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What are the best Pai Hot Springs and how do you get to them in 2026? In this guide we will tell you everything you need to know about the beautiful unique Pai hot springs. Pai is located in the beautiful hills of the Mae Hong Son province of north west Thailand. There are lots of hot springs and geothermal parks in Pai and the surrounding area. It can be hard to know where to start and how to find the best hot springs.
We have travelled to Pai extensively and many times over the past few years. We are super excited to share this guide on the BEST Pai hot springs with you.
Need somewhere to stay? Don’t miss our guide on the BEST hotels in Pai
Why are there so many Pai hot springs?
The many Pai hot springs is due to the unique geology of this area. This beautiful jungle region of northern Thailand is also on the tectonic plate boundary of the eurasian plate and the Indo-Australian plate. As a result the area is brimming with tectonic activity. Around the area you can see geysers, land faults (The Pai Land split is one of the most famous), canyons (Pai Canyon), strange shaped hills and of course many Pai hot springs. Hot springs and geysers are formed by underground water being heated by pockets of magma. The heated water bubbles to the surface rich in dissolved minerals. Many health benefits have been linked to bathing in hot geothermal water.
Stay safe around the Pai hot springs
A word about safety about Pai hot springs: The water at hot spring pools can be around 100oC. Geysers shoot out superheated water which is often higher than 100oC. Sadly a child was scalded by an unfenced hot pool in the area in 2021. Take care around geothermal parks. Children should be supervised carefully at all times at the Pai hot springs. Only ever swim in pools that are recommended and check the water temperature carefully before entering. Also be aware that the sulphurous gases can be noxious over time. If you can smell a sulphurous smell try to limit your time in the water to 20-30 minutes. Our TOP PICK of the Pai hot springs is relatively safe due to low amounts of sulphur and the gentle warmth of the water. Read on for more…
Map of Pai hot spring
Here is an interactive map of the Pai hot springs. Just click on the pins to see more details.
Summary of the Pai hot springs
These Pai hot springs are listed in order of distance from Pai.
| Name | Summary | Entry fees and details |
| Tha Pai Hot Spring | The most famous of the Pai hot springs, located near the village. Expensive for what you get. | 300 baht (Around £6 or $8) 8km from Pai town |
| Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa | Beautiful Spa Resort with a quiet hot spring resort with hot pool and cold pool. Pools are man made. | 100 baht entry 7km from Pai town |
| Sai Ngam hot river | Hot river for bathing in the jungle. Beautiful natural feel. Pleasantly warm. | 200 baht (Lum Nam Pai wildlife sanctuary day pass) 17km from Pai |
| Muang paeng hot spring | Quiet secluded hot spring in a rural valley outside of Pai. You are likely to have the spot to yourself or at least very quiet. | FREE entry. Very beautiful in the morning. 30km from Pai |
| Pong Dueat Geyser and hot spring | Hot pools and a natural geyser. A long way from Pai so would need to be a day trip or visited on a journey to or from Pai. Could visit on the way to or from Chiang Mai. | 300 baht entry 60km from Pai |
Love nature? Don’t miss our guide to THE BEST waterfalls around Pai
What are the best Pai hot springs?
In our humble opinion these are the two best Pai hot springs – Sai Ngam and the Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa. Here are our full reviews…
1 Sai Ngam (Pronounced “sai-na-gam”) – best Pai hot springs for a natural feel
We absolutely love the Sai Ngam hot spring. This is our TOP PICK Pai hot springs for natural beauty.
This is pretty unique as hot springs go. Sai Ngam is a hot river with a man made dam to create a deeper pool for bathing. The water is crystal clear and just the perfect temperature for an outdoor bath. The area has a beautiful natural feel. Water runs over the dam to create a small hot waterfall. The river has natural clay in the area for making mud masks. We highly recommend arriving early if you want to experience this place when it is quiet.
The slow speed of the river allows you to relax in the calm water. However, the rate of flow regulates the temperature. There is also no smell of sulphur in the area meaning you can bathe without worrying about noxious gases. The river itself is also covered by trees allowing you to enjoy bathing without sun exposure. There is a parking area and toilets located at the Sai Ngam hot spring.
How much does the Sai Ngam hot spring cost?
To visit the Sai Ngam Pai hot springs you need to have a Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary one day pass. The pass costs 200 baht and allows you to access other attractions in the Pai district (including but not limited to: Pam Bok waterfall and the Tham Lod cave).
How do you get to the Sai Ngam Pai hot springs?
