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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

Pai : The Hub of Joy

Pai is the Northeastern district of Mae Hong Son Province, North of Chiang Mai on route to Mae Hong Son. It lies along the Pai River and has been a popular tourist destination with people from all over the world since around 2005. The town itself has no special tourist attractions; most people visit Pai mainly to appreciate a simple life in a relaxed atmosphere. Pai does have some interesting nearby attractions however, such as hot springs, waterfalls, and a lot of old temples. One of most famous photo shooting spots is the Memorial WWII Bridge and you can also rent a bicycle or motorbike and visit the nearby attractions. Nowadays Pai is used a starting point for trekking tours which are offered by over 20 local agents.

If you plan to have Pai as your starting point for a journey, you'd better plan to stay in Pai for at least two or three days. There are now over 100 guesthouses and hotels with budget to luxury accommodations available to serve traveler's various demands. The centre of Pai town offers numerous restaurants, nightclubs, and bars, so you will never get hungry (or thirsty) in Pai. Rental bicycles and motorcycles are provided by tour agents and guesthouses at the same daily rates you'll find in Chiang Mai. Although Pai is a far cry from a big city, you will never get disconnected from your family and friends. There are plenty of reasonably priced overseas telephone and ADSL services along both sides of the main road.

After enjoying a peaceful sleep in Pai, you may decide to make a trip to some other attractions. Most local tours start very early in the morning, normally around 4 or 5 am. If you are scared of driving in the mountains, choose a simple route which will lead you to all the nearby attractions around Pai. But if you want to appreciate one of the most beautiful scenic routes in all of Thailand, then head to the most famous route: Pai - Mae Hong Son which leads you to all the renowned Mae Hong Son destinations: Pang Oong (known as Mae Hong Son's Switzerland); the border town between Thai and Burma; Kong Mu Stupa; Long Neck Tribe's Village; Tam Pla (Fish Cave), and Phu Clone (where you can get skin treatment from natural mud).

There are now many ways to travel from Chiang Mai to Pai. Route 1095 which connects Pai with Mae Hong Son is a very scenic route through the mountains, taking several hours to meander round the numerous sharp curves. (If you have a tendency for motion sickness it is highly recommended to take a plastic bag and some motion-sickness pills with you).

Route 1095 isn't as bad as people think if you're the adventurous type; renting a motorcycle in Chiang Mai and riding up to Pai is a fun option because you can stop by the small towns along the way. Alternatively buses, minibuses, and mini-vans from Chiang Mai's Arcade Terminal to Pai and Mae Hong Son run every single hour. Regular public buses take around 4-5 hours at a cost of 80 baht; and air-conditioned minibuses and mini-vans take around three and a half hours for 150 baht. If you don't mind missing the famous scenic route, flying in a small aircraft is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Pai. SGA Airlines operate daily flights between Chiang Mai International Airport and Pai Airport and passengers can make reservations and purchase tickets through the airline’s website or with any good travel agent in Chiang Mai.

For further information, please visit the official website of TAT Maehongson www.travelmaehongson.org or call MHS Call Center at 053 612 982-3.

Text: W.B
Images: S.P.