Long Neck Karen Village

Short but unforgettable cultural experience – totally worth the quick trip from Pai! We made the short ride out of Pai town (about 10-15 minutes by scooter/tuk-tuk) to this small Karen Long Neck village, and it was one of the highlights of our time in northern Thailand. The entrance fee is only 100 THB per person – super affordable and good value for the experience. The village is small and intimate, so the whole visit is pretty quick (30-60 minutes is plenty), but it’s incredibly unique and memorable. Meeting the women with their beautiful brass neck rings and learning a little about their traditions was fascinating. The village has plenty of unique handmade souvenirs – beautiful woven textiles, jewelry, and small crafts – perfect for bringing home a special memento. Many stalls are right in front of the traditional houses. Bonus points: they even have a simple hostel if you want to stay longer, plus food/drink options available. If you’re in Pai and want a quick, affordable, and genuinely different cultural experience, I highly recommend stopping by. It’s touristy but still feels special and respectful. Don’t miss it! 🌿 Here are some beautiful glimpses of the women and the peaceful village atmosphere:

I visited the Karen Long Neck Village in Pai. It’s a small village with traditional houses and handicraft shops. There are around 5–7 Karen Long Neck women who came from Myanmar and share their stories with visitors. They wear brass neck rings that weigh about 5 kg, and learning about their tradition is incredibly interesting and surprising. The entrance fee is 100 baht, and you can visit the village, talk to them, take photos, and they even let you try on their traditional clothing. There’s also an exhibition explaining how the neck-ring tradition works. The girls start wearing the rings at around 5 years old — originally for beauty, to scare away tigers, and for other cultural reasons. It’s definitely a visit worth doing! It was an unforgettable experience. 9/10 I also run a travel agency in Peru, based in Cusco — @dopkertravel. If anyone wants to visit Cusco, Peru, or Machu Picchu, I can help you plan your whole trip!

It was quiet when we went, later in the day. The long neck women were nice, most spoke some English. I tried to buy a few trinkets at each shop, to help support the ladies. They let me try on a brass ring collar they have for tourists, it's heavy! I enjoyed learning more about them and their culture. As for some of the negative reviews, remember that you're going into their home, they are not circus clowns performing for you. They sell their entry fee and goods to help support their way of life. BTW, 100 Thai baht entry is currently $3. US dollars.