Mae Yen Waterfall, My favorite Hiking trail in Pai

Mae Yen Waterfall is one of the best hiking destinations in Pai, along with Pai Canyon Hike. The waterfall is only reachable by foot, which helps maintain its peaceful atmosphere. It is ideal for nature lovers, hikers, and those who want to be far away from tourist crowds.

The waterfall itself is not one of the most impressive waterfalls in Thailand, but the journey to the waterfall is unique and beautiful. You will walk through the thick jungle, crossing the river many times, and enjoy the peaceful swimming at the end.

You can check out my itinerary, top things to do, and getting around Pai in these articles:

• 15 Best Things to Do in Pai
• How I Spend 2-3 Days In Pai
• Getting to and Getting Around Pai 
• Best Places to Stay in Pai

Where is Mae Yen Waterfall?

Mae Yen Waterfall is a remote waterfall located along the stream of Mae Yen river. It is around an 8 km walking trail from east of Pai Walking Street, which is the heart of Pai. It will take around 2-4 hours to reach the waterfall depending on your pace.

The trail is mostly flat, with some steep inclines at the final parts of the trail (around 20-30 minutes walk). You will cross the river multiple times and climb the fallen trees many times too.

You can swim, relax, take photos, or have a picnic at the waterfall. When I reached the waterfall, I took a moment to take the solitude of the waterfall.

If you start from Pai Walking Street, you will pass the beautiful rice fields, local villages, the dense jungle, and the stream. The Long Neck Karen Village is a popular tourist attraction located near the starting point of the trail. You can consider visiting the village after the hike.

Here are some basic info about the trail to Mae Yen Waterfall”

Distance	About 12–14 kilometers round-trip.
Duration	About 4 to 6 hours round trip.
Hiking Difficulty	Easy to moderate
Best Time to Visit	Daytime, ideally starts from 9-10am and comes back around 3-4pm, before sunset.
Entrance Fee	Free

Best Time to Visit Mae Yen Waterfall

The best time to visit is late morning around 9 to 10pm. This will give you plenty of time to take a slow hike, enjoy the swimming, and come back before dark. I started the trail too early, around 6am, from my hotel in Pai town center. The forest is still very wet and dark.

I recommend checking the weather forecast before embarking, as heavy rains can make the trail muddy and hazardous. It is best to avoid the flooding season as the stream is very strong and it is dangerous for crossing the river.

I visited the waterfall in early December, which is part of the dry season. The water was about knee-high when I crossed the river. The stream was relatively strong at some parts but still manageable. To cross the river, you need to test the depth first before crossing.

How to get to the starting point of Mae Yen Falls trail

The most difficult part of the trail is finding the starting point. Once you find it, you can easily follow the trail to reach the waterfall. 

The starting point is located around 40 minutes walk from Pai Walking street and 15 minute walk from the Long Neck Karen Village. You can put “Startpoint Mae Yen Waterfall” as the destination on Google Maps to find the trailhead. You can check it here.

I walked from my hotel in Pai Town all the way to the waterfall but you can also drive the scooter to the starting point, park the scooter at the trailhead, then walk.

The hiking trail to Mae Yen Waterfall

There are two parts of the trails. The first part is around 2 hours walk from the starting point to the blue sign, mostly flats with around 40 river crossings. The second part is steeper with around a 30 minute hike from the blue sign to the waterfall. 

I used ESim and did not have an internet signal at the trail. If you try to connect to the interest, the phone battery will go down very quickly. You can’t connect with the internet or even make a call. So, it is better to turn off the internet connection to save battery to take photos.

Even though the trail is quite easy to follow, it is also handy to download offline maps such as Map.me or AllTrails for some navigation. 

From the starting point to the blue sign

After getting to the trail head, you will first walk through the river to reach the trail. You will pass the banana plantation, walk through the tiny trail along the river, then bamboo forests, and lots of fallen trees along the way. 

I didn’t see any snakes but some spiders and mushrooms along the way. The trail is also running parallel and close to the river. If you are far away from the water, you might get lost. If you lose the trail on one side of the river, try looking for it on the opposite bank.

From the blue sign to the waterfall

After walking for around 2 hours, you will come across a blue sign that says “One hour climb steep bypass here. Do not go straight, wet rocks, many injuries”. I walked up the bamboo forest and reached the final destination within 30 minutes.

Mae Yen Waterfall looks like 3-tiers waterfalls with a pool at the bottom for swimming. I was the only one in the fall and it was very peaceful. 

