Chiang Rai To Pai

[ThaKing]

Hello all,

-- I originally posted this in the Chiang Rai forum, but think its better suited here --

I have been browsing this forum for some time now to get some info on an up coming holiday my wife and i are planning.

We have organised everything except 1 leg of transport.

We are hoping to get a bus from Chiang Rai direct to Pai, without having to go through Chiang Mai (we will be there the following week). Is anyone able to advise if its possible and who/which agency i could contact to get some ideas?

Once i get this sorted, we can leave and not worry about it.. I hope...

Thanks for your help, and all the useful information that i have received thus far!

- ThaKing

[Briggsy]

If driving, very easy.

Public transport is a pain but can be done. Chiang Rai to Tha Ton. Tha Ton to Mae Taeng. Mae Taeng to Pai.

[jcon]

I did this exact drive one year ago.

I would say first rent a car. You don't want to be taking the public transport on this route - I've seen it, brutal.

Also, this drive is spectacular, so beautiful. It was one of my favorite drives in Thailand thus far (mostly the part from Chiang Rai to Fang to Chiang Dao.

This is the route I took from Chiang Rai:

1. North on Highway 1 to rd. 1089.

2. Take 1089 west (beautiful drive, nice road, saw a Ferarri 575M Maranello on this road around Fang, going eastward) to Fang,

3. Then take the 107 south toward Chiang Dao and further to where you will see the 1095 which goes west to Pai.

It's a wonderful drive, if you can get your hands on a convertible, it will be a spectacular drive. I think there was some shady construction around Chiang Dao at the time (a year ago), but other than that, very nice roads. The roads in Northern Thailand are much better than many people would think (1089 was amazing, I was uncertain at first, but after driving it, found it incredible).

Total time, I don't actually remember, but maybe 6-7 hours IIRC. Rd. 1095 to Pai is very fun to drive (if there is little traffic), but your passenger may want to throw up, hahaha.... But for the driver, it's very fun.

Best of luck.

P.S. I gotta stress don't take the buses... I've seen how miserable the passengers looked with my own eyes... and on the way to Pai, good luck on that bus, it will be a puke-fest.

[ThaKing]

Thanks for the info...

I have never driven anywhere in Thailand and am thinking this drive might be a bit too much...

I know AyaService have a bus service from Pai to Chiang Rai, and was thinking we might get this back to Pai.

Is the bus trip really all that bad???

Thanks again!

ThaKing

[rampo]

I made the trip from Chiang Mai to Pai back in November and it was the first time in my life that I've ever been car sick. In fact, all four occupants of the car including the driver were green in the gills by the end of the trip. Coming from Chiang Rai you would still be taking most of the same winding roads. Good luck!

[ThaKing]

Thanks for that Rampo..

Ive done the Chiang Mai - Pai trip a number of times by mini-bus, car and gov't bus... Yeah, its windy, but never been sick from it.. Just lucky I suppose.

I suppose the best way to find out is hen i arrive in CR is to do some hunting around...

Worst case would be to travel back to CM and the to Pai...

Anyone know how long the bus trip is from CR to CM?

Thanks!

[jcon]

Hey ThaKing,

If you've survived the CM-Pai trip by bus, etc. then you shouldn't have a problem coming from CR, as that part of the trip is not nearly as bad as the part to Pai. It's actually a nice drive from CR to the point where you go off to Pai from the main road to CM, so if you can handle the bus, I'd say it's ok.

I have videos of people puking (very literally) off the back of trucks to/fro Pai. Then again, it was New Years Day, maybe hangovers, but I still have not seen a happy smiling face on any bus to/from Pai.

My guess as a bus time from CR to CM would be 6hours+. Just a guess, though. Maybe members who live up there can give better advice.

Best of luck, Pai is nice, I hope you find that it hasn't changed too much from what you remember it... and be glad you're not going over the Xmas/New Year break, as it becomes little-Bangkok for a week or two.

