There is no direct flight, bus or train from Bangkok to Pai: every route changes in Chiang Mai, then follows a winding mountain road for the last 124–135 km. The fastest way is to fly to Chiang Mai (about 1 h 15 min) and continue by van or car, about 7–9 hours door to door; the cheapest is an overnight coach to Chiang Mai (from about 660 THB) plus a shared van (220 THB), about 15–16 hours in total. For a private car, Smile Taxi Service drives Chiang Mai to Pai for a fixed fare of 2,200 THB per sedan, one way (about 2–3 hours), and gives a quote on request for one car all the way from Bangkok (about 12–13 hours with stops).
Distance and travel time overview
Pai is a small mountain town in Mae Hong Son province, in north-west Thailand, about 808 km from Bangkok by road. Driving takes about 10 h 47 min without stops.
The trip always has two parts:
- Bangkok to Chiang Mai: about 713 km by coach and 744 km by rail.
- Chiang Mai to Pai: about 124–135 km on Highways 107 and 1095. A car needs about 2 h 10 min without stops; the scheduled vans take about 3–4 hours, including a rest stop. The road has hundreds of bends (the figure most often quoted is 762).
Can you fly to Pai? No. Pai Airport has had no scheduled flights since April 2017, when Kan Air, the last airline, stopped flying. Mae Hong Son Airport, about 100 km beyond Pai, also had no commercial flights as of August 2025; check with the airlines before you plan a route through Mae Hong Son.
Comparison of the options
| Option | Travel time | Approximate price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight to Chiang Mai + shared van | about 7–9 hours door to door | flight from about 1,200–1,500 THB, van 220–250 THB per seat | most travellers; the fastest public option |
| Flight to Chiang Mai + Smile private car | about 7–9 hours door to door | flight, plus 2,200 / 2,700 / 3,500 THB per vehicle | families, groups, anyone who gets car sick |
| Night train to Chiang Mai + shared van | overnight on the train, then 3–4 hours by van | 2nd class berth about 768–1,038 THB, van 220–250 THB | travellers who like trains; saves one hotel night |
| Night coach to Chiang Mai + shared van | about 15–16 hours | coach about 661–1,028 THB, van 220–250 THB | the smallest budget |
| Private car from Bangkok | about 12–13 hours with stops | quote on request | groups who want one car door to door |
Train, coach, van and flight prices were checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm them with the operator before you travel.
Option 1: Fly to Chiang Mai, then take a van or car to Pai
If you land in Chiang Mai in the morning or around midday, you can reach Pai the same day.
Flights. From Don Mueang (DMK), Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly about 29–31 times a day to Chiang Mai (CNX), from about 05:00 to 21:35; the flight takes about 1 h 15 min. From Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Thai Vietjet Air, Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways fly about 27–29 times a day, from about 06:00 to 22:10; the flight takes about 1 h 22 min. Thai Smile no longer exists: it merged into Thai Airways on 31 December 2023. One-way fares start at about 1,200–1,500 THB, more at peak times and with checked bags.
From Chiang Mai airport to the van
Chiang Mai airport is about 3 km south-west of the city centre. The two van companies leave from different places: Prempracha Transport from the Arcade bus station, at the far end of Kaeo Nawarat Road, and Aya Service from its office at Kham Thiang Plaza, Soi Srimongkol.
- Grab is the simplest way to reach either. The Grab pickup point is at the car park by the domestic terminal, floor 1, open 24 hours.
- Airport taxis: as of September 2026, registered airport taxis charge a flat fare of about 150 THB into town; confirm the fare before you get in. Meter taxis (Main Terminal, floor 1, Entrance 1) charge the meter fare plus a 50 THB airport charge.
- Buses: the RTC city bus R3 (30 THB) and the airport shuttle buses A1, A2 (40 THB) and A3 (60 THB) start at 07:00 and serve the old city and hotel areas, not Arcade.
Timing tip. The last van leaves Chiang Mai at 17:30 (Prempracha) or 14:30 (Aya Service).
The shared van from Chiang Mai to Pai
Two companies sell shared van seats online.
Prempracha Transport runs the scheduled route 612 from Chiang Mai to Pai, Pang Mapha and Mae Hong Son, boarding at the Arcade bus station (office tel. 053-492999).
- Departures: 12 vans a day, every hour from 06:30 to 17:30.
- Fare: 220 THB per seat.
