Trains from Bangkok to Pai

By train it’s a two part journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai:

• Part 1 of the journey is by train as far as Chiang Mai.
• Part 2 of the journey is by road to Pai.

Part 1: Travel by Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

There are currently only 5 direct train services a day from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

• Buy train tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Part 2: Travel by Bus from Chiang Mai to Pai

By bus the journey from Chiang Mai to Pai is scheduled to take 4 hours 20 minutes. There are currently 12 services a day with Prem Pracha from Chiang Mai to Pai available to book online.

• Buy bus tickets from Chiang Mai to Pai.

Location of Bangkok Train Station

Trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (also known as Bang Sue Grand Station).

Location of Chiang Mai Bus Stop

Bus services from Chiang Mai to Pai depart from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2, which is located 2.6 km by road from Chiang Mai Railway Station.

Location of Pai Bus Stop

The final stop for bus services from Chiang Mai to Pai is Pai Bus Station.

About Travel to Pai

In total travel by train, then bus, from Bangkok to Pai takes from 15 to 20 hours depending upon which train you take and the time it takes to connect between train and bus, and whether you decide to spend one night in Chiang Mai before continuing your journey onto Pai.

Because two forms of transport are involved the journey is more complicated than it would be if there were a direct train all the way. However, in practice it’s a simple journey to organise and it’s fairly easy to travel between the train and bus stations.

Train Services to Chiang Mai

All but one of the trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai travel overnight. If you do choose to take the day time service departing from Bangkok at 07:30 and scheduled to arrive in Chiang Mai at 17:50 you will need to spend 1 night in Chiang Mai because the last bus to Pai departs at 17:30.

The advantage of taking the day time train to Chiang Mai is that you get to enjoy the scenery on the way. Taking an overnight train, however, means that on arrival in Chiang Mai the following morning you can go straight to the bus station and take one of the hourly bus services to Pai.

Travel from Chiang Mai Train Station to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2

Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 is located 2.6 km by road to the north of Chiang Mai Railway Station. The walking distance is slightly less (2.3 km) and for travellers without much luggage, or young children, walking is an option which will take about 30 minutes and is feasible for fitter people if the weather is not too hot.

The vast majority of leisure travellers, however, do not choose to walk between the train station and the bus station. A variety of different types of taxis, as well as tuk-tuks, wait for passengers in the car park in front of the train station.

The cheapest option is to approach the drivers of the red shared taxis that may be waiting outside the station. These shared taxis are converted pick up trucks with two rows of seats in the rear under a metal cover. If any are heading towards the bus station, and there are other passengers wanting to go the same way, you can often complete the journey for less than 100 THB per person. Otherwise, you can take a taxi or a tuk-tuk for which you will be typically charged 100 to 200 THB for the whole vehicle for the journey.

Please note: In practice the prices of taxis and tuk-tuks are not fixed and passengers need to agree a price with the driver before commencing their journey.

Bus Journey to Pai

The journey by road from Chiang Mai to Pai passes through an area of immense natural beauty and the trip is worth doing simply for the views from the window along the way. For a large part of the route the road snakes its way up and down steep hills. There are a total of 762 often sharp curves to negotiate before you get to Pai and for this reason many people experience motion sickness during the journey. Sick bags are normally given to all passengers as they board the bus in Chiang Mai for this reason.

Bus services from Chiang Mai to Pai typically stop once about halfway through the 4 hour journey. The rest stops are normally at a small roadside restaurant for a period of 20 minutes allowing passengers to use the toilet and have a drink.

Places to Visit in Pai

To make the most of a visit to Pai you need your own transport because nearly all of the tourist attractions in the area are located some distance away from the town centre. Automatic motorbikes from 100 to 150cc are the most common choice. Another option is to rent a bicycle, although this requires a higher level of fitness and effort, as well as planning because the journeys will take longer. Tours are also available through many hotels and travel agents in the town centre.

Among the places to visit are:

• Yun Lai Viewpoint
• Santichon Chinese Village
• Pai Canyon
• Huai Nam Dang National Park
• Wat Phra That Mae Yen
• Mo Paeng Waterfall
• Ta-Pai Memorial Bridge
• Tha Pai Hot Spring

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