Most people travel from Chiang Mai to Pai by minivan. Prempracha Transport, the scheduled operator on the route, listed hourly vans from Chiang Mai's Arcade bus terminal between 06:30 and 17:30 at 220 baht a seat for early October 2026. The trip covers about 135 km of mountain road and usually takes around three hours. Riding a scooter yourself is popular, but it is a poor choice if you are not already an experienced rider.
Pai sits in a valley northwest of Chiang Mai, in Mae Hong Son province. The road there leaves the plain at Mae Malai and then climbs and drops through the hills on Route 1095, one bend after another. The road is paved and well built. The difficulty is that the bends never stop, which makes passengers sick and catches out riders who have never ridden mountain roads.
Our Pai city guide covers what to do once you arrive. This page compares the ways of getting there, with an honest look at the risks.
Chiang Mai to Pai at a glance
- Distance
- About 130–135 km: Route 107 north to Mae Malai, then Route 1095 to Pai
- Minivan
- Prempracha Transport from Chiang Mai Arcade terminal, hourly 06:30–17:30, 220 baht (checked for Thursday 8 October 2026)
- Back to Chiang Mai
- Hourly vans from Pai, 07:00–17:30, 220 baht (same date)
- Journey time
- About three hours; the operator publishes no fixed time and warns it varies with weather and road conditions
- Booking
- Prempracha's online booking system (card or cash at Counter Service) or at the terminal
- Flights
- EZY Airlines scheduled one daily Chiang Mai–Pai flight for October 2026 (local news report); check with the airline
By minivan: times, fares and booking
Prempracha Transport runs the scheduled service between Chiang Mai, Pai and Mae Hong Son. When we checked its booking system for Thursday 8 October 2026, it listed twelve vans from Chiang Mai to Pai, every hour from 06:30 to 17:30, each at 220 baht. In the other direction, vans left Pai every hour from 07:00 to 17:00, plus one at 17:30. The company also sells seats to Pang Mapha and Mae Hong Son through Pai, at higher fares.
Vans leave from the Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal, on the northeast side of the city. You can book online with a card or pay cash at a Counter Service outlet (found in 7-Eleven stores), or buy at the terminal. Prempracha itself says its timetables, fares and stops can change and should be confirmed before you travel, so check the booking system for your date.
Private minivan companies also run the route, and many guesthouses in Chiang Mai sell their seats with hotel pickup. These cost a little more and save you the trip to the terminal. Our guide to minivans in Thailand explains what to expect from this kind of service in general.
Book a front seat if you get carsick. The seat beside the driver or in the first row moves least on the bends. When booking online, choose your seat if the system lets you; at the terminal, ask for the front.
Dealing with motion sickness on the bends
Travel sickness on the Pai road is very common. Ask the driver before you leave whether the van makes a rest stop; a few minutes outside in the fresh air helps. A few simple steps make a big difference:
- Eat a light meal an hour or two before, not a large one, and avoid alcohol the night before.
- Sit at the front, look at the road ahead and do not read or use your phone.
- Keep the air vent on your face and some water within reach.
- If you use travel-sickness medicine, take it before the trip as the packet says. Pharmacies in Chiang Mai sell it; ask the pharmacist which one suits you, especially if you take other medication. Our guide to medicines at Thai pharmacies has more.
The drivers know the road well but drive quickly. If you feel your driver is driving dangerously, you can ask him to slow down; the Tourist Police can be reached on 1155.
Riding a scooter: who should and who should not
Riding to Pai is one of the best-known motorbike trips in Thailand, and for an experienced rider on a suitable bike it is a great road. For a beginner, it is a bad idea, and we would say so plainly. The route has long, steep climbs and descents with tight hairpins that tighten through the corner, blind crests, gravel washed onto the road and fast minivans that cut corners on your side of the road.
Most serious problems on mountain roads happen going downhill. A small automatic scooter gives almost no engine braking, so riders hold the brakes all the way down, the brakes overheat and stop working well. Two people and luggage on a 110 or 125 cc scooter make this worse, and the bike will also struggle on the climbs.
Before you decide, be honest about three things:
- Experience. Have you ridden a motorbike regularly at home, including on hills? A few days in Chiang Mai traffic is not preparation for this road.
