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In this article we are going to share the best Pai waterfalls to visit in 2026. For each of these waterfalls we will share how to get there, routes, maps and entry fees. The aim of this guide is to help you plan an independent trip to visit the beautiful waterfalls around Pai.
We have visited Pai many times and we have loved exploring these waterfalls in Pai. Each waterfall has its own unique charm and character. Finding detailed and accurate information about these waterfalls can be difficult. We are too excited to share our local knowledge and experience with you.
We will also share some top tips to help you plan your trip. Some big things have changed in recent years around Pai said please read this guide carefully.
Summary of the best Pai waterfalls
| Description | How to get there from Pai | |
| Pam Bok waterfall | Dramatic waterfall with vertical cascade in a deep rocky gorge. The most popular and busy waterfall in Pai. | Drive around 9km. Walk for 5 minutes. Easy to find. |
| Mo Pang waterfall | More relaxed waterfall. Cascades over a rocky incline. Deep plunge pool, great for swimming and sliding down the waterfall. | Drive around 9km. Walk for 1 minute. Easy to find. |
| Hua Chang waterfall | Intrepid triple head waterfall located in the remote jungle. Powerful and impressive waterfall – hard to get to. | Drive around 7km northeast of Pai. Walk around 7km (each way) jungle trek with shallow river crossings. |
| Mork Fa waterfall | Large, impressive and picture perfect jungle waterfall. Sheer drops off a cliff surrounded by lush jungle. Small cave next to the waterfall. A long drive from Pai. | Drive around 80km southeast of Pai. Walk around 5 minutes. |
| Mae Yen waterfall | Large steep waterfall in the remote jungle. Long trek to get to it. Not as impressive as Hua Chang waterfall. | Drive around 3km to the east of Pai and then trek around 6km |
Map of the BEST Pai waterfalls
Why visit the Pai waterfalls?
Pai is a beautiful town located in the North of Thailand in the Mae Hong Son province. This scenic town has a reputation for stunning scenery, rolling Jungle hills, incredible caverns and geothermal Hot Springs. There are so many things to do in Pai! We have even thrown together a step by step itinerary for Pai.
Pai is also home to some stunning and spectacular waterfalls. A really big reason to visit the waterfalls around Pai is the stunning nature and scenery. In some cases you will need to trek to the waterfall allowing you to enjoy the beautiful nature in this part of the world. People also visit the waterfalls around Pai to bathe and swim. There is something truly exhilarating about taking a dip in a cool jungle waterfall.
If you are in Pai we highly recommend a visit to the beautiful waterfalls in the area.
Top tips for staying safe on jungle treks
Always take care when exploring in the jungle. Some of these waterfalls are quite remote and involve some jungle trekking (particularly Hua Chang and Mae Yen waterfall). Here are a few tips to help you stay safe in the jungle:
- Whenever you are adventuring into the wild, always prepare carefully. Bring a first aid kit and plenty of water and food.
- Bring a charged phone with offline maps and GPS functionality.
- Keep your valuables in a waterproof sack.
- Watch out for snakes and insects
- Dress appropriately. We recommend trainers, loose comfortable clothing and mosquito repellant.
- We always recommend going with a trekking buddy
- Always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Important things to know before you go
If you plan to visit the Pam Bok waterfall you will need to purchase a ONE day ticket for the Lum Nam Pai wildlife sanctuary.
This national park permit costs 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children and includes entry to a range of other attractions in the Pai district.
You can buy your pass at the entrance to any of these attractions and then this ticket can be used to access each attraction:
- Pam Bok Waterfall
- Sai Ngam Hot Spring
- Tham Lod Cave
TOP TIP: The Lum Nam Pai wildlife sanctuary is a ONE DAY pass. Therefore we recommend that you plan your Pai itinerary carefully. You will need to visit any of these attractions on the same day otherwise you will need to pay for a second permit.
1 Pam Bok waterfall
What is Pam Bok waterfall like?
