Pai has no shortage of scenic spots, but Yun Lai Viewpoint is easily the most famous. It sits in the hills above Pai and has a wide expansive view. It’s a super popular spot for sunrise, where you can watch the sun peek over the mountains in the distance while fog looms inside the valley below.
But what stood out more to us wasn’t the viewpoint itself, but the area around it. The backroads leading up to Yun Lai go through quiet farmland and villages. You get to see a quieter side of Pai that many people overlook.
In this guide, I’ll share what you need to know before visiting Yun Lai Viewpoint, including how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.
Yun Lai Viewpoint Complete Guide
Yun Lai Viewpoint is known as one of the best spots in Pai to catch the sunrise. While we didn’t make it up early enough this time, it’s the kind of place we’d consider revisiting just for the morning view.
The viewpoint itself is built up. It has a small cafe where you can grab a cold drink. It also has a tree decorated with hanging heart-shaped tokens if you want to leave a romantic note behind.
There are also basic camping facilities on-site if you want to stay overnight and catch sunrise without riding out there early morning in the dark.
When we visited Yun Lai there were no food options available. I’m not sure if that has changed since then, but I don’t recommend going there hungry.
- Yun Lai Viewpoint Entrance Fee: 20 baht per person
How to get to Yun Lai Viewpoint
Yun Lai Viewpoint sits on the western edge of Pai Valley. It looks out over the town and the surrounding farmland.
It’s far enough from Pai that walking or riding a bicycle isn’t a good option, so motorbiking is the best way to get there.
And better yet, the ride itself is part of the experience. The road goes through quiet, rural hills and has a few view of its own along the way.
You’ll also pass by the Santichon Chinese Village, so you can visit both of these places in the same trip.
Once you arrive at Yun Lai, there’s plenty of space to park your motorbike or car.
The map location below is accurate, so you can use it to navigate there.
Yun Lai Viewpoint: Our Experience
We’d seen Yun Lai Viewpoint on just about every “must-visit in Pai” list, so we figured we had to check it out for ourselves. We didn’t make it for sunrise, but we rolled up late morning, hoping to catch some good views and a quieter vibe.
The ride there was actually a highlight. We took the long way and cruised through the countryside, passing small farms and going through little villages. As we got closer to the viewpoint, the roads got a little steeper and more uphill.
When we finally arrived at Yun Lai, the first thing we noticed was how built-up the area felt. We paid the entrance fee and entered an area with souvenir stands, a cafe, and even a few spots clearly set up for Instagram photos. It reminded us of the more touristy corners of Bali.
That said, the view really was something. The entire Pai Valley stretched out below, with farmland, forest, and rolling hills fading into the mountains. It was bigger and broader than the view at the Big White Buddha. Even though the setting felt a bit less peaceful.
But I’ll be honest. It wasn’t my favorite spot. Maybe we missed the magic by not coming at sunrise, but during the day it didn’t quite live up to its reputation. I’m still glad that we went there though.
If you end up visiting the Yun Lai Viewpoint for sunrise please let me know what your experience was like! I’ll probably wake up early and make it out there next time I’m in Pai.
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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 Yun Lai Viewpoint in Pai! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