- License. You need a valid motorcycle license: an International Driving Permit with the motorcycle category alongside your home license, or an ASEAN license. Car-only entitlement is not enough.
- Insurance. The UK government warns that riding without a valid license can invalidate travel insurance, and that rental bikes in tourist areas are often not registered for legal road use. Check your policy before you ride.
Do not make Route 1095 your first time on a scooter. If you are learning, take the van to Pai and rent a bike there for the valley roads, where speeds are lower. Many of Pai's injuries happen on gravel tracks and steep concrete ramps near town, so ride slowly there too, in proper shoes and long trousers.
If you do ride: wear a proper helmet (riders and passengers must by law), leave early to avoid the afternoon traffic and rain, use the engine to slow you on descents, stop to rest every hour, and never ride the road in the dark. Our article on safe motorcycle and scooter riding in Thailand covers rental checks and traffic habits, and our sister site has a detailed guide to riding and driving Route 1095, kilometer by kilometer.
Driving a car or taking a private transfer
A rental car is a comfortable choice for a family or a group, and it lets you stop at viewpoints and coffee shops along the way. The same license rules apply: an IDP with your home license or an ASEAN license. On the hill section, use a low gear on the descents, give the minivans room and do not overtake on blind bends. Check whether your rental company allows one-way drop-off in Pai or expects the car back in Chiang Mai. Our guide to renting a car in Thailand covers insurance and deposits, and our article on international driving permits explains which permit you need.
A private car with a driver costs much more than a van seat but lets you set the pace and stop when you feel unwell. It is worth considering for older travelers, families with small children and anyone who knows they get carsick badly.
The road in the rainy season and the smoky season
From roughly May to October, heavy rain can bring landslides, mud and fallen trees to mountain roads in the north. The UK government's travel advice warns that heavy rainfall can cause flash floods, landslides and road closures, particularly in northern and mountainous areas. Vans keep running on most days, but journeys can take longer. If you are riding, wet hairpins and mud on the road are a serious step up in difficulty; travel in the morning, before the afternoon storms, and check the Thai Meteorological Department's warnings.
From about February to April, smoke from burning fields can hang in the valleys, reducing visibility on the road and spoiling the views. Our article on northern Thailand's smoky season explains when it peaks.
Once you are there, our guide to where to stay in Pai compares the town center with the valley. If you are planning a loop of the north, see also Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and our Chiang Mai city guide.
How many curves does the road to Pai really have?
You will see "762 curves" printed on T-shirts and signs all over Pai. It is a souvenir slogan, not an official count from the Department of Highways, and we have not found any official figure. What is certain is that there are hundreds of bends, most of them on the middle section of Route 1095 between Mae Malai and Pai.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai?
Prempracha Transport's booking system showed 220 baht per seat for Thursday 8 October 2026, with hourly vans from Chiang Mai Arcade terminal between 06:30 and 17:30. Private companies with hotel pickup charge a little more.
How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Pai?
Usually around three hours by minivan for the roughly 135 km, sometimes more with a rest stop, roadworks or rain. The operator does not publish a fixed journey time and warns that it depends on weather and road conditions.
Is it safe to ride a scooter from Chiang Mai to Pai?
For experienced riders with a valid motorcycle license, a suitable bike and good insurance, it is a demanding but manageable road. For beginners it is risky: tight downhill hairpins, overheating brakes and fast vans cause many crashes. Take the van if in doubt.
Are there flights from Chiang Mai to Pai?
Yes, at the time of writing. According to a Chiang Mai CityLife report of July 2026, EZY Airlines scheduled one daily flight each way between Chiang Mai and Pai's small airport for October 2026, a flight of under an hour. Seats are few and schedules on small routes change, so confirm with the airline before you plan around it. Most travelers still go by road: minivan, car or motorbike.
Sources
- Chiang Mai CityLife – EZY Airlines October 2026 schedule, Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai–Pai (checked October 2026)
- Prempracha Transport – Online booking: Chiang Mai–Pai and Pai–Chiang Mai, 8 October 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Prempracha Transport – Stations and boarding points (checked October 2026)
- Prempracha Transport – Chiang Mai–Pai route (checked October 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Thailand travel advice: safety and security (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Driving in Thailand: essential guidelines for tourists and foreigners (checked October 2026)