Gateway to Mae Hong Son Province
Why Pai is the perfect base for the Mae Hong Son Loop — Lod Cave, Ban Rak Thai, national parks, temples and the road less traveled in Northern Thailand.
Pai isn't just a destination — it's the natural first stop on the Mae Hong Son Loop, the 600 km mountain circuit that loops Chiang Mai → Pai → Mae Hong Son → Mae Sariang → back. From Pai you can either continue the loop or use the town as a comfortable base for day trips into one of Thailand's least-visited and most beautiful provinces.
The Mae Hong Son Loop
The Mae Hong Son Loop typically takes 4–7 days by motorbike or car. Going clockwise (Chiang Mai → Pai → Mae Hong Son) is the standard direction; counter-clockwise is quieter but the climbs are steeper. Pai is usually the first overnight, with another 2–3 nights spread between Soppong, Mae Hong Son town and Mae Sariang.
Total distance
~600 km
Recommended duration
4–7 days
Direction
Clockwise from Chiang Mai is the classic route
Best season
November–February (cool, dry, clearest mountain views)
Lod Cave (Tham Lod)
About 80 km northwest of Pai near Soppong (Pang Mapha), Lod Cave is one of Northern Thailand's most impressive caves. A river flows through it, ancient teak coffins sit in chambers above, and at dusk hundreds of thousands of swifts pour into the entrance while bats stream out.
Distance from Pai
~80 km (1.5–2 hours by scooter)
Opening hours
08:00 – 17:30
Entrance
Free; mandatory local guide ~฿200, bamboo raft ~฿400 per group
Best time
Late afternoon for the swift/bat changeover at the entrance
Ban Rak Thai (Mae Aw)
A Yunnanese Chinese tea-growing village near the Myanmar border, about 4 hours from Pai. Adobe houses ring a small lake, the air smells of pine and oolong, and family-run tea houses serve hot pots and steamed buns at altitude.
Distance from Pai
~165 km (4 hours via Mae Hong Son town)
Best as
Overnight stop from Mae Hong Son town, not a day trip from Pai
Highlight
Sunrise over the lake with mist on the tea terraces
Mae Hong Son town
The provincial capital wraps around a small lake (Jong Kham) with two Burmese-style temples reflected in the water. It's slower than Pai and rooted in Shan and Burmese culture. Use it as your loop midpoint.
Distance from Pai
~110 km (3 hours via Route 1095)
Don't miss
Wat Chong Kham + Wat Chong Klang at sunset; the morning market
Stay
1–2 nights
Nearby national parks
- Huai Nam Dang National Park — sea-of-clouds viewpoint, hot springs, between Chiang Mai and Pai.
- Pang Mapha (Tham Lod) area — caves, jungle trekking and hill-tribe villages.
- Namtok Mae Surin National Park — Thailand's tallest single-drop waterfall (~80 m), 50 km east of Mae Hong Son town.
- Salawin National Park — riverine forest on the Myanmar border, accessible from Mae Sariang.
Temples worth the detour
- Wat Phra That Mae Yen — the "Big Buddha" temple above Pai with valley views (free, sunrise/sunset).
- Wat Nam Hu — small Shan-style temple just outside Pai with a famous water-filled Buddha image.
- Wat Chong Kham & Wat Chong Klang — Burmese temples in Mae Hong Son town.
- Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu — hilltop temple above Mae Hong Son with 360° views.
Best day trips from Pai
Half day
Wat Phra That Mae Yen + Santichon Chinese village + Yun Lai viewpoint
Full day — caves & coffee
Pai → Soppong → Lod Cave → coffee at Cave Lodge → return (~5 hours driving)
Full day — waterfalls
Mo Paeng + Pam Bok + Tha Pai Hot Springs
Overnight
Pai → Mae Hong Son town (lake + temples) → return
Transportation options
- Scooter rental in Pai — ฿150–฿250/day. Best for flexibility.
- Aya Service minivan — connects Pai, Soppong, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang and back to Chiang Mai.
- Songthaew (shared truck) — local transport between Pai and Soppong for cheap.
- Private driver — ฿2,500–฿4,000/day for a full day trip with a car.
Suggested loop itineraries
4-day loop
Chiang Mai → Pai (2 nights) → Mae Hong Son (1 night) → back to Chiang Mai via 1095
7-day loop (classic)
Chiang Mai → Pai (2) → Soppong/Lod Cave (1) → Mae Hong Son (2) → Mae Sariang (1) → Chiang Mai
Slow loop (10–14 days)
Add Ban Rak Thai, Cave Lodge, Doi Inthanon, hill-tribe village homestays
Travel tips
- Fill fuel at every town — pumps thin out between Pai and Mae Hong Son.
- Carry cash; ATMs exist only in Pai, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang.
- Tell your guesthouse your route before leaving — phone signal drops in places.
- Drive only during daylight; the loop has no road lighting and animals on the road.
- Pack a light jacket — Ban Rak Thai and Huai Nam Dang are genuinely cold at night.
Best time to visit & costs
Best season
November–February (cool, clear, mist)
Avoid
March–April (smoke haze); June–October (rain, landslides)
Loop budget (mid-range)
฿1,500–฿2,500/day per person including bike, fuel, food, mid-range guesthouse
Interactive map
The Mae Hong Son Loop region
