A mountain town in northern Thailand with a 500m walking street, fire show bars, and a monthly full moon gathering that is small enough to actually talk to people at.
Night Bazaar runs every evening. Full Moon Party monthly. Peak season: November to February (cool, dry). Low season: June to September (wet, quieter).
Pai sits 770 metres above sea level in the Mae Hong Son valley, 135km north of Chiang Mai on a road with 762 curves. The town's main street, Chaisongkhram Road, doubles as the night bazaar every evening from around 6pm: 500 metres of food stalls, craft sellers, and bar fronts. It is small enough to walk twice in 20 minutes and that is the appeal. The bar scene is built around a handful of reggae and acoustic live music venues between Chaisongkhram Road and the riverside.
Pai's full moon party takes place on the Pai River field or rotating outdoor venues depending on the month. It is nothing like Koh Phangan: a few hundred people, fire performers, a sound system, and bars selling buckets and Chang beer. The atmosphere is informal. Most people come from the surrounding guesthouses and hostels. Beer from 7-Eleven costs 45–55 THB; buckets at bars run 150–200 THB. The night bazaar closes around 11pm but bars on Chaisongkhram and the riverside stay open until 1am or 2am most nights.
Party hostels within reach of Pai's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
The night bazaar opens around 6pm and peaks from 7pm to 9pm. Khao soi (curry noodles) from stalls costs 60–80 THB and is better here than most Chiang Mai restaurants. The bar section of Chaisongkhram has live acoustic music at several venues from 8pm: Edible Jazz and the bars on the small soi (side street) opposite the 7-Eleven are the consistent options. Beer 50–70 THB. Buckets 150–200 THB. The riverside bars, a five-minute walk south, are quieter and better for conversation.
On full moon nights, the gathering shifts to a riverside field or outdoor venue. Fire performers, a sound system, and 300–800 people depending on the season. It runs midnight to 3am. On non-full-moon nights, the late scene is limited: a few bars on Chaisongkhram stay open to 1am or 2am, primarily Bebop Bar and Don't Cry Bar. Pai does not have clubs. The draw is the informality and the fact that on a clear night you can see stars from the dancefloor.
Getting to Pai Night Bazaar and Full Moon Party from Chiang Mai , and Bangkok