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Biking to Pai Canyon

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Situated in the picturesque countryside of Northern Thailand is Pai Canyon. It is located 8km south of Pai and can be reached by scooter, bike or taxi (you would need to hire one for the day). The views it offers makes it worth a visit if you're already in Pai. Although, I don't think it's worth it to venture out to Pai just to see the canyon. 

How to get there

It's quite easy to get there. From Pai, follow highway 1095 south for 8km. Along the way, you'll see Coffee in Love, The Container in Pai and Love Strawberry. The canyon is located on the right side of the road. You can park your bike there and head up the stairs to the canyon. 

We rented a mountain bike for 100 baht/24 hours and took about 1 hour to get there. Granted, we took a few stops along the way and walked the bike up most of the hills. Just note that there is a lot of uphill, downhill and winding curves on this road. It's quite the workout, but definitely doable. 

The Canyon

At the top of the stairs lies Pai Canyon.  The reddish hue of the canyon along with the backdrop of the mountains makes it a unique site to see. There are dangerous 50 metre steep drops on either side of the canyon, so be careful when exploring. There are a lot of paths to wander on if you're daring enough. 

Happy Adventuring!

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Transit Guide: Chiang Mai to Pai

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Located in Northern Thailand, Pai is a small town in the countryside. It's only a 3-4 hour ride from Chiang Mai, but it's quite a nauseating one. There are 762 turns along the way, so make sure to take some anti-nausea medication beforehand. 

Mini-Bus

We booked a mini-bus from our hostel for 200 baht each. You can also book a mini-bus at the station, however they cost 150 baht and it's also another 40 baht red truck ride to get to Arcade Bus Station. So, it's about 190 total if you do it on your own. They leave hourly and it takes about 3 hours to get to Pai. You'll get a short break halfway through to use the washroom (3 baht) or grab some grub. 

This was on the side of our bus. 

Public Transit

If you have a really strict budget, you can take public transit to get there. You can book a bus ticket for 78 baht + the 40 baht red truck ride to the station. Although these buses don't offer AC. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. and it takes 4 hours to get there. 

Other options

If you're feeling luxurious, you can book a flight to get to Pai.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can ride a motorbike there, although I wouldn't recommend it unless you are a skilled rider. The curves make it a very dangerous trip. We saw someone fall after a curve. 

Good Luck! 

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Travel Guide and Tips: Chiang Mai

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Located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a popular tourist destination. From digital nomads to adventurers, there's a tons of things you can do. 

Things to do

1) ELEPHANT CAMPS

One of the most popular attractions in Chiang Mai are the elephants. While there are many different camps to choose from, not all of them are ethical. Please make sure to do some research and choose one that treats their elephants well and doesn't offer elephant riding with saddles. Elephant Nature Park is well-liked and gets booked quickly. However, we went with Ran-Tong (Save and Rescue Elephant Centre). 

2) GRAND CANYON

About 17km away from the city centre is the Grand Canyon of Chiang Mai. It's a man-made quarry where many visitors go to cliff jump. The Tuang Thong Canyon View restaurant there offers wifi. You can get there by renting a scooter, hiring a red truck for the day or biking there if you're adventurous. There is an entrance fee of 50 baht per person.

Please note that we heard the quarry water is dirty. It can also be unsafe to swim in, so proceed with caution. 

3) Maya Mall

For a 20 baht red truck ride from the city centre, you can visit the city mall. You can find a mixture of western stores and other tourist stores. We went there for their movie theatre (SFX CINEMA Maya Chiangmai - check here for movie times). Make sure to choose the (E) for english movies with Thai subtitles. 

4) Massages

Massages are fairly cheap in Chiang Mai (140 baht+). There are many spas you can choose from, low-end to high-end. They all offer a variety of massages, so you can choose the type that suits you. We went to Lila Thai Massage, a centre run by ex-inmates. 

5) Night Market

This was probably our favourite part of Chiang Mai. The night markets runs on Saturdays and Sundays (on different streets). Vendors fill the street with stalls of food, clothing, trinkets and western-influenced souvenirs. It's really fun just to walk the streets, pick up some grub and check out what everyone is selling. Just note that it gets really busy. 