You can get to the Sai Ngam Pai hot springs by taxi, car rental or bike rental. The Sai Ngam hot springs is around 17km from Pai and the journey is likely to take around 30 minutes. Head up the route 1095 from Pai in the Mae Hong Son direction. There is a right turn just after the Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary office. At the turning there is a checkpoint where you can purchase tickets. The final section of the journey follows a pathed road through the jungle. There are some pretty steep up and downhill sections of this road so make sure that your bike is sufficiently powerful (125cc should be ok for one or two sharing).
The Sai Ngam hot spring Opening hours: 8am – 6pm.
Top tip: We recommend including your visit to Sai Ngam as part of a one day tour of the Pai area. If you are hoping to visit the Tham Lod cave we recommend starting at the Sai Ngam hot springs nice and early whilst it is quiet and then continue along the route 1095 to visit the Tham Lod cave. It might also be possible to visit the Pam Bok waterfall (back in Pai) in the afternoon. This way you can visit the main attractions with only one pass. Some travel agents around walking street can offer day tours of the area including the Sai Ngam hot spring.
2 Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa – best Pai hot springs for value and easy access
This is our TOP PICK Pai hot springs for convenience and value for money. The Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa is a totally different experience to the Sai Ngam hot spring. This is also a great spot for anyone who wants to experience warm geothermal waters in a more clean and man made environment. The Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa has a warm outdoor geothermal pool and a cold swimming pool. Being an official resort, this place also has all of the facilities and amenities that you would hope for in a hot spring resort.
How much does the Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa cost?
Entrance fee: You can use the hot spring for 100 baht.
How do you get to the Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa?
You can get to the Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa by taxi, car rental or motorbike. To get to the Pai Hot spring Resort & Spa go south down the Rural Road Mae Hong Son 4024. The Pai Hot Spring Resort & Spa is pretty close to the Tha Pai hot spring. In our opinion the Tha Pai hot spring is overpriced and not as nice as some of the other Pai hot springs.
For more information check out their website
http://www.paihotspringssparesort.com/
You can also direct enquiries to their email:
info@paihotspringssparesort.com
Where are the best places to stay to visit the beautiful Pai hot springs?
We recommend staying in Pai village as a perfect base for enjoying the attractions and sights around Pai and also getting to the Pai hot springs. Here are a few of our top pick places to stay in Pai:
Top pick for style – Reverie Siam
The Reverie Siam is a stunning luxury hotel in Pai. With a stylish vintage colonial this resort is situated amongst beautiful rolling hills of the Pai valley. Reverie Siam boasts two beautiful outdoor pools. The restaurant serves Mediterranean, European and Thai cuisine. We are super impressed by the style and design of the family villa – check out booking.com to see what we mean.
You can book a range of rooms here. The Reverie Siam is located on the west side of the Pai river a couple of kilometers south of Pai town. This is a great base for visiting the amazing Pai hot springs.
Rooms and villas range in price from 4,000 baht – 14,000 baht (roughly £80 – £280 or $100 – $350)
Top Pick for location and good vibes
The Pai Village Boutique Resort is a stunning boutique hotel conveniently located right in the centre of Pai near the river and the Pai walking street. The hotel is surrounded by tropical gardens and has a warm natural wooden feel. They also have a private farm which is free for guests to visit and explore.
The Pai Village Boutique resort has an outdoor infinity pool. Check out the amazing Rasa Villa which offers all of the natural beauty of a simple bungalow with the stylish comfort of a luxurious hotel.
Rooms range in price from approximately 4,000 baht – 12,000 baht (roughly £80 – £240 or $100 – $300).
Top Pick for character and uniqueness
The Oia Pai resort really is truly unique. It is modelled on a Grecian Maritime theme. There is a man-made lake with quirky features like a lighthouse and islands. You can get around the resort on a Kayak (or take the back route and walk). The Oia Pai resort also has a swimming pool and decadent restaurant.
We love the fruit boat which goes from room to room delivering fresh tropical fruits. The location of the Oia Pai resort is a top spot for the beautiful Pai sunsets. Rooms are comfortable, spacious and stylish. Top tip: If you want to be able to stroll out of your room to a kayak you need to pick one of their “river access” rooms.
Rooms range in price from 3,000 baht – 8,000 baht (around £60 – £160 which is roughly $80 – $200)
Looking for more inspiration?
Check out 56 AMAZING things to do in Pai AND don’t miss our epic one week Pai itinerary.
If you’re heading to Chiang Mai don’t miss our ultimate 10 day Chiang Mai itinerary. Everything you need to know – where to go, how to book, where to stay and much much more.
