Take the minivan and book the airport transfer if you are flying.
The journey from Pai to Chiang Mai is 130 km long and follows the winding Route 1095 with its 762 curves. Almost all travelers use minivans. Prempracha's vans depart hourly from the Pai bus station on the main road between 7:00 am and 5:30 pm, taking 3.5 to 4 hours with a break. Tickets cost around 150 baht at the counter (180–270 baht or more when booked online). Aya Service offers its own vans six times daily between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.
Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Pai → Chiang Mai on 12Go.
Most buses terminate at the Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai, 3 km east of the Old City. However, some tickets terminate in the Old City or directly at Chiang Mai Airport. The latter is the best option if you have a flight. A private car journey costs approximately 2,300–4,000 baht and takes about three hours. There are no flights or trains from Pai. Below you will find the departure times for both providers, their respective destinations, the recommended departure time for your flight, and tips on how to navigate the winding route.
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Key Facts (2026)
Route 1095 is 130 km long and has 762 curves.
Approximately 3.5–4 hours by minivan including a rest stop, approximately 3 hours by car, 4–6 hours by scooter.
The Prempracha transports depart hourly, 07:00–17:30.
From the bus station in Pai on the main road, the fare at the ticket counter costs approximately 150 baht. There are 13 seats, and large suitcases are secured to the roof. You will arrive at Arcade Terminal 2 in Chiang Mai approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes later.
Aya Service uses six minibuses per day.
At 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30, approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes from Chiang Mai, at a similar price. Aya also offers a one-way scooter rental service between the two cities.
Are you flying? Book a van to drop you off at Chiang Mai airport.
Some tickets on booking sites terminate at the airport instead of the Arcade. Otherwise, you should allow approximately 20 minutes and 150–250 baht for a Grab ride from the Arcade to the airport.
A private car costs approximately 2,300–4,000 Baht.
The door-to-door journey takes about three hours and is worthwhile for groups or air travelers. With 12Go, a limousine from Pai to Chiang Mai airport usually costs between 2,300 and 2,900 baht.
Book in advance from December to January
During the peak season in the cooler months, the vans are fully booked; one traveler waited four hours for a seat over Christmas. Therefore, it's best to book one or two days in advance.
All routes from Pai to Chiang Mai compared (2026)
Minibus timetables can be found on 12Go's live display board for mid-October and at busonlineticket; fares at the ticket counter are available at busonlineticket and in a 2024 video, while online prices are listed at 12Go. Private car prices can be found in 12Go's vehicle listings for late October 2026 (three-seater cars to the airport usually cost 2,300–2,900 baht, nine-seater minibuses around 3,600–4,600 baht). Aya does not publish the one-way scooter fare, so be sure to ask about it when booking.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Pai → Chiang Mai: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
Minivan
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Watch live vans from Pai to Chiang Mai
12Go lists the vans with stops in the Old City and at the airport, as well as the private vehicles with live seat reservation and instant e-tickets. The display board below shows the departures from Aya; the hourly vans from Prempracha are listed in the table above and can be purchased at the bus station ticket office or online.
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The minivan from Pai, Prempracha or Aya
Where to get on, where to end up, and which backseat to avoid.
Prempracha is the standard operator. Vans depart hourly from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM (plus an additional departure at 11:30 AM) from the Pai bus station, located on the main road in the city center. Tickets at the counter cost around 150 baht. Online providers charge 180–270 baht or more, but guarantee a seat without having to travel the day before. The vans accommodate 13 passengers; large luggage is stored on the roof under a tarpaulin, and there is a 15–30 minute rest stop roughly halfway through the journey. Allow 3.5 to 4 hours; the vans arrive at Arcade Terminal 2 in Chiang Mai, 3 km east of the Old City. From there, a Grab or red songthaew ride into the city costs 100–150 baht. Arrive at the bus station 20 minutes before departure to allow time for your luggage.
Aya Service, the company behind the one-way scooter rental service, offers its own vans at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 13:30, 14:30, and 15:30. The journey takes approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes and costs about the same. Some tickets on booking portals—both Aya Service's and those of smaller providers—terminate in the Old City, at Tha Phae Gate, or at Chiang Mai Airport instead of at Arcade, thus skipping the final leg. All offers sell out quickly in December and January, so it's advisable to book one or two days in advance.
The curves are the real price of this journey. Passengers on the Prempracha vans starting in September 2026 complained about the speed and nausea in the back. Book or ask for a seat near the front, take a motion sickness tablet 30 minutes before departure, eat light meals, and look out the window instead of at your phone.
Take a Prempracha or Aya Van in the morning, sit as far forward as possible, and if you have a flight, book a ticket that drops you off at the airport and not in the Arcade.
