| Type | Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taxi | Go2Trip | Comfort 3pax | Any time | +3h | $106.14 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 07:00 | 10:55 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 08:00 | 11:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 08:30 | 11:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 09:00 | 12:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 09:30 | 12:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 10:00 | 13:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 10:30 | 13:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 11:00 | 14:55 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 11:30 | 15:25 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 12:00 | 15:55 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 13:00 | 16:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 13:30 | 16:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 14:00 | 17:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 14:30 | 17:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 15:00 | 18:55 | $5.15 | |
Van | Aya Service | Standard | 15:30 | 18:50 | $5.47 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 16:00 | 19:55 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 17:00 | 20:55 | $5.15 | |
Bus | Prem Pracha | Minivan | 17:30 | 21:25 | $5.15 |
Pai has limited public transportation options, primarily relying on scooters and bicycles for getting around. Scooter rentals typically cost around 150-200 THB per day ($4.50-$6).
Chiang Mai, on the other hand, offers more extensive options, including red songthaews (shared taxis) with fares starting at 30 THB ($0.90) within the city. Tuk-tuks are also available, with negotiated fares usually around 60-150 THB ($1.80-$4.50) depending on distance. Additionally, Chiang Mai has a limited bus system with fares around 20-30 THB ($0.60-$0.90).
Both cities have rental car services, but Chiang Mai's larger scale offers more choices. For longer distances, buses and vans connect Chiang Mai to Pai, with fares approximately 150-200 THB ($4.50-$6), and the journey takes about 3-4 hours.
Visiting Chiang Mai can be budget-friendly. Accommodation ranges from 300-1,000 THB per night ($8-$28) for budget hotels or guesthouses. Street food is affordable, with meals around 40-80 THB ($1-$2). Restaurant dining might cost between 150-300 THB ($4-$8) per meal.
Public transport is inexpensive; songthaews (shared taxis) charge about 30-50 THB ($0.80-$1.40) per ride, while tuk-tuks can range from 60-150 THB ($1.70-$4.20) depending on distance. Entrance fees for popular attractions, like temples, are usually under 100 THB ($3).
Overall, travelers can experience Chiang Mai economically by choosing local food and accommodations and using public transport.
Chiang Mai is known for its distinctive café culture and locally grown coffee. The region's high-altitude climate supports coffee plantations, making Arabica coffee a popular choice. Additionally, try the local herbal teas, such as butterfly pea tea, known for its vibrant color and health benefits.
For something unique, sample Cha Yen, a traditional Thai iced tea made with black tea, spices, and condensed milk. Local craft beers are also gaining popularity, with several microbreweries offering tastings. While tap water is not recommended for drinking, bottled water is widely available and affordable.
When you want to get from Pai to Chiang Mai, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Taxi ticket.
The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 217.30. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 7.69.
If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Pai to Chiang Mai. Your trip will be a total of 45 miles (71 km). The flying distance is 45 miles (71 km).
The travel time from Pai to Chiang Mai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 2 to 5 hours.
The cost of the trip from Pai to Chiang Mai varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Prem Pracha (เปรมประชาขนส่ง): travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 7.69 for your ticket.
However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 217.30.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Pai to Chiang Mai:
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 73.31 to USD 217.30.
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:
Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 73.31.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Pai to Chiang Mai.
Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Pai to Chiang Mai? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:
| Cheapest Transport | $8 |
| Fastest Transport | 1h 25m |
| Earliest Departure | 7:00 AM |
| Latest Departure | 5:30 PM |
| Departures per day | 103 |
| Distance | 71 kilometers |
| Transport Companies | Andaman Shuttle, Aya Service, BangkokTaxi24, Easyride Services, Freedom Tour Taxi Service, Go2Trip, Gosafe Transport, Khamkhun Tour And Travel, North Ride Go, Prem Pracha, Smart En Plus, Smile On Transport, T Buddy Service Chiang Mai, Tara Tour and Travel, Than Car Service, Torch |