Pai Canyon
กองแลน
Narrow red-earth ridges and deep gullies carved by rain. Standing on an earthen ridge only one person wide to watch the sun sink into the valley is Pai's most classic scene.
Pai Canyon (Thai: Kong Lan) lies about 8 km south of town, beside Route 1095. It is a red sandstone plateau eroded by rain over many years. Tall, narrow ridges are flanked by gullies more than 30 m deep, surrounded by pine forest and distant mountains. From the parking area, it takes a few minutes of steps to reach the main viewpoint. Bolder visitors can follow a narrow earthen ridge, only one person wide, to the various small platforms that jut out. At sunset, the sun turns the red soil golden orange, which is the peak time for photos. The whole area has no railings and the soil is loose, so wear shoes with good grip. Avoid the edges when it is wet and slippery. Bring a flashlight, since it gets dark quickly after sunset. Entry is free, and there are small stalls at the entrance selling drinks.
Getting there: It is about a 15-minute motorbike ride from the town center. You can also hire a songthaew. You can combine it with nearby sights for an afternoon route: the Memorial Bridge, an iron bridge built by Japanese forces during World War II and now a pedestrian bridge, and the Tha Pai Hot Springs.
Notes: Visitors with children or a fear of heights should only watch from the entrance platform.
Opening hours
All day (arrive about 1 hour before sunset recommended)
Nearby sights
- Pai Memorial Bridge (Tha Pai WWII Bridge)
- Tha Pai Hot Spring
- Pai Land Split
- White Buddha, Wat Phra That Mae Yen
- Pam Bok Waterfall
- Pai Walking Street
- Boon Ko Ku So Bamboo Bridge
- Wat Nam Hu