[Ricardo]

CM to CR air-con bus is just under 4 hours, Fang to CM about 3-1/2 hours on a quaint bus, Fang to Mae Tang would be perhaps 2-3/4 hours, in my experience. Sorry ... don't know about CR to Fang ?

[ThaKing]

Thanks jcon & Ricardo for the info..

I was hoping that i could book/investigate something from home, but as usual with Thai bus travel, best to wait till i get there.

I did get an offer from a tour website that wanted 5200 THB for the trip, but thats too much.. that works out at over $200 AUD.. Considering that a bus from CM to CR is a few hundred bhat, there isnt much chance of me paying 5000thb+

Thanks again for all your help/advice... Once i get it worked out when im there, ill post a quick message to let you know (if anyone is interested)... Will be some time early Feb...

Thanks again all..

ThaKing

[yosithezet]

Great information! I plan on renting a car in April for a week or so to do Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Fang-Pai-Mae Hong San then fly from Mae Hong San. The directions above are very much appreciated!

[ThaKing]

Hi all,

I have been back in Australia for a few weeks now and thought I would let you know about my Chaing Rai to Pai adventure.

We asked a number of different tour agencies who all advised its a 7+ hour trip that will cost between 3,000 to 3,500 thb. That was well out of our budget, so we decided on the next best option. GreenBus to Chaing Mai (230 thb each) and then a mini bus to Pai (150 thb each). We were lucky to get a connecting buss straight away, and as such our total travel time was about 6 and a half hours.

Total cost: 760 thb.

Also, Pai happens to be my favorite place in Thailand (if not the world) for its beauty, slow life and altough there are a mass amount of farangs, they are not there to party. The hippy-esq lifestyle is something that i always long for when I leave Pai.

I am happy to report that while in Pai, I proposed to my Australian-Chinese girlfriend and we are now engaged!!!!

We were thinking of having our wedding in Pai but have no idea about the logistics.. Anyone have any idea about the process for a foreign couple to get married in Thailand? We understand that it would not be 'legal' as neither of us are Thai and that we woould need to have a registry wedding in Aus, but are there any issues that anyone knows of???

Thanks again for all your advice,

I truly do miss the LOS!

ThaKing

[skybluestu]

Hi all,

I have been back in Australia for a few weeks now and thought I would let you know about my Chaing Rai to Pai adventure.

We asked a number of different tour agencies who all advised its a 7+ hour trip that will cost between 3,000 to 3,500 thb. That was well out of our budget, so we decided on the next best option. GreenBus to Chaing Mai (230 thb each) and then a mini bus to Pai (150 thb each). We were lucky to get a connecting buss straight away, and as such our total travel time was about 6 and a half hours.

Total cost: 760 thb.

Also, Pai happens to be my favorite place in Thailand (if not the world) for its beauty, slow life and altough there are a mass amount of farangs, they are not there to party. The hippy-esq lifestyle is something that i always long for when I leave Pai.

I am happy to report that while in Pai, I proposed to my Australian-Chinese girlfriend and we are now engaged!!!!

We were thinking of having our wedding in Pai but have no idea about the logistics.. Anyone have any idea about the process for a foreign couple to get married in Thailand? We understand that it would not be 'legal' as neither of us are Thai and that we woould need to have a registry wedding in Aus, but are there any issues that anyone knows of???

Thanks again for all your advice,

I truly do miss the LOS!

ThaKing

Firstly congratulations on your engagement! I had my (pre-marriage!) honeymoon in Pai, certainly is a special place although it had changed a lot since my 1st visit 5 years ago. I am English and had planned to get married to my English girlfriend out here so I know it can be done, guess it's not too different for Australians. I am actually now married to a Thai thogh as I split up with my English girlfriend (long story but she was a nut-job), we had a legal marriage at the Amphur which required a document from the British Embassy and then regsitered it with the embassy as well. Not sure if you would have to legalise it when you return to Australia but hopefully this link will have some useful information. Good luck, let me know how it went next time you are passing through lovely Chiang Rai.

http://www.austembassy.or.th/bkok/Consular_P4.html