Pai is known as a relaxed backpacker paradise nestled in the mountains of North Thailand. Like many places in continental Southeast Asia, the region experiences three distinct seasons: winter (November-February), hot and dry season (March-May) and of course the infamous “rainy season.” Thailand does in fact experience a monsoon season from June to October, and while it certainly doesn’t rain every day, just the idea can serve as a deterrent for backpackers planning their Asia

Sure you can take the bus from Chiang Mai to Pai or even make the drive yourself in around 3 hours, but the region is a motorbike lover's dream! I spent 3 days driving a 160cc motorbike through the lush green forests of remote Northern Thailand– here are my recommendations and stories! A bit of backstory: a local had told me about the Mae Hong Son Loop my first time in Chiang Mai, and after enjoying every moment of my first motorbike trip– the legendary Ha Giang Loop in Nort