Tipsy Tubing in Pai, Thailand

ByAlex March 4, 2023April 20, 2026

Thailand is one of, if not the most, popular destinations in South East Asia for backpackers from around the world. This is due to its beautiful beaches, affordable living for tourists and breathtaking culture! Pai is one of Thailand’s best destinations to visit and absolutely unmissable if you want to explore the real Thailand. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about Tipsy Tubing. It’ll include how to book, where to stay in Pai, how to get there and anything else you need to know!

Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.

Where is Pai?

Pai is a small village located in northern Thailand, in its Mae Hong Son district, close to the Myanmar border. Despite its remote location, it’s extremely popular with backpackers in Thailand thanks to its stunning views and authentic Thai culture.

How to get to Pai?

Getting around Thailand is pretty easy and getting to Pai is no different! There are two primary ways, both originating from Chiang Mai. Firstly, there’s a minivan which runs multiple trips to Pai every day, all departing from Chaing Mai Bus Station. You’ll arrive slap back in the middle of Pai and on its famous Walking Street.

We used 12Go Asia to book all of our transfers in Thailand and highly recommend them!

Tickets cost around 250 baht per person and takes just under three hours. In order to get to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal, you’ll likely need to get a taxi (Grab) from your accommodation.

TOP TIP: Do not be hungover for this trip! The windy roads to Pai are notorious for making people car sick and you’ll feel like you’re being flung around in the van. Even if you are feeling fresh, we would recommend taking some travel sickness pills before you go!

Secondly, you can opt to rent a motorbike and enjoy the beautiful scenery in more comfort. Despite not experiencing it ourselves, we’ve heard from multiple people that the journey was unbelievable. No matter who you’re travelling with, you could each rent a scooter and enjoy this great road. Although do be wary of your weight distribution if you’re taking your backpack with you.

If you do decide to take a motorbike but don’t want to carry your luggage, you can also pay for the minivan to do so. Whilst they will charge you for this privilege, this will allow you to have the best experience possible. This option depends entirely on your budget and how confident you are at driving a scooter.

Where to stay in Pai

Lilu Pai

Whilst there are hostels in Pai, a lot of them were situated on the outskirts of the village. This meant transport was difficult if you weren’t renting a motorbike. So we opted for Lilu Pai Hotel. While this was more of a guest house than a hotel, the location was ideal. It’s just a five-minute walk from Pai’s Walking Street and a stone’s throw away from the village 7-Eleven.

UP2U Guesthouse

However, if you are using a bike or are wanting to stay in hostels to keep your costs down, we’d definitely recommend staying at UP2U. Seemingly, everyone we met was staying here and it’s a great place to stay if you’re looking to meet new people. The atmosphere is really welcoming, the staff are lovely and there are always people who’re going for drinks at Why Not! It even puts on free yoga classes for guests if they’re interested. It also has its own chilling zone which is a great place to come relax and wind down. The wifi is also really good so if you’re a digital nomad then UP2U is perfectly suited to you.

We have also heard great things about both Pai Circus Hostel and Bodega Pai Party Hostel so definitely check them out!

Tipsy Tubing in Pai

Tipsy Tubing is exactly what it sounds like, floating down the Pai river in an inner tube, with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Although, the tipsy part can also stand for being ”tipped-over”! However, this was easily our favourite activity in Pai and something everyone absolutely must try!! If you aren’t a big drinker, don’t be put off by the name. There were plenty of people just there for the ride and the free food at the end!

How to book the tubing!

We found the best place to book was at one of the many stalls along Pai Walking Street and we specifically booked at Pai Adventures. These guys were polite, super helpful and answered every single question we had. In the end, the activity cost 200 baht ($6) each for the whole activity. This included pick-up, drop-off, free water and access to the free BBQ at the end. We booked a day in advance so they told us where we needed to be and when and that was it. Really easy process and we’d highly recommend booking with them every time!

What to expect when Tubing in Pai

Pre-ride

Despite booking through a third party, there’s seemingly only one or two families/companies that run the actual tipsy tubing. Nonetheless, you will either be picked up by Pai Adventures at 1pm or at your accommodation slightly before or after. You’ll all gather in the back of a songthaew (an adapted pick-up truck) and head over to the starting point. It’s likely they’ll be quite a lot of people joining you at this time as Tipsy Tubing is incredibly popular!

Before you set off, make sure you’re already wearing your swimming gear if you want to keep your decency, as there’s nowhere to get changed! Once you’ve taken off your over clothes, gather all of your belongings together and put them in the songthaew. Don’t worry, the songthaew will meet you at the end of your tubing experience where you can collect your clothes.

As it’s TIPSY tubing, the whole idea of this is to drink whilst floating down the river to have an even better time. We’d recommend bringing a few drinks with you and holding them in your dry bag. Dry bags and waterproof phone cases are perfect for this activity as you’ll need to keep at least one hand free to hold on! The tubing company will offer to sell you some drinks and whilst still affordable, it’s not as cheap as the shop. If you don’t fancy bringing alcohol then don’t worry, any other liquid will suffice, if at all.

