How to get here
What You Will Need
Visas
Insurance
Climate
About Thailand, Lanna and Pai
How to get here
1.Getting to Thailand:
Fly to Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is nearer but Bangkok has more flights and is usually cheaper.
There is an abundance of hotels, guest houses etc in Bangkok to suit all budgets, should you need to arrange an overnight stay.
2. Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Budget flights can be booked online or on the top floor of Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) international airport. They are very cheap.
Sleeper trains cost about half of the price of flights and provide good views of the beautiful Thai countryside.
Overnight coach is the cheapest option but requires traveling to Kao San Road in Bangkok.
We can recommend guest houses in Chiang Mai if requested.
3. Chiang Mai to Pai.
It is easiest to book a minibus for the last leg of your journey to Pai. For about 400 Baht, you will be taken in an air con minibus on a 3 and a half hour breath taking drive along the stunning, winding, mountain roads to Pai. We will pick you up from the minibus offices.
Alternatively, you can fly from Chiang Mai to Pai in which case we will pick you up from Pai airport. The flight passes close to the MTC so look out for us when you come in to land!
If you need help planning your journey, please email us.
What You Will Need.
Most of what you need when in Thailand can be bought here cheaply.
You should consider bringing:
- Your kung fu uniform, if you have one
- Small selection of comfortable clothes
- Laptop
- Camera
- Weapons
- Wash kit
Visas
This information is correct at time of writing for most western countries. You are advised to check the website of your country’s Thai embassy / consulate if in any doubt. When enrolling for a two year instructor course, you will need to apply for a student visa, we will provide the supporting documentation that you need.
Short Stay (upto 30 days).
Upon arrival at immigration in Thailand, you will be issued 30 day tourist visa for free.
Medium stay (upto 3 months).
Apply at the Thai consulate in your country for a tourist visa. These are available by post for 3 months. Your local consulate will be able to advise you on this: check the internet. Depending on your nationality, you may be able to get a one year tourist visa.
Long Stay (over 3 months).
You can obtain a category Ed (educational / student) visa by applying to the consulate in your own country. We will supply the necessary supporting documents. This is a very easy process and all requests so far have been approved.
Insurance.
You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance. Whilst it is rare that anyone claims it is often best to be on the safe side.
Climate
The Mountain Training Centre has been carefully located to benefit from fresh, cool mountain air. At an altitude of approximately 600m (2000 feet) and located in the very North West of Thailand, it benefits by having a much cooler, less humid climate than most of South East Asia. Although the sun is often hot in the middle of the day, mornings and evenings are usually cool: absolutely ideal for training kung fu. The seasons are quite distinct and vary as follows:
November – January
Winter season. Dry. Warm in middle of day and afternoon. Night time cold enough to require hat and scarf. Mist hangs on the mountains later in the mornings than at other times of year. Views in the morning amazing! A very good time to come.
February – April.
Hot season. Dry. Daytime becoming progressively hotter, peaking in mid April (Songkran,Thai new year). Air cooler at night and before about 10.00am, middle of day hot. Land tends to look a bit dusty and at its least green. Can get smoky from farming activity. Pai is at its least attractive at this time of year.
May – June.
Early rainy season. Occasional rain. Air a little more humid. Daytime can be cooler if there is cloud cover, night time warmer because of higher humidity. Land looks beautifully green. Clouds often sit on the mountains creating awesome views.
July – August.
Peak rainy season: about half of the days will see some rain but may only be for a short time. Rivers and streams at their highest, waterfalls most impressive. Temperatures moderated by cloud cover and humidity. Training will often have to take place under cover. Plants at their most green and lush. Arguably the best time of year to come.
September – October.
Late rainy season. Rains dying down but land still beautifully green, streams and rivers full. Warm and humid. Views still awesome. A very popular time.
Summary:
November to January dry, hot in day but cool at night. Most popular time of year to visit Pai. Perfect if you do not like rain.
June to October rainy, but not every day. Humid. Not to hot in daytime, warm but not hot at night. Views at their best, particularly later in the rainy season.
February to April hot and dry.
May intermediate between hot season and rainy season.
About Thailand, Lanna and Pai.
Thailand
Thailand is now one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. It has a very comfortable tropical climate, delicious food, very friendly people and a huge variety of beautiful places ranging from islands and beaches to jungle and mountains. It is a very safe, peaceful place and compared to westerncountries, prices are very low.
Lanna:
Lanna was once an independent kingdom but has now been absorbed into Thailand. It comprises the northern provinces characterized by mountainous jungle and a cooler climate. Chiang Mai is the principal city. The Lanna culture is slightly different to that of other parts of Thailand, for instance with respect to its language, food and architecture.
Pai:
The Mountain Training Camp:
Is located in the foothills of the mountains overlooking the Pai river valley inthe northern part of Mae Hong Sorn, Thailand’s remote North Western province. Mae Hong Sorn translates as ‘the land of mist’. It is dominated by fairly high, forested mountains and is sparsely inhabited, mainly by Thailand’s famous hill tribes.
Is about 15 minutes walk from the outskirts of the town of Pai and about 30 minutes walk from the town centre. Motorcycle taxis can be used to travel to and from town and cost very little. Hence living in the centre gives a feeling of being isolated in a very rural, mountain community but it is easily possible to head into town if the isolation all gets a bit too much!
Surroundings / Environment:To the West forested mountains rise steadily. To the East, the Mountain Training Centre overlooks the wide Pai river valley which houses much lush farmland and, of course, the town of Pai as well as many small farming villages. Past the valley, the mountains rise again. North and South more foothills rise from the river valley towards the mountains. In practical terms, this means getting up in the morning to practise your chi kung facing East over the valley, which is often shrouded in mist, towards the rising sun and breathing in cool, fresh mountain air; continuing until the sun gets too hot; resting during the hottest part of the day then watching the sun set over the Western mountains as you begin your evening training session. For most of us, this is pretty much the kung fu ideal.
Pai Town: Pai is the main tourist centre in Mae Hong Sorn province and ideally suited to receive and entertain foreigners. It has a population of about 3000 who, at peak times, are heavily outnumbered by tourists, mainly backpackers (for whom Pai is almost a compulsory stop) and the more adventurous Thai and foreign tourists who have braved the minibus ride through the mountains. It contains a multitude of bars and restaurants, all very reasonably priced (modest meal for two less than 100 Bhat), many market stalls selling local food and goods, and shops selling any supplies you are really likely to need – even a few small super markets. Of particular note are stalls run by local hill tribe people selling clothing, handicrafts, fruit etc.As would be expected in Thailand, the town boasts a number of beautiful Buddhist temples, complete with monks.
Around Pai: Pai acts as a hub for activities and excursions, for example trekking (usually with overnight stay at hill tribe village), elephant riding, caving, ox cart riding, rafting, off road driving / motorcycling and visiting waterfalls, temples, hill tribes etc.
The favourite way to get around is to hire a small motorcycle: about 80 Bhat /day.
In practical terms, this means that a stay at the mountain training camp can be combined with a truly unique holiday / cultural experience.