Pai and Chiang Rai are two small Northern towns in Thailand, both of which are easily reached from Chiang Mai. But if you’ve only got time for one then which do you choose?! Obviously this will be subjective depending on the type of thing you are looking for so I will give you a little info on what both places have to offer.
Pai, Thailand
The three and a half hour bus ride to Pai is kinda long, with endless bendy roads that can make you quite dizzy! I found it just ok and tried to focus on the pretty views up the mountain to ease any travel sickness. The lack of straight roads up to Pai shouldn’t stop you though as its such a pretty little place. Surrounded by mountains and hot springs its a great place to get out and explore. There are waterfalls to swim in, countryside to explore, a giant tree swing (very random), a huge Buddha statue to gaze at and pretty trinkets to buy at the market stalls.
Here you will find a laid back hippy culture with not much happening after 10:30pm. It’s a really chill town where you can get a full English breakfast any time of the day and an iced latte to go with it, at many of the cute and cosy cafes. Pai is a place to chill out and just wind down for a few days. It’s a laid back place but not without plenty to do. You can hire a driver who will take you to swim at the waterfall, to a great viewpoint for photos and to this strange place where they have giant strawberry statue things. It’s all very quirky here! So if your looking a for a pretty landscape with a chilled vibe, iced coffee culture and hippy stalls then this is for you.
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Chiang Rai is basically a smaller version of Chiang Mai but far less commercial and touristy. The white temple is worthwhile and a popular attraction for visitors, with it’s intricate carvings and crazy sculptures. You can also see the black temple which has witchy type sculptures and provides something a bit different. The town itself is pretty small and relaxed but not as quiet as Pai. Still its a long way away from the busy streets of Chiang Mai- no McDonald’s here! I rented a cycle and went exploring, trying to find the hot springs. It was a bit far with a pedal bike but if you have a licence then you can easily hire a moto to explore the surrounding countryside.
Chiang Rai has a lot of small beautiful temples to explore plus Wat Tham Pla known as ‘the Monkey Temple’, where loads of these cheeky little monkeys hang around outside the entrance. You can also visit the golden triangle, a viewpoint where you can see three countries at once (Thailand, Burma, Laos) or check out ‘Karen Village’ to see a longneck hill tribe but be warned its not hugely authentic. Chiang Rai is good for culture, food and a varied list of things to do, so a bit of an all rounder.
Chiang Rai vs Pai?
Between the two- personally I would pick Pai as I loved the laid back feel and it was very pretty and photogenic. Although the white temple in Chiang Rai was very interesting to see as well. It’s a tough choice but depends what you’re looking for, Pai is laid back and Chiang Rai has a little more culture. If you can squeeze time for both then even better!
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