Northern Thailand

Pai, Thailand: a mainstream tourist spot losing its hippie cred

It cost us 70B/$2.30 by local bus to get from Mae Hong Son to Pai and the bus was pretty much empty.

Pai is a crazy little town in northern Thailand. It was once a haven for drug users (might still be). It’s proximity to hot springs, waterfalls, and other natural beauties, makes it a great place for a relaxing visit.

Arriving in Pai, it is clear to see that it is desperately hanging on to its old hippie vibe while also trying to appeal to the mass of western tourists that descend on it everyday. Travellers wander around embodying the “bird shit farang” nickname they deserve. Aside from the gross hippies though, Pai is a nice relaxing town to stay in.

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Mae Hong Son, Thailand: On the Myanmar border

Nong Jong Kham (Lake), Mae Hong Son
Nong Jong Kham Lake, Mae Hong Son
Getting to Mae Hong Son from Soppong was pretty painful. There is a local bus that runs from Chiang Mai through Soppong on to MHS. This bus was supposed to arrive at 11:30am. We waited in the roasting sun in the middle of the Soppong Tuesday market, and when the bus finally arrived at 2pm it was packed. We bailed and took a minibus that left at 2:30pm for 150B/$4.90.

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Soppong, Thailand (aka Pangmapha)

Highway 108 straight through Soppong
Highway 108 straight through Soppong
Not many people make it to Soppong, which is a shame because it seems like a “real” Thai town. Soppong is a small town built along the highway. We took a minibus from Chiang Mai for 250B/$8. The price is standard even if we had gone all the way to Mae Hong Son from Chiang Mai… had we known this, we might have taken the bus and saved a few dollars.

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