Cover picture: Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
After half an hour we reach the entrance to the bamboo bridge (outside Pai)
The entrance fee is 30 baht per person and is used to maintain the grounds
The bridge is made of woven bamboo material & crosses an idyllic rice plantation
Here, the bamboo canes not only serve as bridge railings, but also as flower pots!
View of freshly irrigated fields (= young rice that has recently been planted)
In some rice fields you can watch the farmers at work during the day
There are nicely decorated photo spots, benches and small attractions everywhere
such as this double swing with a fantastic view of the rice fields!
Carp and catfish are bred in a pond
For a small fee, you can get a can of food for the fish from a self-service machine
After a few hundred meters we pass a kind of Thai temple on stilts
This „temple“ is actually a pavilion (sala), which serves as a resting place and provides shade
Salas often have a Buddhist altar, as can be seen here on the upper floor
The balcony offers a great view of the vast rice fields! On the left you can see a stairway to heaven, which serves as a photo spot
After a strenuous or action-packed activity, this place offers the perfect day for rest and relaxation!
Small waterfalls make the idyll perfect with the gentle sound of rushing water
The bridge, which is around 800 meters long, seemed much longer than it actually is
If you walk the path to the end, you will reach a remote Buddhist temple
Photo of a simpler pavilion with a rest area
We cross a small river over a red bridge ...
... and pass another sala. Travelers can also spend the night here free of charge.
The bamboo bridge finally leads to a temple in the forest, but we didn't make it there due to the heat and turned back.
The way back led through a small village right next to the rice fields and gave an interesting insight into the simple life and Thai culture in the countryside.
We hope the pictures have given you a first impression of the Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge! We wish you lots of fun! ツ
Costs
30 THB p.p.
(≈ 0,79 EUR)
Opening hours
Daily 08:00 - 18:00
Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge
The Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge is a popular excursion destination near Pai, about 30 minutes by scooter from the center. The around 1 kilometer long bridge runs across idyllic rice fields and gives an interesting insight into the The daily work of local rice farmers. The bridge construction consists of woven bamboo material, which is supported on natural wooden pillars.
The bamboo bridge was once Connection between the village Ban Pam Bok and the Wat Pa Huai Khai Khiri Temples was built. It was intended to enable the residents and local monks to reach the remote temple easily on foot without having to enter the rice fields. Especially for Monsoon season the path over the bridge was a real enrichment and is therefore still used as standard today.
The bridge was used exclusively by the villagers for many years until it was also open to visitors in 2016 and further expanded. A walk across the Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge thus gives tourists the opportunity to see the Explore rice-growing areas up close, without stepping on it. Even if the construction of the bridge looks a little unsafe at first glance and some of the planks creak when you step on them, the entire walkway is very safe.
Admission costs 30 Baht per person (≈ 80 cents) to cover bridge renovations and maintenance of the facility. Some Free parking spaces are available at the entrance. The site is home to a Kiosk with drinks and snacks, a small Restaurant, two Cafés and Toilets. The bamboo path leads past beautifully decorated Photo spots and Seating areas from which you can look out over the vast fields. Open pavilions (Sala) provide a place to rest and shelter from the sun or rain. The path also leads past a Fish pond (if you like, you can buy fish food from a self-service vending machine and feed the local carp and catfish). After around one kilometer, the bridge finally leads to a remote temple in the forest. The Wat Pa Huai Khai Khiri only opens on Buddhist holidays and is of great importance to the local residents.
Conclusion: The peaceful atmosphere in combination with a dreamlike landscape and the insight into the natural working day of the rice farmers is, in our opinion, a very special, cultural experience, which you should definitely take with you in Pai! In total we spent about one hour at this location - it has to be said that we were traveling at a leisurely pace and didn't walk all the way to the end, as it was very sunny and hot that day.
Tip:: Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the bamboo bridge is hardly frequented and offers a great atmosphere at Sunrise or sunset!
Places of interest in the vicinity
- Pai Canyon
- Love Strawberry Pai (Café)
- Yun Lai Viewpoint
Map
More Pai highlights
Big Buddha Pai
The Big Buddha of Pai is an impressive Buddha statue that belongs to the Wat Phra That Mae Yen temple complex and was built on a hill outside of Pai. There is free parking on site and admission is also free. Donations for the preservation of the temple are appreciated but not required. From the parking lot, a steep staircase with over 300 steps leads up to the Big Buddha. In addition to the cultural insight, the excursion destination also offers a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain landscape of Pai.
Yun Lai Viewpoint
The beautiful Yun Lai Viewpoint is located in the tranquil mountain landscape of Pai at an altitude of 770 meters. Translated, this means "the clouds are coming", which in Chinese is associated with good luck and positive energy. From the city center, the drive up to the viewpoint takes about 15 minutes and takes you through the Chinese Yunnan village of Santichon Village - this is also the origin of the viewpoint, which is decorated in striking Chinese red and gold. A small fee of 20 baht per person is charged on arrival at the viewpoint. Parking is free (note: be sure to drive up the steep road as there is a charge at the lower parking lot).
Pai Canyon
The Pai Canyon is a fascinating natural spectacle in the north of Thailand! Who would have thought that this country has such deep canyons? It may not be quite as spectacular as the Grand Canyon in the USA, but the comparatively small Pai Canyon is absolutely worth seeing and always worth a visit if you are in the charming mountain region! The canyon, which the locals call Kong Lan, was formed over several centuries by natural erosion processes. More precisely, whenever the soil was eroded by weather-related influences (wind, rain or heat). The result is the formation of narrow, striking rocky gorges with steep slopes, which today resemble a miniature version of the Grand Canyon. The landscape consists mainly of red sandstone, which continues to be shaped by the tropical weather even today.