Hiking back from Waterfall to the head trail

Hiking back is quicker and easier than the way to the waterfall. I didn’t meet anyone on the way to the waterfall, but saw a few groups on the way back. Some continued walking while others just wandered around and didn’t make it till the end. 

It took me around 2 hours to get back to the starting point. I spent my afternoon taking trips to Nam Lod Cave, located 50 km from Pai Town Center.

Is it safe hiking Mae Yen Waterfall?

In my experience, it is safe to hike Mae Yen Waterfall. I did it as a solo female traveler and I didn’t encounter any issues along the way. I don’t recommend doing it solo, especially if you go early in the morning. It is best to have a companion with you in case something bad happens inside the forest.

If you go mid day around 9-10am, you will likely see other travelers on the route. You can join them to get to the waterfall. 

Some safety concerns when hiking the trail to Mae Yen Waterfall is the stream, and some animals along the way such as snakes. Avoid hiking after heavy rains or in flooding conditions, you should be fine.

Tips for hiking to Mae Yen Waterfall

Check the weather forecast before embarking, as heavy rains can make the trail hazardous. You will need to cross the river multiple times, so waterproof shoes or sandals are recommended. 

I had my New Balance Shoes with me and it all got soaked into the water. At some parts of the road, I took it off and walked barefoot. Walking barefoot slowed me down and it was also hurtful sometimes with the small rocks on the dirt trail.

There are no shops along the trail and it is a long trail with some steep sections, so bring enough water with you. I also recommend bringing some snacks and insect Repellent to protect against mosquitoes. 

The trekking Poles is also helpful to check the level of water before crossing and to navigate uneven terrain. You can make the sound with it when walking to scare the animal (snakes) away.

Pai Canyon – Another popular Hiking destination in Pai

If you like hiking and outdoor activities, there are several other nice hiking trails in Pai for exploration. The most popular is the hike on Pai Canyon, Hua Chang Waterfall, and the Bamboo Bridge.

Pai Canyon, aka Kong Lan, is a beautiful place to watch the sunset and enjoy the beautiful views of the narrow red sandstone ridges and deep valleys. 

You can spend 1 to 3 hours hiking, climbing the trails at the Canyon. Some parts of the trail are very narrow, steep, and slippery, so make sure to only do it if you feel safe to do so. There is no rope or railing to support you along the way. 

I was a bit scared of the heigh, so I just stopped at the first viewpoint. It was enough for me to enjoy the views while still feeling safe. 

Pai Canyon is located right on the highway 1095, 7 km south of Pai Walking Street. You can reach the Canyon by renting a scooter and as a part of the sightseeing tour around Pai.

Other Waterfalls in Pai

In addition to the secluded Mae Yen Waterfall, Pai is home to several other waterfalls such as Pam Bok Waterfall and Mor Paeng Waterfall. 

These waterfalls are more popular because they are easily accessible by car and scooter. Unlike free access to Mae Yen Falls, these waterfalls require an entrance fee of 100 baht.

Pam Bok Waterfall

Pam Bok Waterfall is a small and easily accessible waterfall, located 9 km south of Pai Walking Street. You can visit the waterfall by scooter or as a part of an organized tour. I recommend combining the visit to the waterfall with the nearby Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge.

Pam Bok Waterfall is open every day. The entrance ticket is 100 baht. From the ticket counter, you walk for around 10 minutes to reach the waterfall. It is a good place for swimming, taking photos, and chilling. 

Mor Paeng Waterfall

Mor Paeng Waterfall is a popular waterfall located near the Chinese Village, 9 km west of Pai Walking Street. You can reach the waterfall by a rental motorbike or by taking a guided tour. After the waterfall, you can visit the Yun Lai Viewpoint and Santichon Chinese Village.

Mor Paeng is open every day from 8.30am to 6pm. The entrance ticket is 100 baht. Good place for swimming with cafes and toilets onsite. 

Is Mae Yen Waterfall worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely. If you are an adventurous traveler and natural lover, like me, it is worth taking the hike to Mae Yen Waterfall. You can take a peaceful walk through the dense forest, enjoy fun river crossings, tackle some challenging hikes up steep inclines, and be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall.

So, you have it, my guide to Mae Yen Waterfall as well as some of the other hiking destinations and waterfalls in Pai. I love the journey to Mae Yen Waterfall because it is peaceful and far away from the tourist crowds.