Pak Chiang Mai - a little heaven

So many hotels and guesthouses there are in Chiang Mai. But this one has cought this bloggers heart. Why? It's just around the corner of Chiang Mai's daily live inside the moat, inside the old town. It's not in a street with guesthouse after guesthouse, massage shops, internet cafés, pizzerias and steakhouses. Pak Chiang Mai lies in a quiet soi - but not many footsteps from the smells of Gate Market and from its food stalls and from the beautiful temples.

It has very carefully done design like this sitting area on the first floor with the doors to the rooms:



















Take a close look and you will discover other details of the architecture as glass in assorted colors:


































There is also a corner for massage, seating and playing. Let the owners organise the Traditional Thai Massage or a Foot Massage for you - and you will be treated by very experienced hands, feet, ellbows and what else belongs to a classical Thai Massage, surrounded by the green courtyard, listening to the water of the small waterfall above the fish pond. Relax and dream!









































































Pak Chiang Mai is not only a guesthouse, but also a restaurant to discover. You will learn, that Noon and her family serve organic food. And her kitchen offers more than just what's on the menue-card, because Noon likes to create food, let the guests test it and to learn from their comments. So try the dinner she offers on request. You will eat with your eyes as well.





















































Of course you will not miss a good wine and a dessert. But this blogger was too delighted with the food. He ate the dessert, before he thought about taking a picture... But you can also imagine, how pleasent the breakfast is, you will get next morning. There is a wide choice from Müesli to Wonton Soup, whole bread, juices, different stiles of egg and of course fruits.

Organic food is not the only thing. The owners of Pak Chiang Mai care for the nature. So you won't find the usual plastic things with shower gel in your bath but small pots, that are refilled every day. Oh yes, the bath: You can take a look at its design and also the design of the rooms on tripadvisor.com , where you will also see, that Pak Chiang Mai is already top rated among the B&Bs of Chiang Mai. This blogger can tell you, that the beds are very good and lovers of cushions get enough.

Well, you know now about the location, the design, the food, the rooms. But there is more: The homepage of Pak Chiang Mai says: "Come as guests, Leave as family". When you leave, you will know, that this is not just a slogan. Noon, her brother Nat and everybode else of the family will let you feel.

Not enough. Pak Chiang Mai allows you to go on discovery with not many steps. Go just around the corner of Soi Ratchamankha 6 into Soi Phra Pok Klao 2 and you stand in front of a door, that leads into a little secret garden full of terracotta arts:
















































You move on some footsteps and find yourself inside Gate Market with its fruits, vegetables and meat. Fried skin of pigs and sausages are the specialities of Chiang Mai you should try! Then you move on again and you will discover many temples along Phra Pok Klao Road. And if you are here on a Saturday evening, you should cross the street outside the moat to the also close Wualai Road, where Walking Street takes place. You can also borrow bikes from Pak - a nice way to discover the sois of the old town.

Explore Soppong สบป่อง

See the locations of guesthouses and attractions on Google Map



Landscape near Soppong, Picture by Rotgutt


Soppong is on the main road from Pai to Mae Hong Son, also called Nae Hong Son loop. It serves as marketplace for the hilltribe people (Karen, Lisu and Lahu) and lies on Lang River. It belongs to the Pang Mapha ปางมะผ้า district. Each Tuesday morning there is a large market along the street, where the hilltribe people sell their handicrafts, fruits and vegetables.




Picture by Saren. See also this picture.


Around Soppong the rainforest is a good place for watching birds, butterflies and wild orchids. Read more about Soppong.

Guesthouses in Soppong

Soppong River Inn:


Picture by 4x4Adventurers


Cave Lodge Guesthouse:

Picture by 4x4Adventurers


Little Eden Guesthouse:


Picture by Saren

Caves around Soppong

Around 10 km upstream you will find Tham Lot, a cave, where the river passes through (picture), and there are many more caves around. (Read article about caves by Citylife Chiangmai, also second article).


Picture by Toine


Picture by Toine


The Cave in a video:

Mae Hong Son แม่ฮ่องสอน Hotels and Guesthouses

See the location of the hotels, guesthouses and resorts on Mae Hong Son Google Map

Ampha House: 3 Padungmuayto Rd. "Homely", says the review on travelfish.org


Baiyoke Chalet โรงแรมใบหยก ชาเล่ต์: From 1000 Baht. 90 Khumlumpraphat Road. The restaurant has live local folk music in the evening. Read reviews on travelfish.org and tripadvisor.com. Rooms overlooking the back are quieter, notes frommers.com.


