Motorbike Rental in Pai – Your 2024 Guide
Here’s all the info you need if you’re thinking about motorbike rental in Pai. I’ll tell you where to go, what you’ll pay and what you’ll need to ride legally. Or less legally, if you so choose. Let’s get to it, shall we?
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Your guide to motorbike rental in Pai
If you’re busy and just want to know the key information about scooter hire in Pai, here’s what you want to know…
- Scooter rental in Pai costs around 150 to 200 THB per day.
- Vespai Rental – This is the best place to rent a motorbike in Pai.
- You’ll need an International Driving Permit to legally ride a scooter in Pai. You can find out more and get one emailed to you from the International Drivers Association.
There are many more good scooter rental shops in Pai, so read on to find the best one for you.
Is it worth renting a motorbike in Pai?
If you’ve found yourself here then I’m guessing you’ve already decided that it is worth renting a bike in Pai and you just want to know the best place to rent one from, and we’ll get to that very soon!
Of all the places I’ve travelled to, it’s probably the best place for everyone, newbies to experienced riders, to enjoy the thrill of riding around quiet winding roads with the warm air blowing in your face. So yes, scooter rental in Pai is a must. Just don’t be stupid. Don’t ride drunk and always wear your helmet!
How much is bike rental in Pai?
Most bike rental companies in Pai will have prices starting at around 150 to 200 baht for 24 hours. That’s usually for a bog standard 100-125cc bike. If you’re after a more powerful motorbike the price will be a fair bit higher.
Looking for more fun things to do in Pai? Check out my guides about tubing down the river with a beer, and a bouncy bamboo bridge:
Tipsy Tubing In Pai 2024: All You Need To Know To Get Floating
Bamboo Bridge Pai – All You Need To Know In 2024
What do I need to rent a scooter in Pai?
You might be wondering if you can rent a bike in Pai without a driving licence. If you want to be fully legal you should get yourself an International Driving Permit as this combined with your home driving licence is all you officially need.
You can get your permit from the friendly guys at the International Drivers Association. If you’re already travelling they can email it to you to make it super easy.
If, though, you’re happy to stretch the rules a little, you’re likely to find that many bike renters are too. Most are unlikely to ask you for more than a deposit and a copy of your passport because if you are pulled over by the police and don’t have the documentation that they want to see, you’re the one who’ll have to cough up.
Want to know more about Pai? Check out my Ulitmate Guide. It tells you everything you need to know.
Where is the best place for motorbike rental in Pai?
So, now that we’ve got the basics covered let’s get into why you’re really here. You want to know the best places for bike rental in Pai, so let me tell you where you should go if you want to rent a scooter in Pai.
I stayed in Pai for two weeks and used two different companies to rent a bike for 24 hours each time. I didn’t need a bike for the full two weeks, so I just rented one for 24 hours each time. Here’s what I can recommend…
Vespai Rental – The most popular place for motorbike rental in Pai.
Many people on the lookout for bike rental in Pai will head to Vespai Rental. The main reason will probably be their great reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. But, the reason behind those amazing reviews is the owner, Tam.
Like many people in Thailand, he’s a really great guy. You never feel for a minute that he’s ripping you off. He goes the extra mile, especially with new or nervous riders, taking as much time as you need to feel comfortable before riding off on your own.
If you want, he’ll also give you a map of all the different routes you can take around Pai and he will make sure your bike is powerful enough for your plans. We both took a 125cc bike from him and paid 300 baht in total for the day. For a deposit, you can choose between your passport or cash, usually 2000 baht, and a photocopy of your passport.
We rode to Sanchiton Village, spent a few hours there, and then headed to Pai Canyon to soak up the amazing sunset. The canyon and the village were great, but without a doubt, the most fun was riding the bikes around the countryside.
Prices to rent a bike from Vespai start from just 100 baht for 24 hours. It’s open from 9 am to 5 pm. A word of warning though, he’s usually sold out by 10 am so make sure you get there early.
It’s located in the centre of town. The full address is: 69/8 Moo 1, Wiang Tai, Pai District, Thailand. If you want to call ahead the number is +66 95 790 8815.
Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental
We headed to Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental after we learned the hard way that you need to get to Vespai before 10 am. You know how it is, once you get a good service somewhere you’re disappointed if you need to go somewhere new. I didn’t need to worry, because the service at Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental was also top-notch.
As it was late morning there weren’t many bikes to choose from, but one classic Honda 125cc was perfect for our needs that day. It cost 200 baht for 24 hours and once again we were able to leave a cash deposit with a photocopy of a passport, but if you prefer to leave your passport when renting a scooter in Pai you can, of course, do that too. I guess we’re just more precious about our passports than our money!
Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental is located in the centre of town and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you need the full address it’s: The Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental, 94 1 Wiang Tai, Pai District, Thailand.
You can call or message them at +66 96 520 3580
Vespai Rental and Dragonfly Pai Scooter Rental are, in my experience, the two best places for motorbike rental in Pai. But that’s not to say that there aren’t many other places that will give you great service too. Here are two other places that were recommended to me for bike rental in Pai by fellow travellers and locals.
GM Pai Motorbike Rental
When we spoke to the lady at our hostel about the best places for bike rental in Pai she told us about a lesser-known place called GM Pai Motorbike Rental. It’s much smaller than the other places on this list but she told us that they are reliable and offer a good service and prices start from just 100 baht.
Here’s a link to the location of GM Pai Motorbike Rental on Google Maps
Kumi Pai Motor Rental – The best bike rental in Pai for same-day return.
Kumi Pai Motor Rental is of the most established places for scooter rental in Pai, and they have a lot of bikes to choose from. A big plus if renting a scooter from them is that they are open from 8 am to 8 pm, which is very handy if you don’t fancy getting up early the next day to return your scooter.
Rent it nice and early, zip around the Pai countryside taking in places like the Bamboo Bridge and the sunset over Pai Canyon and then return it before 8 pm. Because let’s be honest, you’re unlikely to want your bike after that time anyway, so it just saves you having to return it early the next day.
Again prices start from around 150 baht for 24 hours. Here’s a link to the location of Kumi Pai Motor Rental on Google Maps.
You can call them on +66 92 959 3539
Need a bike for the rest of your travels?
Usually, I’d recommend Bikes Booking to anyone planning to rent a bike. That’s because you can get it all sorted up-front, pay by card, get your insurance included and have that feeling that someone’s got your back if something goes wrong. Unfortunately, Bikes Booking doesn’t have a presence in Pai, but they do in most other places you’re likely to find yourself around the world, so it’s worth considering them next time you need a bike.
Heading to Pai and want some accommodation tips?
If you’re on the lookout for some tips about where to stay in Pai, allow me to give you my four budget-based recommendations.
1 – Fancy Pants
If you’re feeling lavish then check out Reverie Siam Resort. Rooms are usually over £150 per night, which I know is crazy high for Pai, but hear me out. If you’re after something extra special and can afford it, you won’t regret treating yourself.
2 – Above Average Joe
If you prefer to place yourself in the middle you should head to Pai Vimaan Resort. This place comes in at around £40 per night and still gives a level of luxury compared to most places in Pai. It’s also located right in the middle of the town and is great to book trips from.
3 – Cheap But Private
If you’re like most of the travellers in Pai, you’re looking for cheap and cheerful. For that, I give you Villa De Pai. Rooms are often available for less than £10 per night and that’s for a private room with its own bathroom, fancy that!!
4 – Party Party
Finally, if you’re more of a social butterfly who travels from party hostel to party hostel, I know the place for you. That place is Bodega Pai Party Hostel. This place is for sociable travellers who like to party. Plus, as you’d expect with any good hostel, you can plan all the trips and travel you need from their reception.
Looking for more things to do in Pai?
If you’re hungry for more Pai travel tips you should check out my Ultimate Guide to Pai, Thailand.
About the author – The Sketchy Traveller
I’m not really a stickman, but it seems that I like portraying myself as one.
I’m an English guy who’s been travelling since 2017. I was never good at taking photos, sketching just seems to work better for me, and in my opinion, why do you want to see other people’s 4K videos and pictures of the world? Surely it’s better to see it for yourself. You can get in touch through the contact page or Instagram.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy travelling.