Pam Bok is the most popular waterfall in the pi area. It is therefore also likely to be the most busy and crowded waterfall in the area. Although this is a popular and potentially touristy waterfall we still think it is well worth a visit. Pam Bok is genuinely an impressive waterfall, it is both dramatic and relatively powerful. The Pam Bok waterfall is located in a narrow, steep and relatively deep gorge between two vertical rock faces. There is a single powerful cascade of water which often sends clouds of spray up. If you are planning to visit Pam Bok waterfall, we recommend arriving early.
Is it possible to swim at Pam Bok waterfall?
If you are willing to climb over the rocks It is possible to get to the plunge pool. It is possible to get to the plunge pool at the bottom of Pam Bok waterfall. Take care when climbing across the rocks, the surface can be wet and slippery. The plunge pool is not very big, however close to the waterfall it is deep enough to swim. Always take care when wild swimming, ensure that you are sufficiently competent to swim and be aware of rocks and debris.
How do you get to Pam Bok waterfall?
Pam Bok Waterfall is a relatively easy waterfall to access. It is a short drive from Pi followed by a short walk. Pam Bok waterfall Is located approximately 10 km south of Pai. By car or taxi the journey is likely to take around 20 minutes. Go south on the route 1095 (in the Chiang Mai direction). Take a right turn (before you get to Pai Canyon) and follow the small country road for around 10 minutes.
When you arrive at Pam Bok waterfall there is a small car park, it is free to park here. There is also a ticket office where you can purchase your national park permit for 200 baht. From here it is a short 5 minute walk up to the waterfall; follow the small trail which leads up some steps right up to the Waterfall. When you get close you can climb over the rocks into the small gorge to get to the plunge pool.
How much does it cost to visit Pam Bok waterfall?
It costs 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children.
2 Mo Pang waterfall
What is Mo Pang waterfall like?
Mo Pang waterfall is a mid-sized waterfall with water cascading down a steep rocky incline. There is a deep and relatively large plunge pool at the bottom. Mo Pang waterfall is likely to be less busy than Pam Bok waterfall. Mo Pang is also not as steep as Pam Bok. This waterfall is a great spot for swimming, sun bathing and even sliding down sections of the smooth rock! Mo Pang is more remote and less visited than Pam Bok, but is still very accessible and well worth a visit if you have time. Also be aware that seasonal conditions have a big effect on this waterfall – it is much more impressive in the rainy season.
Is it possible to swim at Mo Pang waterfall?
Yes it is possible to swim at Mo Pang waterfall – this is a popular spot for locals and visitors to swim and slide down the waterfall.
How do you get to Mo Pang waterfall?
Mo Pang waterfall is located around 10 km to the west of Pai. There is a small car park located at the waterfall. From this car park it is only a few minutes walk.
How much does it cost to visit Mo Pang waterfall?
This waterfall is free to visit. You do not need to buy any entry ticket or permits to explore this area.
3 Hua Chang waterfall
What is Hua Chang waterfall like?
This is one of the most intrepid and wild waterfalls in the area. Hua Chang waterfall is a triple head waterfall with THREE impressive waterfalls cascading down into a deep plunge pool in a rocky ravine. This waterfall is also very challenging to get to, therefore we recommend being well-prepared and planning your trip carefully. It is unlikely that you will see anyone else out this waterfall, and in all probability you’ll have the place to yourself and may not even see anyone on the journey. Hua Chang Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Pai area.
Is it possible to swim at Hua Chang waterfall?
Technically it is possible to swim in the plunge pool at Hua Chang waterfall. But we do not recommend this. Firstly, it is actually quite difficult to access the plunge pool which involves scaling and climbing rocks. Therefore, we don’t really recommend swimming at this waterfall.
Furthermore, if you do have an accident or any problems here it is a very remote area and would be very hard to access or call for help. The waterfall itself is extremely powerful, and we recommend staying away from the plunge pool due to the force of this water and strong currents. With a very powerful waterfall like this there is also a higher risk of debris and falling objects.
How do you get to Hua Chang waterfall?