Baiyoke Chalet, picture by Asean on Wheels


Fern Resort: See pictues by pigsy, newleypurnell and andyknoedler


Fern Resort lies between rice paddies


Greenwood Garden Lodge:
Greenwood Garden is an eco-adventure lodge and retreat center located in Huay Unn Valley of Mae Hong Son, on the southern border of Thampla-Phasua Waterfall National Park.

The lodge will have a main building and 5 Bungalow style villas, each designed, build and funished using local materials, including hardwoods, stone, and clay. The interior funishings and decorations of each villa are unique to a specific culture (i.e. Balinese, Shan, Thai, Hill-Tribe, etc.), including funiture pieces, bedding, decor, art, and textiles.

The lodge hosts individual guests and special interest groups, including adventure travelers, naturalists, educators students, mountain bikers, off-road riders, enduro riders, photographers, painters, botanists, entomologists, ornithologists, and zoologists, to name a few. Yoga, meditation, other personal healing and fitness retreats can reserve the lodge exclusively for their groups.

See their homepage Greenwood Garden Lodge and a lot of Pictures in Panoramio




Imperial Tara:


Johnnie House: Read reviews on travelfish.org


Jongkham Guesthouse:


Jongkham Guesthouse


Mountain Inn Hotel & Resort: Read reviews on travelfish.org


Ngamta Hotel:


Palm House: Read reviews on travelfish.org

Panahuts: From 600 Baht. 15 minutes to walk to the town.


Panorama Hotel:


Piya Guesthouse: 1/1 Khunlumphrapat Soi 3. Read reviews on travelfish.org


Princes Guesthouse: Read reviews by travelfish.org


Princes Guesthouse with view towards the lake


Rom Thai Guesthouse ร่มไท เกสท์เฮ้าส์: 22 Cham Nan Sathit Road. Read review on tripadvisor.com


Picture by tomazhg



Rooks Holiday Hotel and Resort:




Sang Tong Huts: Around 10 walking minutes from the market. See gallery by buddhamountain. And read reviews on travelfish.org.


The Dai Resort:


The Dai Resort


The Residence Guesthouse:


The Residence


In the mountains near Mae Hong Son:

Ban Ruam Thai and Pang Ung Lake: You can put up your tent under the pines near the lake and find bungalows there (Pang Ung Garden Houses). Call the Royal initiative Pang Tong 2 Project: 0-5369-2056, 0-5368-1740, 0-5368-1323 for reservation of accommodation, which range from Bt1,500 to Bt2,000. Tents are for rent from Bt250 to Bt400.


Bungalows of Pang Tong Project


Ruam Thai Guest House (0-5361-1244) offers rooms with a beautiful-lake view at Bt250 per night.


Ruam Thai Guest House


Walk a bit further to Ban Lung Pa La home stay (0-5369-2144) to experience the local way of life. The room with breakfast and coffee is between Bt100-350 per night.

Be aware, that the weather can be cool, in the winter there can be a thin film of ice on the lake. Read more about Pang Ung. Pang Ung lies around 30 km from Mae Hong Son. Take the route to Pha Seau waterfall until you reach Ban Na Pa Paek and then turn left and go on for 6 km.


The weather is cool throughout the year. In winter, the temperatures hover around 10 degrees Celsius.

First impressions of Pai

After landing in Pai Airport. You fly from Chiang Mai with www.sga.co.th SGA




A quiet day on Thanon Chaisongkram in the centre. Hilltribe-women are selling their handicrafts.



Bridge over Pai River, seen from River Corner Resort.



Bamboo Rafting on Pai River, picture by dav




One more quiet street in the centre.


Bags to buy



When the night falls in Pai, picture by Plynoi



Picture by Plynoi





Landscape around Pai, view from Bella Villa Resort. Pai lies 508 meters above sea level. The highest mountain, Doi Jik Jong, is 1972 meters from sea level.
Find Map of Pai Town and Maps of Pai Town and District.
And more about Geography and Nature


Scroll down on the right side for "Find in and around Pai" for more discoveries.

Buses from Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son to Pai

Buses from Chiang Mai to Pai: From Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Station without and with Aircondition: 7 am, 9 am, 10.30 am, 12.30 am, 2 pm and 4 pm daily. For the 134 km you take three hours.

Buses from Mae Hong Son: 8.30 am. 11 am, 12 am, 2 pm and 4 pm daily. These 111 km take three to four hours.

Buses in Pai for Chiang Mai or Mae Hong Son: 8.30 am, 10.30 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm.

See Busstation in Pai on Google Map.

