B; 1hr; 8.30am

Getting Around

Most of Pai is accessible on foot. Motorcycle taxis wait at the taxi stand OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP across from the bus station. Sample fares are 50B to Ban Santichon and
80B to Nam Tok Mo Paeng.
For local excursions you can hire bicycles or motorcycles at several locations around
town.

aYa Service OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 0 5369 9888; www.ayaservice.com ; 22/1 Th Chaisongkhram;
bikes per 24hr 100-400B; 8am-9pm) This busy outfit has more than 100 bikes. There are a
couple of similar places in the immediate vicinity.

North Wheels OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 0 5369 8066; www.northwheels.com ; Th Khetkelang; mo-

8am-6pm) Both motorcycles and cars can be hired here. torcycle/car per 24hr 140/1500B;

TOP OF CHAPTER

Soppong

Soppong (also sometimes known as Pangmapha, actually the name of the entire district) is
a small market village a couple of hours northwest of Pai and about 70km from Mae Hong
Son. There's not much to see in town, but the surrounding area is defined by dense forests,
rushing rivers and dramatic limestone outcrops and is the place in northern Thailand for
caving. The best source of information on caving and trekking in the area is the owner of
Cave Lodge in nearby Tham Lot, the most accessible cave in the area.
There are also several Shan, Lisu, Karen and Lahu villages that can easily be visited on
foot.
If you're here on Tuesday morning, check out the town's rustic market .