- Luggage: at most 2 pieces and 15 kg in total per passenger. Ask in advance about sports equipment or other large items.
- Tickets: on the Prempracha Transport booking site (card, Pay@All or Counter Service) and on 12Go. Web tickets can be changed or refunded only until 24 hours before departure; the fee is 40 THB per seat.
Times and fares can change; confirm them on the Prempracha Chiang Mai–Pai route page.
Aya Service is a private van company.
- Departures: 7 a day, every hour from 08:30 to 14:30, from its office at Kham Thiang Plaza.
- Fare: 250 THB per seat, on the Aya Service van booking page. Vans have about 10 seats.
Book early: when we checked on 25 September 2026, in the low season, three of Aya's seven departures from Chiang Mai were already full.
The ride. The van takes about 3–4 hours with one stop on the way and arrives at the operator's stop in Pai. To avoid motion sickness, take your usual remedy before you leave, sit near the front, look ahead, and eat lightly.
Option 2: Night train to Chiang Mai, then a van to Pai
Since 19 January 2023, all Chiang Mai trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (the former Bang Sue Grand Station), not from Hua Lamphong. Each train also stops at Don Mueang station, next to Don Mueang airport, about 15–17 minutes later. The 744 km journey takes 10 h 10 min to 13 h 45 min.
| Train | Krung Thep Aphiwat | Don Mueang | Arrives Chiang Mai |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 7 (day train, seats) | 07:30 | 07:45 | 17:50 |
| No. 109 (rapid) | 14:15 | 14:32 | 04:00 |
| No. 9 (sleeper) | 18:40 | 18:57 | 07:15 |
| No. 13 (sleeper) | 20:05 | 20:22 | 08:45 |
| No. 51 (express) | 22:30 | 22:47 | 11:40 |
For Pai, the best trains are No. 9 and No. 13: they arrive in the morning, with several vans still to come. The day train No. 7 arrives after the last van, so you would need a night in Chiang Mai.
Fares. Second-class air-conditioned berths cost 938 THB (upper) and 1,038 THB (lower) on No. 9, and 768 THB and 838 THB on No. 13. First-class cabins start at 1,446 THB per person on No. 9 and 1,246 THB on No. 13. Seats on the slower trains start at about 230 THB.
Booking. Use the State Railway of Thailand's D-Ticket site (dticket.railway.co.th, in English, most foreign cards accepted); sales open up to 6 months ahead. Resellers such as 12Go also sell tickets.
Chiang Mai railway station is about 3 km east of the city centre; take a Grab to Arcade or to the Aya Service office. Landing at Don Mueang in the evening? Board No. 9 or No. 13 at Don Mueang station.
Option 3: Coach to Chiang Mai, then a van to Pai
Coaches from Bangkok arrive at the Arcade bus station in Chiang Mai, the same station the Prempracha vans leave from, so you do not need to cross town.
- Sombat Tour leaves Bangkok's Mo Chit bus terminal from 07:00 to 22:05 and takes about 10.5 hours. Fares are about 661 THB (Star), 771 THB (Super) and 1,028 THB (Supreme). Call centre: 1215.
- Nakhonchai Air (NCA) has 10 departures a day, two in the morning and the rest from 18:45 to 22:30, with Gold Class and First Class seats; the trip takes about 9–10 hours. Book online, through LINE or at 7-Eleven. Call centre: 1624.
Overnight coaches reach Chiang Mai between about 04:45 and 08:35, before or around the first vans to Pai. From Don Mueang airport, BMTA bus A1 goes to Mo Chit for 30 THB, every 15 minutes from 05:45 to 24:00.
This route costs the least but takes about 15–16 hours, and you ride the mountain road after a night on a coach.
Option 4: Private transfer with Smile Taxi Service
A private car can stop whenever you need, which helps families and anyone prone to car sickness. Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (the same for one passenger or a full car), one way, with expressway tolls included and no meter.
| Vehicle | Chiang Mai → Pai | Suvarnabhumi → Chiang Mai |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan (up to 3 passengers, 2 bags) | 2,200 THB | 7,500 THB |
| SUV (up to 5 passengers, 4 bags) | 2,700 THB | 8,500 THB |
| Van (up to 7 passengers, 5 bags) | 3,500 THB | 10,000 THB |
- Chiang Mai to Pai (about 2–3 hours): book a sedan, SUV or van from Chiang Mai to Pai. The driver meets you at the door of your Chiang Mai hotel; for Chiang Mai airport, the team confirms the meeting point.
- Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai by road: book a sedan, SUV or van from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai. The driver meets you on Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4: message on WhatsApp or LINE once you have your bags, and the car pulls up in about 5–10 minutes.
- Bangkok to Pai in one car (from central Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang): no fixed fare; ask for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE.
Included and on request. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time, and a person checks your flight. Before the trip you receive the driver's name, car and plate number. On request: a name sign (+100 THB), a child seat (+100 THB), a free 500 MB Thailand eSIM with an airport pickup, and an English-speaking driver, subject to availability. Extra stops, such as viewpoints on the Pai road, cost +250 THB per hour.
Payment and cancellation. Pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; the website takes no online payment and no deposit. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (5% fee added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Smile Taxi Service is rated 5.0 on Google and 5.0 on Tripadvisor and has carried more than 8,000 passengers. All routes are on the fare list.
Riding a scooter to Pai
Ride only if you are experienced. You need a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit; without them your travel insurance may not pay. Helmets are compulsory for rider and passenger (fine up to 2,000 THB), and first-offence drink-driving fines are 5,000–20,000 THB. Thailand has one of the world's highest motorcycle death rates. Ride the Pai road in daylight only. Aya Service rents motorbikes in Chiang Mai and Pai from 200 THB per day.
Practical tips for the Pai route
- Book early in the high season and around New Year (about 30 December to 3 January) and Songkran (usually 11–16 April), when trains, coaches and vans fill up.
- Arrive in daylight. The mountain road is harder after dark.
- Pack light for the van: at most 2 pieces and 15 kg in total per passenger. With more luggage, a private car is easier; choose it by the number of bags (sedan 2, SUV 4, van 5).
- Check the air quality from January to April. In 2026 smoke from forest fires was worst in March and April, and Pai district was declared a disaster zone.
- Split the trip with a night in Chiang Mai; see the guide how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
The return journey from Pai to Bangkok
- Prempracha vans, Pai → Chiang Mai: every hour from 07:00 to 17:00, plus 17:30; 220 THB.
- Aya Service vans, Pai → Chiang Mai: 07:00, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30; 250 THB. The Pai office is at 22/1 Moo 3, Chaisongkram Road (tel. +66 87 177 8453).
- Smile, Pai → Chiang Mai: 2,200 / 2,700 / 3,500 THB (sedan / SUV / van): book a sedan, SUV or van from Pai to Chiang Mai.
- Smile, Chiang Mai → Suvarnabhumi: 7,500 / 8,500 / 10,000 THB: book a sedan, SUV or van from Chiang Mai to Suvarnabhumi. Ask by message about the return-trip discount.
- Night trains to Krung Thep Aphiwat: No. 14 at 17:05 (arrives 05:55) and No. 10 at 18:20 (arrives 06:30); a morning van from Pai connects with both.
- Coaches to Bangkok: Sombat Tour from 07:30 to 21:50; Nakhonchai Air mostly from 19:15 to 21:30.
FAQ
Is there a direct bus or flight from Bangkok to Pai? No. Pai has had no flights since 2017, and no bus runs straight from Bangkok. You change in Chiang Mai.
What is the fastest way? Fly to Chiang Mai, then take a van (about 3–4 hours) or a private car (about 2–3 hours): about 7–9 hours door to door.
What is the cheapest way? A coach from Mo Chit to Chiang Mai (from about 660 THB) plus a Prempracha van (220 THB), about 15–16 hours.
What time is the last van from Chiang Mai to Pai? 17:30 from the Arcade bus station (Prempracha), or 14:30 with Aya Service.
Can I take the night train and reach Pai the same day? Yes. No. 9 arrives at 07:15 and No. 13 at 08:45, with several morning vans after them.
How much is a private car from Chiang Mai to Pai? With Smile Taxi Service, 2,200 THB (sedan), 2,700 THB (SUV) or 3,500 THB (van) per vehicle, one way; the same from Pai to Chiang Mai.
Can I take a private car from Bangkok all the way to Pai? Yes, on request: ask Smile Taxi Service for a quote on WhatsApp or LINE. You can also book two fixed-fare trips: Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai, then Chiang Mai to Pai.
To book a transfer or ask for a Bangkok to Pai quote, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE.