Visit Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge in Pai

I visited Bamboo Bridge as a part of the half day sightseeing tour around Pai. In this article, I will share with you my experience of how to get to, what to do, how long to spend, and things to do near Pai Bamboo bridge.

The Bamboo Bridge is one of the most beautiful bamboo bridges in Mae Hong Son. It is an 800m long bridge winds through the lush rice paddies and farmland outside Pai Town. It is a great place to take a peaceful walk, take photos, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Also known as Bridge of Merit, the Bamboo Bridge was originally built to serve locals and monks to travel between Pam Bok village and Wat Pa Huai Khai Khiri. The monks can use the route to get to the village for alms. It has become a popular attraction, attracting lots of visitors when visiting Pai.

You can check other articles about Pai here:

Where is Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge?

The Bamboo Bridge, also known as Boon Ko Ku So Bridge (or Kho Ku So Bridge), is located in Pam Bok Village, 11 km southwest of Pai Walking Street. It is around a 20 minute drive by car or scooter. The Bridge is only 2 km drive from Pam Bok Waterfall, which is another popular attraction in Pai.

The bridge is 815m long with a surface made from bamboo and the pillar is concrete and steel. It offers stunning views of the rice field and the mountain range in the background.

Some basic info about Pai Bamboo Bridge:

Location	Pam Bok Village, 20 minute drive from Pai Town
Opening Hours	24 hours, Everyday
Entrance Fee	30 baht
Duration	1-2 hours
What to do	Walking, taking photos, visiting the temple, enjoy the views

How to get to Pai Bamboo Bridge?

The Bamboo bridge is located around 20 minutes drive from Pai Town. There are several ways to get to the Bamboo bridge, including renting a motorbike, hiring a private driver, or taking an organized tour.

Scooter rental

If you are confident with your driving skill, you can consider renting a scooter. There are many scooters in Pai Town, the price for a day is around 200-300 baht.

This is a cheap way to explore not only the Bamboo Bridge but also many other attractions in Pai such as the Canyon, Chinese Village, Pam Bok Waterfall, and the Big Buddha.

Sightseeing tour

There are many travel agents in Pai offering sightseeing tours around Pai which include a visit to Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge. I visited the bamboo bridge as a part of the half day tour, and highly recommend it for those who don’t plan to drive.

The tour price is quite affordable, only 300 baht/person for a small group of around 10 people. It usually takes half a day from 1pm till sunset. The tour will take you to popular sights in Pai such as White Buddha, Viewpoint, Chinese Village, Pam Bok Waterfall, I love Pai sign, Bamboo Bridge, and the canyon.

You can easily book a tour at your hotel or at a local agent on the walking street. No need to book far in advance. You can book the night before for the next day trip.

Hire private driver (songthaews/ taxi)

If you are with a group of friends, you can consider hiring a private driver for a few hours to explore the bamboo bridge. You can combine it with other attractions of your interest. This way is more flexible than taking the group sightseeing tour, it can be more expensive.

Best time to visit the Bamboo Bridge

The bridge is open all time everyday but it is best to visit during day time, early morning to see the monks crossing the bridge, or late afternoon for sunset.

I visited the bridge as a part of the sightseeing tour around Pai. We arrived at the bridge around 4 PM. It was still hot, but it felt cooler than at midday.

As the bridge runs along the rice field, it has a different vibe in each season. You can have beautiful green rice paddies in the rainy season from May to October. And the rice fields turn golden from November to February. I visited early December, and was able to see farmers harvesting the rice on their lands.

What to do at Pai Bamboo Bridge?

The driver dropped us at the parking area, then we walked down to the bridge. There is a little hut at the entrance where you buy a ticket to enter the bridge.

From the ticket counter, you walk for a couple of minutes along the bridge to get to the checkpoint, a beautiful cafe and toilet.

Strolling along the bridge

It took me around 30 minutes to walk from the beginning to the end of the bridge. This includes lots of stops along the way to take photos and watch locals working on the rice fields.

I took the tour, so they allowed for only one hour to walk around the bridge and explore. If you have time, you can spend some time exploring the temple at the end of the bridge.

Me watching farmers working on the rice field

Wat Pa Huai Khai Khiri

Wat Pa Huai Khai Khiri is a peaceful forest temple located at the end of the bridge. I just took a quick look at the area near the entrance and didn’t walk all the way to the main temple. It was a very quiet and good place to walk around. But be mindful of the dogs on the ground.

Have a drink at the cafe

The cafe is located on one end of the bridge near the ticket counter. It has beautiful views and lots of nice shapes (hearts, stairs) for taking photos. There are tables, chars, and swings outdoors where you can enjoy the drinks and take in the beautiful and peaceful views.

Things to do near Pai Bamboo Bridge

You can combine a visit to the Bamboo Bridge with the nearby Pam Bok Waterfalls. Further away, you can visit the canyon, Coffee in Love, Chinese Village & Viewpoint, and The Big Buddha.

Pam Bok Waterfalls

Pam Bok Waterfalls is a small waterfall located only 5 minutes drive from the Bamboo Bridge through a winding road. It is a good place for swimming and chilling. The entrance ticket is 100 baht. It is easily reachable from the entrance with just a short walk.

Pai Canyon

Pai Canyon is a popular place to visit in Pai, especially at sunset. Many visitors visit Pai Canyon after the Bamboo Bridge. It is just a 10km drive away.

Pai Canyon is a network of narrow red sandstone ridges with steep cliffs on either side. You can do a bit of climbing around the canyon and enjoy the breathtaking views of the valleys and mountains.

Coffee in Love

Coffee in Love is a popular cafe located on the highway 1095 between Pai and Bamboo bridge. When traveling by scooter or as a part of a tour, you can have a quick stop here for photos, views, and some drinks. The sign “I am Pai” is located here and a great spot for a selfie.

Chinese Village & Yun Lai Viewpoint

These two attractions are located close to each other, and is 17 km from Pai Bamboo bridge. You can easily get to these places by scooter or as part of the tour.

Yun Lai Viewpoint is a great place to have stunning views of Pai’s mountain range and valleys. Chinese Village is where Chinese-Thai people lived. It is a nice place to take photos with Chinese-themed attractions such as the Great Wall of China.

Other attractions and activities in Pai:

Where to stay near Bamboo Bridge?

The best places to stay near the Bamboo Bridge is in Pai Town and its surrounding countryside area. If you want easy access to all amenities and parties, you can consider booking a hotel in the walking street area. I loved my stay at Hugga Pai and highly recommend it.

So, you have it, my short but informative guide about the beautiful bamboo bridge in Pai. I hope you enjoy the bridge as much as I did.