4 Waterfalls in Pai: The Best Places to Swim in Pai

There are a handful of beautiful waterfalls in Pai just waiting to be discovered. And, these waterfalls offer some of the best swimming locations in the stunning mountainous countryside of Pai.

For the most part, these waterfalls require a fair bit of effort with long hikes to reach the destination. Nonetheless, the serenity of being deep in the jungle while enjoying a gorgeous waterfall is quite a beautiful experience.

With your time in Pai, I recommend visiting at least a couple of these waterfalls as they are truly a fantastic daytime adventure activity. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring these falls and found them to be some of the best in Thailand.

Continue reading for some additional Pai travel tips, waterfall information and a handful of other things that you need to ensure you have the ultimate visit!

Where is Pai?

Pai is in the North Western region of Thailand. Moreover, it is a part of the Mae Hong Song region and is an extremely rural town.

Additionally, the largest closest town to Pai is Chiang Mai. However, this is still roughly a 3-4 hour drive with a wild 762 turns needed to reach the town.

The most common way to reach Pai is via minivan. You can purchase a 200 THB ticket from 12Go Asia! to reach Pai from Chiang Mai on a budget. However, I highly recommend booking in advance, as tickets tend to sell out fast.

Is Pai Worth Visiting?

Pai has become an absolute haven for many backpackers and travellers alike. And, it’s become one of the most popular destinations for younger travellers in Thailand.

Even though the town is in the furtherest corner of Thailand, it’s an absolute gem of a place and many people love visiting this location time and time again.

So, do I think Pai is worth visiting? Yes, absolutely! It is my all-time favourite location in Thailand, and I could get away with spending months there. Besides, there are loads of activities to enjoy and the town has the most incredible hippy and laid-back vibe.

How Long Should You Stay In Pai?

There’s a saying that goes around Thailand about this little country town, and it’s called a ‘Pai Hole’. To get caught into said ‘Pai Hole’, is to basically get stuck in Pai for an extended period of time as it’s such an incredible place.

Upon arrival to Pai, you’ll meet many other backpackers, expats and nomads that may have spent months if not years in the blissful town. So, if that’s not enough to make you wonder how incredible this location is, I don’t know what will!

Nonetheless, in terms of how long you need to stay in Pai, this can vary drastically. I believe that 5 days is an absolute minimum. However, I recommend that you try to stay for at least 1-2 weeks.

Pai is in the North West of Thailand and is quite an effort to reach. Therefore, you want to make the most out of your time to enjoy the town.

So, don’t visit Pai on a day or overnight trip, as it’s simply not enough time. There are loads of activities that you can do here, and you’ll be disappointed to not spend enough time here.

If you can, go without any expectations or upcoming plans so that you can extend your time here and enjoy it for longer! Happy Pai-holing!

Finally, if you need to find a great place to stay, I recommend checking the link below. Moreover, this includes plenty of information on a personal opinion of what I consider to be Thailand’s best hostel.

What Is the Best Way to Find and Reach the Waterfalls?

While travelling, I always swear by using Google Maps. And, you’ll notice that many other travellers use Google Maps as the most common use of directions.

For the most part, Google Maps tends to have the most reliable information including up-to-date maps, road closures and pinpoints. And, you can save your favourite locations or places that you wish to visit making it great for future travels.

Additionally, you can easily search the names of the waterfalls below to find directions straight to the locations. There will typically be plenty of reviews, recommendations and tips for visiting from previous travellers to make your life a whole load easier!

In order to reach the waterfalls, I recommend travelling via a scooter or motorbike. Moreover, this is the most budget-friendly option and ensures that you can enjoy the waterfall on your own schedule. I found the roads safe to drive on and easy to navigate while using maps.

The 4 Best Waterfalls in Pai

Without further ado, let’s dig into some of the best waterfalls in Pai. Moreover, these are some of the top attractions in Pai and are totally worth a visit. Be sure to read my tips and make use of the travel information I have provided below.

Pam Bok Waterfall

Pam Bok Waterfall is one of the most popular waterfalls in Pai, and for good reason. It’s easy to reach and only requires a small fee in order to visit the location. You will need to travel along the 1095 highway and then make a right turn when seeing the signage for Pam Bok Waterfall.

The waterfall is a gorgeous stream that runs between two large rocks and falls into the large pools below. Besides, this is an excellent place for a swim on a warm day.

You will need to wander along a narrow track and wooden bridge to reach the other side of the small creek that runs from the falls. Keep in mind, this area is very slippery and care must be taken when crossing.

