15 Day Shaolin Warrior Kung Fu Retreat in Pai

Driving directions from Pai to the retreat venue

• Head out of town towards the airport / Mae Hong Son.
• On the far side of the airport turn right, parallel to the runway.
• We are the first turn on the left, about 400m down the road, on a sharp right hand bend. We have a prominent sign. A little way before our sign is a flashing orange sign signalling sharp bend / left hand turn.

Arrival by airplane

The best way to get to Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat is to fly to Bangkok or to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is much nearer to the Kung Fu Retreat but Bangkok has more flights and is usually cheaper. There is an abundance of hotels, guest houses, etc. in Bangkok to suit all budgets, should you need to arrange an overnight stay.

If you are on a budget to get to Chiang Mai, we suggest flying to Bangkok and taking a train to Chiang Mai or a bus. Please be aware that trains in Thailand often run very late. The trains are very comfortable and afford great views of the Thai countryside. If you are on a very tight budget, you can go to Kao San Road in Bangkok and get an overnight coach for about 300 THB or so. This is the least comfortable way to travel. We recommend the flight, especially if you have not spent much time in Thailand before.

Once you are in Chiang Mai, you will need to get to Pai. You have a choice between taking a minibus, taxi or flight.

Minibus:

The minibus trip from Chiang Mai is about 150 THB and has awesome views. It takes about three and a half hours, most of which is spent on amazing winding roads through mountains the like of which you have probably never seen before. The views are breathtaking and the journey is an adventure in itself so we recommend that you travel during daylight. We suggest taking a minibus with the provider Prempracha Transport. To get there from the airport, simply take a taxi with a meter or a Tuk Tuk to Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station. It should take 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic and cost very little.

You can book your seat in advanced online and pick up your bus ticket once you arrive to the bus station. Once you arrive, if you didn’t book your seat in advanced, you will need to book on to the next available minibus.

Minibuses run between about 6.30 am and 5.30pm. If you arrive in Chiang Mai later than about 3:30 pm, you are likely to need to either stay overnight in Chiang Mai or get a taxi to the Kung Fu Retreat. If staying overnight, which is the cheapest option, we recommend that you still go to the Prempracha office when you arrive and book on to a minibus for the next day. Then look for a guesthouse. You should be able to get a nice room near the centre of Chiang Mai with fan for 400 to 500 THB. If in doubt, try looking on tripadvisor.

Taxi:

We can arrange for a taxi from Pai to come to the airport to meet you. Alternatively you could speak with drivers in the taxi rank outside the airport. Recently taxis have been charging about 4,200 THB for the trip. This does vary and will likely be higher if late at night or in December / January. If we arrange a taxi for you we will need to pay in advance so please do not pay the driver otherwise he will think that he has just got the best tip of his life and likely take a week off! If you do want to give a tip, 100 to 250 THB would be about right.

Flight:

Wisdom Airlines has recently started providing flights from Chiang Mai to Pai for 1790 THB per flight for 1 person. Currently, you can book tickets in person, online, through a booking agency or by phone. We suggest doing this in person or through a booking agency though as sometimes the website does not always work. Wisdom Airlines is the only carrier that flies from Chiang Mai to Pai.