Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Charn Chai Muay Thai is Pai's Muay Thai studio and one of the most popular small camps in Thailand – a staple of backpacker life in the mountain town. Travelers who initially planned to stay for just three days often end up training here for three weeks. The surroundings shape the experience. Morning runs lead through the rice paddies and mist of the Pai Valley, training sessions take place in an open-air hall where the trainers know every student by name by the second day, and the cafes, hot springs, and viewpoints of the gorge invite you to relax on your free days. The training itself is traditional and intense – long pad work sessions with Thai trainers, heavy bag work, clinching, and sparring for all who are ready – and the class sizes are manageable.

Group training takes place six afternoons a week – during peak season, additional training sessions and runs are offered. The participants are a diverse mix of beginners, returning fighters, and occasionally experienced competitors passing through the north. It's regularly what people cite as the highlight of their stay in Pai, and for such a charming place, that's certainly justified.