Pai is 130 kilometres northwest of Chiang Mai on Highway 1095, a road famous for its 762 curves through mountain terrain. The bus journey from Chiang Mai's Arcade Terminal takes 3–4 hours; minivans (smaller and faster) take about 2.5 hours and run more frequently. Both are available throughout the day. The mountain road induces motion sickness in many passengers — the locals call the minivan the "barf bus" and this is not entirely a joke. Ginger tablets or motion sickness medication taken before boarding help considerably.
Driving yourself on a rented motorbike from Chiang Mai is the most popular independent option and takes 3–4 hours allowing for stops. The road is paved throughout and well maintained. There is a small airfield at Pai served by seasonal charter flights from Chiang Mai, but scheduled services are unreliable and most visitors arrive overland.