Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
come by selling handicrafts. Roads and other infrastructure have improved, and in 2007
Pai's commercial airport commenced flights.
On the other hand, the huge influx of visitors to Pai has also resulted in a host of new
problems. The town is beginning to experience difficulties in dealing with increasing
amounts of rubbish and sewage. Locals complain of being kept awake by the sound of
live music and partying. Drug use is widespread. And the city's police force has garnered
considerable negative press where it concerns tourists and tourism, ranging from a brief
crackdown on so-called 'illegal dancing' in the city's bars to the controversial shooting
death of a Canadian tourist in early 2008.
Closing times at the town's bars are now strictly enforced, wastewater treatment is in
the process of being made mandatory, and a new dump is being considered. But if Pai
continues to maintain its current level of popularity, it remains to be seen whether or not
the town can maintain the same level of responsible development that made it such an at-
tractive destination to begin with.
Sights
There are a few waterfalls around Pai that are worth visiting, particularly after the
rainy season (October to early December). The closest and the most popular,
Nam
Tok Mo Paeng
, has a couple of pools that are suitable for swimming. The waterfall
is a total of 8km from Pai along the road that also leads to Wat Nam Hoo - a long
walk indeed, but suitable for a bike ride or short motorcycle trip. Roughly the same
distance in the opposite direction is
Nam Pembok
, just off the road to Chiang Mai.
WAT PHRA THAT MAE YEN
This temple sits atop a hill and has good views overlooking the valley. Walk 1km
east from the main intersection in town, across a stream and through a village, to
get to the stairs (353 steps) that lead to the top. Or take the 400m sealed road that
follows a different route to the top.
Temple
BAN SANTICHON
Approximately 4km outside of Pai, a small market, delicious Yunnanese food, tea
tasting, pony rides and Yunnanese
adobe-style accommodation
( 08 1024
3982; bungalows 1000-1500B)
make the KMT village of Ban Santichon not unlike a
Chinese-themed amusement park.
Village
THA PAI HOT SPRINGS
Hot Springs