Not to mention, the rocks can be a little tricky to traverse. So, I don’t recommend bringing many valuables with you to this hike. Nonetheless, this is a beautifully quiet location to enjoy for an hour while relaxing in the refreshing stream or pool.

Address: Pam Bok Waterfall, Unnamed Rd Tambon Thung Yao Amphoe Pai Chang Wat Mae Hong Son 58130 Thailand Thailand

Mo Paeng Waterfall

A short drive North West of Pai will land you at another crowd favourite of the waterfalls in Pai, the Mo Paeng Waterfall. Moreover, this is one of the more unique locations as it offers a large natural slide for the ultimate fun activity.

However, this waterfall only tends to flow from July to October during the rainy season. Otherwise, it tends to dry up and isn’t much of a waterfall. Nonetheless, if there has been rain around, you may get lucky at other times of the year!

Upon arrival, you will need to pay a 100 THB entry fee and then you have free roam of enjoying the waterfall. Not to mention, there is no hike to reach the falls, so you don’t need to put in much effort to reach the location.

You can climb to the top of the rocks, and there will be a section that is marked for you to take a seat. Then, you can slide down the smooth rocks and land in the pool below.

However, be mindful of your head and stay seated upright to avoid knocking yourself on the way down. Additionally, I advise coming here with a few friends for some safe afternoon fun!

Address: Mo Pang Waterfall, 99HG+G8M, Mae Na Toeng, Pai District, Mae Hong Son 58130, Thailand

Mae Yen Waterfall

If you enjoy a strenuous adventure, then this one is for you. Typically, this hike will take you about 5 hours return, not including time at the waterfall. So, I advise that you head to this location in the morning so that you have plenty of daylight to enjoy the falls.

The track to the falls begins at a destination called ‘Startpoint Mae Yen Waterfall’. And, this is where you will park your scooter in order to start your journey towards the falls.

Upon your journey to the falls, you will complete multiple river crossings and the water may reach as high as your knees. So, wearing appropriate footwear and shorts is likely the best way to go.

Tip: Pack plenty of drinking water for this journey. You will need at least 2L of water per person.

Address: Startpoint Mae Yen Waterfall, 9F66+MJW, Unnamed Road, Mae Hi, Pai District, Mae Hong Son 58130, Thailand

Hua Chang Waterfall

The Hua Chang waterfall in Pai is a gorgeous multi-waterfall with a large pool at the base. So, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the water and place yourself under the stream to enjoy maximum refreshment.

Moreover, the waterfall was one of my favourite waterfalls in Pai and is much more off the beaten path. You will need to hike through the jungle for 1.5 hours each way to reach the stunning falls. And, the trail is a return track.

Furthermore, keep in mind, that you will need to do multiple river crossings, so you need to wear shoes that you are comfortable hiking in and getting wet.

Additionally, please keep an eye on the weather, as heavy rain can bring flash flooding to the area making it dangerous to complete the river crossings.

Finally, you can relax in the stream and catch rays of filtered sun through the canopy of banana trees. This waterfall offers a fantastic adventure, and is not for the faint of heart!

In order to reach this waterfall, you will need to go a little further off the beaten track, as there isn’t an actual marking on Google for the location. However, I recommend you follow this pinned location as the best way to reach the waterfall.

Upon reaching the location, you will need to start crossing the Mueang Luang River to reach the waterfall. The walk is reasonably easy, however, the jungle becomes extremely thick and directions towards the waterfall become quite confusing.

WARNING: It is extremely easy to get lost while wandering the jungle. This waterfall is extremely hidden and the tracks are difficult to follow. Do not attempt this waterfall hike alone. At the very least, you need to go with a group and tell someone that you are going.

Additional Activities in Pai

Pai is loaded with heaps of enjoyable outdoor adventures for everyone to enjoy. So, you’ll never get caught without something to do in this charming little town.

Nonetheless, some other excellent activities to enjoy in Pai include checking out the different bars, tipsy tubing, viewpoints, Pai Canyon and walking street. Feel free to click the links to find out more about each of the activities.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, these four waterfalls in Pai are some of the best activities to enjoy while visiting the Mae Hong Son region. Moreover, they make for an excellent day adventure and are the perfect way to escape the humidity of Thailand.

While spending time in Pai, I recommend visiting at least two of these waterfalls to see and experience some of the beautiful jungle and landscape. It really feels like you’re stepping off the grid and deep into the jungle!

Finally, if you would like to discover more about Thailand, I recommend checking out this section of my blog for all things Thai-related. I do my best to keep content updated and upload new posts regularly.

Happy reading!