Doi Inthanon ดอยอินทนนท์: Rainforest and birds

Doi Inthanon ดอยอินทนนท์, formerly known as Doi Ang Ka, is the highest mountaintop in Thailand (2565 meters above sea level. A mountain chain joins it to the Himalayas. It supports Himalayan flora and fauna and is one of the famous birding heavens. Read, what Mong Cor Mun found here and more about birdwatching by green-jungle.com.

Doi Inthanon National Park has beautiful natural scenery as many waterfalls. Read more by Thaiparkwordpress.com. The best period for viewing the waterfalls is May through November, while the best period for viewing wild flowers is December through February and for ornithologists is November through March.

Nearly on the top ypu find the Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail, which was surveyed and designed by Michael MacMillan Walls, a Canadian volunteer biologist who devoted to his work and died from a heart attack on this mountain. This trail, 360 metres long, passes through wet and cold areas in a lush valley. The forest is covered with lichens and wild orchids. Indigenous plants that needs a high level of nutrition, organic deposits, and rare species of birds are seen along the trail.
























The Ang Ka Luang Trail: Sphagnum Moss







































































More on Doi Inthanon: www.tourismthailand.org See also the Photo Gallery by Brian McMorrow.

Temples in Chiang Mai

Wat Phan On วัดพันอ้น: Built in 1501 the original Wat, Chedi Khwan, has been built. Wat Phan On was erected later, then both temples were combined. Inside you finde two golden sitting Buddhas.







































































Sareerikkatartsirirak Pagoda, named by His Majesty King Bhumipol on 9th June 2550 B.E.

See the Buddha inside Wat Phan On by photos.3scape.net, it's a copy of Phra Buddha Chinarat in Phitsanluak. And see a video on youtube.com.

Look at the ubusot which sits above the viharn. You see there stucco work, done by the Buddhist monk Phra Bun prasert, read about Thai wood carving here.


Phra Pok Klao Road, from North to South

Wat Phan Tao วัดพันเตา: The name means "The Monastery of a Thousand Kilns". The building was originally constructed as a royal palace building (ho kham) for Chao Mahawong, the ruler of Chiang Mai. The front gable end is decorated with the image of a peacock standing over a sleeping dog. The dog is the symbol of Chao Mahawong's birth year. Read more on orientalarchitecture.com.
























Does the dog know, that he is the symbol of the birth year of the former ruler of Chiang Mai?


























































































Wat Chedi Luang วัดเจดีย์หลวง: Also: Jedi Luang. King Saen Muang Ma, 8th ruler of the Mengrai dynasty, began building it in 1391. He planned to enshrine the ashes of his father Ku Na, but the construction was only finished by King Tilokaray in the mid of the 15th century: 82 m high and 54m large at the base, then the largest building of Lanna. In 1545 the upper part collapsed during an earthquake, in the 1990s the Chedi was reconstructed, about 60 m high. Have a look at the massive tree to the left of the entrance. A legend says that if this tree should fall, a catastrophe will happen. A small building near the tree enshrines the "Spirit of the City" (Sao Intakin). Read more and see pictures at orientalarchitecture.com and read the guide of chiangmai1.com.
























The Viharn was constructed in 1928 and renovated in 1999.









































































Wat Chang Taem: It is the home to The Sacred Bronze Buddha of Chiang Mai Province, the Fon Saen Ha Buddha (one hundred thousand drops of rain). He was brought to Chiang Mai by King Tilokaraja after a war with Lamphun. Every year in may it is transported during a parade on a chariot to the City Pillar at Wat Chedi Luang, where it stands for 7 days and 7 nights. During this time the locals come to pay respect. They guild the image with gold leaf paper, pour water over it to bath it and present flowers to the City Pillar. The Fon Saen Ha Buddha is believed to bring wealth and happiness to the people of Chiang Mai. The Inthakin City Pillar was made by King Meng Rai, when he built Chiang Mai city in 1296. It is in front of Wat Chedi Luang, inside a small temple and made from a giant tree, fixed underground. See a picture of the Fon Saen Ha Buddha and read more about the Inthakin ceremony. See also a video.
































































































































See more pictures by brickroadcafe.


Wat Fon Soi วัด ฟอน สร้อย: Wat Fon Soi is mentioned in The Chronicle of the Lan Na Thai Legend as a temple dedicated to Phra Tera, a high-ranking patriarch between 1562-1601.


Wat Muen Toom วัดหมื่นตุม:








































































On the wall of the compund. See more pictures by brickroadcafe and by wat9chiangmai.com.


Wat Chedlin: Also: Jet Lin. Go out on the back and you will discover an old pond with bamboo huts around, where monks live. See pictures of the pond with the huts.





































One of many huge gongs in a line.
















































Looks ancient: The stone Buddha in the courtyard. More photos by brickroadcafe.