From Pai to Chiang Mai Airport for a flight
Pai has no airport, so you should allow plenty of extra time.
Pai Airport has not been served by scheduled flights since 2017 (although a flight operation announced for 2026 was initiated, it was discontinued before it even started). Therefore, all flights depart from Chiang Mai Airport, which is 10–15 minutes from the Old City. The minibus journey takes 3.5 to 4 hours, plus about 20 minutes by Grab from Arcade if the minibus doesn't go directly to the airport. I would recommend taking a minibus that departs from Pai at least six hours before a domestic flight and seven hours before an international flight, as a slow driver, a long rest stop, or a long queue in December can easily add an hour to the journey time.
For an early or important flight, it's recommended to take a private car directly to the terminal (approximately three hours) or one of the shuttle buses that stop at the airport. A limousine to Chiang Mai Airport via 12Go usually costs between 2,300 and 2,900 baht. Travel agencies and guesthouses in Pai also offer transfers.
Back to Chiang Mai by scooter
Aya's one-way rental, and only if you have driven on mountain roads before.
With Aya's one-way rental service, you can rent a scooter from Pai and return it to the Aya branch in Chiang Mai for a fee specified at the time of booking. Your luggage will be sent to you by van. The journey takes 4–6 hours, including stops at viewpoints. While the road is well-paved, it is steep and narrow, and becomes slippery when wet. Therefore, it is only suitable for experienced drivers with a valid license and appropriate insurance. The guidebook "From Chiang Mai to Pai" describes the route in detail.
The best-rated hotels in Chiang Mai
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Chiang Mai. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
The minivan from Pai to Chiang Mai
Two van rides, filmed by other travelers. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press "Play".
In the other direction, from Chiang Mai to Pai
The same delivery vans that drive up the hill from Arcade.
During the day, minibuses travel uphill along the same road from the Arcade Terminal in Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai to Pai travel guide contains more detailed information on departure times, measures against travel sickness, and the scooter ride.
Watch live vans from Chiang Mai to Pai
The same 12Go board for the trip to Pai.
Trip booked? Plan your graduation in Chiang Mai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the journey from Pai to Chiang Mai.
Almost always by minivan. Prempracha departs hourly from the Pai bus station between 7:00 and 17:30 (tickets cost approximately 150 baht at the counter), and Aya Service offers six vans between 8:30 and 15:30. Both take about 3.5–4 hours to reach the Arcade Terminal in Chiang Mai. Online tickets can sometimes be redeemed in the Old City or at the airport. A private car costs approximately 2,300–4,000 baht.
The first van from Prempracha departs at 7:00 AM and the last at approximately 5:30 PM, with hourly departures in between, plus an additional trip at 11:30 AM. The Aya service runs at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
The journey takes approximately 3.5–4 hours by minivan with one stop, about 3 hours by car, and 4–6 hours by scooter. The route is 130 km long and has 762 curves; therefore, the travel time is determined more by the number of curves than by the pure distance.
Book a van to take you to Chiang Mai Airport, or take any van to Arcade and then a Grab (approx. 150–250 baht, about a 20-minute ride). For an early or important flight, a private car directly to the terminal (usually 2,300–2,900 baht via 12Go) is safer. Leave Pai at least six hours before any domestic flight.
A private car transfer costs approximately 2,300–4,000 baht, and the door-to-door journey takes about three hours. A limousine transfer to Chiang Mai Airport via 12Go usually costs 2,300–2,900 baht, and guesthouses and travel agencies in Pai also offer transfers.
The scheduled service consists of a Prempracha minivan, listed as a bus on booking portals. It departs hourly from the Pai bus station between 7:00 and 17:30 and costs approximately 150 baht. No large coaches operate on route 1095.
No. Pai Airport has not been served by scheduled flights since 2017, and EZY Airlines cancelled its flight operations, which had been announced for 2026, even before they began. Therefore, all flights to Pai shown on booking portals are cancelled. The only way to get there is by minivan or private car.
Sit as far forward as possible, take a motion sickness tablet 30 minutes before departure, eat only a light meal, and look out the window instead of at a screen. Passengers in the back row of newer vehicles complained most frequently.
They are suitable for different types of travel. Chiang Mai is the vibrant city with temples, culinary delights, markets, and excursions; Pai, on the other hand, is a small mountain town perfect for relaxation, with hot springs and viewpoints. Most travelers stay overnight in Chiang Mai and spend two to four nights in Pai. Our comparison of Chiang Mai and Pai will show you which location is better suited for whom.
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Further from Chiang Mai
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Chiang Mai to Pai – All 7 routes from Chiang Mai
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