Chiang Mai or Pai?
Chiang Mai or Pai? As someone who did both, I can say Pai hands down, but Chiang Mai also had it’s draws. Pai is a small town about a 4 hour drive from Chiang Mai. If you know anything about the road to Pai, you know it’s a nightmare for someone like me who suffers from motion sickness on a regular road. This road isn’t a regular road though. There are over 700 sharp turns one after the other, with several reports of bus and scooter crashes. I would be sure to go with a reputable company to make sure you’ll have a safe ride, or if you want to know what I wish I did... take a scooter.
I 100% want to go back to Pai on a scooter. The fresh air combined with the freedom that scooter rides bring makes me wish I just took the leap and rode the scooter. On my way to Pai, I knew about the turns and I took some dramamine. Though I didn’t feel too sick, the way back was awful. Two girls on my bus threw up in the van, so you’d better have a strong stomach. Even if you don’t get sick, other’s might! All this being said, I would go back to Pai in a heartbeat. It was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.
But, let’s start in Chiang Mai. I flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and took a grab to my hostel. I stayed in Sherloft Hostel and let me tell you I’ve stayed in a lot of hostels, but Sherloft is by so far my favorite. It just felt like home and I know that sounds incredibly corny, but it’s true. Weirdly enough it felt like an east coast New England house. It had free breakfast and amazing vibes. It was exactly what I needed after four less than thrilling days in Bangkok. If you know anything about me, I love elephantsFrom Chiang Mai, I was able to go to an elephant sanctuary which is the exact outing that sparked my entire trip to southeast Asia in the first place. The elephant sanctuary was perfect, everything I dreamed of and so much more. Chiang Mai also had a lot of cool street markets. My friends and I went to one night market that was so large, I thought it never ended. I bought way more things than I should’ve and tried so many different types of food.
Chiang Mai had a lot to offer and I really enjoyed stayed there, however I knew I wanted to try Pai as well. Through Sherloft Hostel I booked a van that picked me up right outside and took me to Pai. Like I said, the ride there wasn’t too bad. They made two stops a long the way and before I knew it we were pulling up to the side of the road. I stayed in Paifah Hostel (which I’d also highly recommend!) for $4USD/ night. In Pai, my friends and I did tipsy tubing, ate some good food, did some shopping, and really enjoyed the town. Tipsy tubing was definitely interesting, if you’re going to Pai, you have to do it. It would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower! There are people selling tickets to these things all over the street. There was something about Pai that just felt so safe. I was still reeling from the previous bad week in Bangkok, but I enjoyed Pai so much that it made it all seem worth it again. The town is full of travelers from all over the world, but it’s really important to remember that locals live there too (lived there first!) and there are definitely cultural norms you should follow (ie covering up in the street). The feeling I got when I lived in Pai was unmatched to any other place I’ve traveled to.
It was the burning season when I visited, however it didn’t really affect me much in Pai, which is weird considering that it is a mountain town. In Chiang Mai, I could feel it in my lungs when I walked on the street. I would recommend going at a time that is more breathable, ie not March! Overall, there are great things to do in both places, but if you have the time, I would definitely recommend getting up to Pai even for two days it’s so incredibly worth it. If you really have time, definitely rent the scooter and get yourself up there!
