Unfazed by our minor motorbike fall and a flat tire during our morning visit to Pai’s Chinese village and Mo Paeng waterfalls, we again ripped through the town’s empty highways in search for its second waterfall. We were quite hungry since we haven’t had anything substantial since our very early breakfast at the House of Love and the single bowl of noodles we bought at the village.

En route to the second waterfalls, we made the mistake of ignoring the Pai Land Split where there’s a stall selling some organic food. We thought we’d pass another one selling something less organic since we wanted sinful meat for lunch. We were quite wrong; there was nothing in the seemingly unending kilometers until Pam Bok Falls.

THE RUGGED TRAIL TO PAI’S PAM BOK FALLS

There was absolutely no one at the Pai Pam Bok Fall’s jump off point, not even kids selling trinkets, water or anything we can eat. With our stomachs grumbling in protest, we proceeded in hiking the trail to the waterfalls, hoping the path wouldn’t be that technical and praying it would be short.

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GOING DOWN THE GORGE

Luck was on our side on that part. It took a little less than five minutes before we reached a hard slope going down between a gorge where Pam Bok is located. Since we’re lugging a bit of photo gear, I suggested that my travel mate go first while I watch over our things on a mini-cave right along the drop.

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A MINI CAVE RIGHT BEFORE THE DROP TO THE WATERFALL

It was evident that the waterfall has seen its share of campers, a spent bonfire was set right in the middle of the shallow outcrop and the nasty odor of urine pervades all along the walls of the cave. Ugh.

STONE HOPPING TO PAM BOK, BAD IDEA

It’s quite nice, my friend told me as she clambered up the slope to take turn in watching our bags as I slid my way down the canyon. It wasn’t an easy climb down since there were really no real steps on the descent.

THE GAP OVERHEAD BETWEEN THE TWO CANYON WALLS

Heading to the waterfalls, I’d had to remove my shoes and wade into the icy water as jumping along the boulders didn’t seem like a good idea at the time, or probably any time, they were quite slippery.

PAM BOK FALLS WITH TWO OTHER COUPLES

PAM BOK WATERFALLS DURING THE SUMMER MONTH

Soon enough, the view opened up to a gush of water in the middle of two rock cliff. Similar to Mo Paeng, Pam Bok’s forty-meter cascade wasn’t that strong since we visited during the dry months. Still, it was a beautiful sight made more impressive by the two rock face sandwiching the falls.

PAM BOK FALLS RISES TO ABOUT FORTY METERS

I saw one guy leap from a twelve-foot rock near the cascade and dive into the water. From where I was standing, which was about fifteen meters away from the waterfalls, the water was only shin-deep. The catch-basin I assume is much, much deeper, making Pam Bok a good swimming spot.

GOING BACK UP!

But too dizzy due to lack of food, we decided to pass off on stripping down and dipping on Pam Bok waterfalls’ freezing waters. I carefully wended my way back up the trail and tried to quell the pangs of hunger clawing at my tummy. We would have organic veggies if that’s what it would take!

Pai Pam Bok Waterfall
Address: Thung Yao, Pai District, Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Entrance Fee: 40 Baht / Person
Opening Hours: Open all day
GPS Coordinates Map: 19.320684, 98.405041

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