Hua Chang waterfall is one of the most challenging waterfalls to get to in the Pai area. If you are planning to visit this waterfall we recommend preparing and planning your trip very carefully. Hua Chang is located around 7km from the nearest parking spot (or around 5km if you are able to drive a little further up the muddy bumpy track and find a good spot to pull in). The 14km round trip is likely to take 4-5 hours depending on your pace.
Trekking route to the Hua Chang waterfall
Getting to Hua Chang waterfall is an intrepid jungle adventure. This long trek is relatively flat and trees keep you shaded from the sun. The route to Hua Chang waterfall follows the Mueng Luang river up a jungle valley to the north east of Pai and returns back along the same trail.
The trek to Hua Chang waterfall involves some 20+ crossings of the Mueng Luang river so be prepared to get your feet wet (we do recommend trekking in trainers or walking shoes). There are no bridges. The river crossings are not too deep and it is generally easy to spot the trail on the other side. Keep following the trail and stay close to the river. There are not any sign posts on this route so watch the trail carefully. We also recommend using a phone with offline maps and GPS capabilities to help you navigate.
Some of the river crossings are diagonals, making the trail on the other side hard to spot at points. At one or two points there are logs across the trail. The trail is generally well worn and not grown over. When you get to the final few hundred meters the path seems to disappear from the riverside. At this point it is easier to just wade carefully up the river. To get close to the waterfall you also need to scramble over rocks. Take care there are some steep drops and the rocks can be wet and slippery.
How much does it cost to visit Hua Chang waterfall?
It is FREE to visit the Hua Chang waterfall
4 Mork Fa waterfall
What is Mork Fa waterfall like?
Mork Fa is one of the most impressive and beautiful waterfalls in north Thailand. Mork Fa waterfall is the picture perfect jungle waterfall. A single powerful cascade of water drops off a tall vertical panoramic cliff. At the bottom is a deep plunge pool with a mist spray in the air. Mork Fa waterfall is surrounded by lush jungle and tropical foliage. This area is beautiful and wild. There is also a small cave in the cliff edge next to the impressive waterfall. The main disadvantage of this waterfall is the distance from Pai. This is a good one to visit on the journey between Pai and Chiang Mai.
Is it possible to swim at Mork Fa waterfall?
Yes it is possible to swim in the plunge pool at Mork Fa waterfall; however, we recommend being very careful here. This is such a large and powerful waterfall there is a risk of strong currents in the plunge pool. Stay away from the bottom of this waterfall due to the sheer force of falling water.
How do you get to Mork Fa waterfall?
Drive around 80km southeast of Pai. Drive along the 1095 in the Chiang Mai direction (south). The journey is likely to take around 90 minutes each way by car. There is a small car park and ticket office at the entrance to Mork Fa. Walk around 5 minutes. We recommend seeing this waterfall on the journey between Pai and Chiang Mai if possible (rather than taking a day trip from Pai).
How much does it cost to visit Mork Fa waterfall?
Mork Fa waterfall has an entry fee of 100baht for adults and 50baht for children.
What is the best time to visit the Pai waterfalls?
The best times to visit the Pai waterfalls are either early in the morning or later on in the afternoon. If you are visiting a more remote waterfall that requires trekking we would encourage you to set off nice and early in the morning. On the other hand, if you are visiting one of the popular tourist waterfalls, try to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon. More popular tourist attractions around Pai can get quite busy later in the day. Also the temperatures can get very high towards the middle of the day. The Pai waterfalls are more impressive in the rainy season – between March and December.
Some other awesome waterfalls in the area
There are some other amazing waterfalls to visit in the area. Here are some of our other top Pick waterfalls to visit around Pai.
Mae Yen waterfall – This is another intrepid waterfall in the jungle to the east of Pai. Mae Yen is an impressive two tier waterfall. There is actually a mini plunge pool part way down the waterfall where it is possible to bathe. This waterfall is very beautiful and well worth a visit if you have time. To get to Mae Yen waterfall, drive a few kilometers east of Pai, take the road past the Karen village. Trek for around 6km each way.
Sticky waterfall – Sticky waterfall is located several hours to the east of Pai. If you’re planning to stay in Chiang mai we recommend visiting from there. Sticky waterfall is a lot of fun! The microcrystalline surface produces remarkably high friction. You can walk up steep sections of this waterfall.
