Sai Ngam Hot Spring ended up being the highlight of our trip to Pai. It’s tucked under a shady forest canopy in a nature reserve north of town, and going there feels like you’ve wandered into a hidden pocket of the jungle.
But what surprised us most about Sai Ngam was the water itself. It’s not scorching like some hot springs, but not cold either. It’s a perfect, in-between warmth that made us spend two hours there hanging out in each of its three tiers and chatting with a few others who were there to relax as well.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before you visit Sai Ngam Hot Spring including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Sai Ngam Hot Spring Complete Guide
Sai Ngam Hot Spring is a natural hot spring located about 35 minutes north of Pai by motorbike. It’s set underneath a forest canopy, where it flows out of the ground, and then cascades down 3 levels divided by embankments, creating different areas where you can relax.
The water temperature in Sai Ngam is not what I would describe as “hot”. Instead, the spring itself feels more like a warm river than a typical hot spring.
But the water in the hot spring is clear and surprisingly clean for being located in a jungle setting, and what surprised us most is that it has barely any sulfur smell.
I recommend visiting Sai Ngam Hot Spring right when it opens at 8 AM. It was peaceful and quiet for us early in the morning, but by 10 AM, tour groups started to show up and the place began to get crowded.
- Sai Ngam Hot Spring Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sai Ngam Hot Spring Entrance Fee: ฿400 THB per adult, ฿200 THB per child (cash only)
- Parking Fee: ฿30 THB per motorbike, ฿60 per car
How to get to Sai Ngam Hot Spring
Sai Ngam Hot Spring is a natural hot spring out in the countryside north of Pai in Thailand. Most of the route is along a highway, so take it slow and be cautious. You’ll be sharing the road with large fast-moving vehicles.
For us, the ride itself was a bit chilly because we visited in the morning. I was glad I wore a jacket and long pants for the ride. The fog and mountain air made it a cold ride. After about 30 minutes, we spotted the sign for Sai Ngam.
As soon as we turned off the highway, we pulled up to a guard booth where we paid the entrance fee. There are individual charges for each person and motorbike and they only take cash, so be aware of that.
But once we went past the booth, the drive got a little interesting. The road began to wind through a forest with some hilly sections. We drove up a few steep inclines where we needed to lean forward into the hill to keep our balance on the motorbike. It wasn’t overly dangerous, but definitely more technical than the highway stretch.
Fortunately, this hilly section of the road was not too long, and in about 5 minutes we reached the entrance to Sai Ngam Hot Spring where we parked in the parking area on the side of the road.
The map location below for Sai Ngam Hot Spring is accurate and can be used to navigate there.
Sai Ngam Hot Spring: Our Experience
As soon as we walked in, we saw what looked like a river. But it was no ordinary river. Steam rose gently off the surface of the water. I was honestly surprised this was the hot spring. Most are small pools, but this was a lot larger and was more like a warm stream flowing through the forest.
We changed out of our riding outfits, and got into our swimwear, then slowly entered the hot spring water. It wasn’t too hot, but it was nice getting into it after our cold morning motorbike ride.
The hot spring was divided into three tiers. The top level was where the spring originated, and it was the warmest spot. From there, the water flowed down into two lower pools, cooling slightly as it went into each one.
Each tier was separated by a natural embankment where water spilled over like a tiny waterfall. It felt amazing to lean back against the flow and let the water pour over our shoulders.
But what I was most surprised about was that there was hardly any sulfur smell. Most hot springs have that strong, eggy scent, but not at Sai Ngam. It felt more like swimming in a warm river than a typical hot spring.
We spent most of our time at the top tier of the hot spring. It’s the largest and warmest and in my opinion the best area. We ended up chatting with a few other travelers who were also relaxing there as well.
By the time we left Sai Ngam, the sun was fully out, and our ride back to Pai was much warmer than our ride there.
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Are You Following Our Pai Blog Series?
We spent 7 days in Pai and found so many things to do there—from canyons to mountains, waterfalls, and hot springs. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Pai Travel Guide
- Our ultimate guide to Pai: 14 Incredible Things to Do in Pai
- Best place to wander around in Pai: Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
- Our favorite place to swim in Pai: Sai Ngam Hot Spring
- Best sunrise views in Pai: Yun Lai Viewpoint
- Best sunset in Pai: Pai Canyon
- Pai’s Chinese Cultural Village: Santichon Village
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Sai Ngam Hot Spring in Pai. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
