6 days in Pai and Mae Hong Son: Route 1095 itinerary
Pay 210 to 250 THB for the Arcade van (3 to 4.5 hours), sleep three Pai nights, then another Route 1095 hop to Mae Hong Son. November to February is the cooler window.
Route 1095 from Chiang Mai Arcade to Pai, then on to Mae Hong Son town, is a ridge trip rather than a Chiang Rai add-on. Land at Chiang Mai Airport and take the Pai van (3 to 4.5 hours, often 210 to 250 THB on Prempracha). Sleep three nights using Pai where to stay.
Continue to Mae Hong Son town for two nights on the same Route 1095 spine. The Pai page covers the wider loop. A first-week scooter on 762 bends is a bad idea even at 200 to 350 THB a day. The Green Bus to Chiang Rai is the other north fork, about 301 THB on the coach or 422 THB VIP, and it does not use Route 1095. Licence notes sit on scooters.
Day by day
1 CNX to Pai
Route 1095 van 3 to 4.5 hours. Sleep town.
2 Canyon and springs
One viewpoint. No night ride.
3 Pai buffer
Cafe morning. Pack for the next Route 1095 hop.
4 Van to Mae Hong Son
Another Route 1095 block. Town hotel.
5 Pang Ung or town wats
Lake hour if the season is right. Otherwise town temples.
6 Return CNX
Long van day. Fly CNX. Same-day long-haul is tight.
Pai first, then Mae Hong Son town
Chiang Rai is the other north fork. Green Bus is about 3.5 hours and does not use Route 1095. See 8 days Mai, Rai, Pai if you want both.
| Block | Sleep | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 to 3 | Pai | Route 1095 van 3 to 4.5 hours |
| Nights 4 to 5 | Mae Hong Son | Second Route 1095 hop |
| Day 6 | Back to CNX | Long van; fly CNX |
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- Can you scooter the whole loop?
- Only if you already ride and carry the right licence. This page books vans.
- Is Mae Hong Son worth two nights?
- Yes if you want a quieter town after Pai. One night is a rush after Route 1095.
- Haze months?
- March and April can sit on the ridge. November to February is cooler.