Sagee waterfall –This is a lesser known waterfall an hour or two east of Pai. Sagee waterfall is a small but steep and impressive cascade into a deep plunge pool. Some people slide down the steep rock into the deep plunge pool.
How do you get around Pai?
There are several ways to get around Pai depending on your desire for convenience and your budget.
1 Rent a motorbike and ride
The cheapest and easiest way to get around Pai is to rent a motorbike. Motorbike rental is widely available in town and it is surprisingly affordable. You can find motorbike rental for a cheap as 100baht per day in Pai. Riding a motorbike around Pai is a lot of fun and a great way to enjoy the scenery in this beautiful area. All of the waterfalls that we recommend in this guide can be accessed by motorbike, but in some cases you may also need to trek.
We recommend that you ensure you are appropriately qualified and insured to ride a bike in Thailand. Always wear a bike helmet and ride with caution. We also recommend that you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the road rules and conventions in north thailand. In some cases you will need to leave a deposit for your motorbike. You may also need to show your driver’s license or even an International driver’s license to rent a motorbike.
2 Use a local taxi
The most convenient way to travel around Pai is to use a local taxi. However, this is also a more expensive option. Furthermore, it is worth being aware that the taxi apps do not operate in this area. Therefore, you will need to go old school and flag a taxi at the side of the road. We recommend agreeing on the price for the journey before you go. Most taxi journeys around Pai are likely to cost 100 – 300 baht.
We recommend getting a price for a return journey, therefore you do not need to try and arrange your taxi back from a remote waterfall. Another way to arrange a taxi around Pai is to speak to a local tour operator. There are plenty of small tour offices located on the Pai walking street. They will be able to hook you up with local taxi drivers and help you agree on a fair price.
3 Book a local tour
Another way to see the beautiful waterfalls around Pai is to book yourself onto a local tour. Some options may include a visit to more popular waterfalls like Pam Bok. The advantage of booking a local tour is that you will also get to see some other attractions around Pai such as the Hot Springs and Pai Canyon. Booking on a local tour is also a great way of meeting new people. However, the disadvantage of booking a tour is that you have to go at their pace and follow their itinerary.
What else is there to do in Pai?
There are lots of other amazing things to do in the Pai area. For example, If you love Geothermal Hot Springs make sure to check out the impressive Sai Ngam Hot Spring. This is a beautiful hot river located in a jungle Valley covered by the canopy. Another awesome thing to do in the area is visit the impressive Pai Canyon. This is a very popular attraction at sunset. We do recommend taking care, there are some steep drops at Pai canyon.
What are the best places to stay in Pai?
There really are some amazing hotels in Pai – we are very impressed with value for money and character here. Here are some excellent places to stay in Pai.
Golden Hut Chill
Top pick for budget. This is not a glam hotel or a great place for comfort and luxury. But it is charming and packed with character. These are very affordable riverside wooden huts. Basic, simple and beautifully situated by the river and only a short walk from the Pai walking street. If you’re looking for simple and affordable accommodation this is one of the best options in Pai.
Oia Pai Resort
Top pick for unique character. Oia Pai is a very unique and fun hotel built around an artificial lake. There are kayaks to get around the hotel. Novelty grecian maritime themed kayaking hotel. This is a great choice if you’re looking for somewhere beautiful, unique and different.
Family House Zen Boutique
Zen Boutique is our top pick for value for money in Pai. This is a lovely hotel excellently located in Pai. Contemporary style with outdoor swimming pool and comfortable clean rooms. This hotel has a lot to offer.
The Pai Village Boutique Resort
The Pai Village Boutique is our top pick for comfort, convenience and location. Warm wooden decor, outdoor pool and located in the center of Pai village.
The Reverie Siam
Top pick for luxury. If you’re looking to relax and unwind in a stylish and decadent hotel – Reverie Siam is the best choice. This stunning colonial style resort boasts an outdoor pool, beautiful rooms and a family villa.