6) Temples in the City Centre

There are many temples spread through the city centre that you can visit. You can easily spend a whole day wandering about and checking out every temple.There are three major temples located within the city centre. Our favourite Wat Chedi Luang. Just make sure to wear respective clothing (shoulders covered, no revealing tops and nothing showing above the knees). 

7) Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This is probably the most popular temple in Chiang Mai. Instead of taking a red truck taxi all the way up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, you can turn it into a half day hike. If you do the hike, you can also see Wat Phra Lat temple (no entrance fee). 

Once you reach Wat Phra That, there is an entrance fee of 30 baht per person. It's heavily tourist-friendly, so keep that in mind. 

8) Doi Inthanon National Park

It's located about 2 hours away from Chiang Mai, so it's a bit harder to reach. The best way to get there is either by renting a car/motorbike, going with a tour or you can hire a red truck for the day. The park houses the tallest mountain in Thailand, has waterfalls and temples to see. There's a 300 baht entrance fee. 

9) Other Activities

Chiang Mai offers other things to do like watching a Muay Thai match, cooking classes or visiting the waterfalls. 

Where to eat

Chiang Mai Gate

Chiang Mai Gate is where all the locals eat. Around 6 p.m., the vendors will set up their carts selling a variety of Thai food for a cheap price. Shop around to pick a place that you like. They usually have tables and chairs, so it works similar to how a regular restaurant works. 

There's also a cart selling fruit shakes for 20 baht! 

Thapae Gate

The area around Thapae Gate has a ton of restaurants to try out. There's a mix of both Western and Thai restaurants. Since it's a restaurant, it'll cost a bit more than street food. But you'll have more options. There's a cart that sells rotee and crepes. 

Where to stay

Teeraya Boutique Guesthouse

Located outside the square near Chiang Mai Gate, the guesthouse has Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and clean rooms. 

 

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Getting Massages from Former Inmates in Chiang Mai

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Lila Thai Massage was created to support the lives of newly released inmates and offer them a chance to integrate back into the community. Just to be clear, these women are fully trained professional massage therapists as they've taken a 180 hour massage training course. 

I found the prices here to be fairly low compared to the other places in Chiang Mai. Plus, it's helping out a good cause. We went to their Prapokklao location, but you can check their website for others. 

They offer a variety of different massages, body and facial treatments. You can also get manicures and pedicures.

Our Experiences

When entering the massage centre, you'll be required to remove your shoes at the front door. Depending how busy it is, you should be able to choose and get your massage right away. Just note that I've heard that it can get really busy, so try to go at off-peak times or make a reservation. 

Once your masseuse is ready, she'll take you to the back to get your feet washed. You'll then be given dainty little slippers to walk in. They'll also offer you tea. 

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Cee went for the Thai Body Massage (200 baht). She was given a change of clothes and then taken to a room with several beds. A Thai Body Massage isn't what you would consider relaxing. It involves stretching and being placed in yoga positions. 

The whole body is worked from the feet to the head, including a scalp massage. It can be painful at times, but you feel very refreshed afterwards. Overall, it's a good massage and experience.

 
Massage bed for the oil body massage

Massage bed for the oil body massage

 

On the other hand, I opted for the oil body massage (450 baht). Before going into a private room and changing out of my clothes, I had the chance to choose my oil. They had several choices and descriptions on how it would affect you. I went for Jasmine. 

My massage started with my legs before she worked her way to my back, arms and neck. It was pretty relaxing until she tried to get rid of the knots in my back. Overall, I really enjoyed it! 

Also, remember to tip your masseuse (50-100 baht)!  

Happy Relaxing! 

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Exploring Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

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To get to Wat Phra That temple, you can either hike or take a red truck here for 60 baht per person from the city centre. Just beware that they might switch trucks on the way, so make sure you confirm the price before you enter the second truck.

Once you reach the car park area, head up to where Naga (serpent) Staircase is. You'll pass tourist vendors along the way if you want to grab a snack or souvenirs. The intricately designed staircase has over 300 steps, so get ready for a mini workout. 

Once you reach the top, you'll need to buy a ticket to enter Wat Phra That. It costs 30 baht per person. Spend your time exploring the area and paying your respects.

Please note that when you enter the temple, you need to dress conservatively: shoulders and knees covered, no revealing tops and nothing disrespectful to Buddha or the King. You'll also need to remove your shoes before entering a temple. 

 

 
 

Happy Exploring!