Whilst you’re getting ready, employees are tying the rubber ring-style tubes in groups ready to go. Groupings can be anywhere from two to five rings together. You’ll then get into groups and wait your turn before jumping on in.

The Ride

We were told that it’s best to not wear any shoes for this activity so I was pretty horrified when I saw you have to walk barefoot in the mud to get down to the river! But I got over it quickly as in no time you are hopping in your inner tube and floating down the river!

The journey was eventful, to say the least! We ended up bumping into bushes with low-lying branches, sticks and sandbanks. It was always incredibly amusing when someone other than yourself got stuck or was caught by a bush! The river wasn’t deep and you could easily get out, and redirect the group before carrying on. The difficult bit was getting back in the rubber ring without completely capsizing!

Throughout the journey, one of the local employees would be running/swimming down with you. This was to make sure no group got stuck or found themselves in any trouble and we definitely had to rely on these guys more than once! To make the journey even more enjoyable and entertaining, we had a few of the local dogs swim with us from start to finish.

Post Ride

Once you come to the end, locals will help you off the tubs and onto the bank. Here you’ll find a small grassy plain where your songthaew and the start of a BBQ will be waiting for you. You’ll end up spending at least an hour here so if you’re feeling slightly grubby then go and get changed. Unfortunately, the nearby facilities only have a toilet which means you’ll have to wait until you get home to shower.

We had a lot of fun getting to know everyone else who also went on the trip. They’ll be the opportunity to grab some more drinks and have a throw around with the frisbee around the field. As we were there for what felt like an age, we ended up playing an extremely long game of beer pong that became painful at points! However one of the best bits was the free BBQ. Even though Alex wasn’t particularly hungry, he still make use as he couldn’t resist some chicken skewers, sausages and roasted tomatoes.

Our Experience

Apart from putting our feet on the squelchy river bed, it was all very entertaining and we had a lot of fun! Yes, heading straight into a bank or bridge with no control over your direction is a bit daunting. However, you don’t hurt yourself and it’s all part of the fun! We ended up working out to push ourselves off potential obstacles to limit any impact.

We thought the BBQ at the end was a great idea as we got to meet so many more people and it had a nice chilled atmosphere. Here we were able to chat about everyone’s tipsy tubing experience and what they all thought. The fact that the company also put on a free mini-BBQ for us was very kind of them.

Overall, it was an incredibly fun day and we couldn’t recommend it enough. This is one of the most unique and authentic activities you can find anywhere in the world. That means if you’re in Pai, you absolutely have to make sure you give it a go because you won’t regret it!!

What to bring and wear

We’d recommend wearing your swimming attire underneath your normal clothes. That way you can simply take off the clothes you don’t want to get dirty and have them clean to put on at the end.

Dry bag with a strap
Waterproof phone case
Change of clothes
Surf shoes or sandals – for afterwards but definitely no flip flops
Beverages – no glass bottles
Suncream
Insect repellant – lotion works best in Thailand
A hat – Nothing that’ll fly off
Rain jacket – Only for the rainy season, if you even care!

Frequently Asked Questions for Tipsy Tubing in Pai

How long is tipsy tubing in Pai?

The time it takes between pick-up and drop-off is probably around three hours. Whilst the actual tubing and social after only take one hour each, you have to get to and from the river as well. If you allow yourself three hours from start to finish then you can account for any delays.

How to book tipsy tubing in Pai?

The best way of booking tipsy tubing is in person on Pai’s Walking Street. Whilst we recommend booking with Paid Adventures, there are a good few other companies that offer tipsy tubing. No matter who you book with, you’ll all end up in the same place at the same time, it’s just about what price you can get for it.

How much is tipsy tubing in Pai?

From Pai Adventures, we paid 200 baht ($6) each and this included pick-up and drop-off to either our accommodation or Pai’s Walking Street.

What days are tipsy tubing in Pai?

Tipsy tubing happens every single day of the week so no matter when or how long you’re in Pai for, you’ll be able to find a day that suits you.

Can you still go tipsy tubing in the dry season?

Yes, it just means the pace of the river will be slower

Have they banned tipsy tubing in Pai?

No, just the ability to drink alcohol whilst tubing. A law was actually passed in 2022 preventing alcohol from being drunk but due to the recent surge in popularity, Thai officials will, from March 2023, be stricter in enforcing this law.

Tipsy Tubing in Pai is a once in a lifetime experience and something you absolutely must do! We were a bit hesitant at first and even more so when we saw the colour of the river; however, we were so glad we did it and it’s a great memory to look back on! We had a great time in Thailand and if tubing in Pai sounds like something you might enjoy, do check out some of the other nightlife in Thailand!

There you have it; our guide to Tipsy Tubing in Pai, Thailand; outlining how to book, what to wear, and what to expect BEFORE you take part so you won’t be left disappointed.

Have you ever been tipsy tubing in Pai? Let us know in the comments!

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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.