Overview
Nestled in the stunning town of Pai, Northern Thailand, Sitjemam Muay Thai offers professional training at an unbelievably affordable price. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned fighter, all are welcome to relish Thailand’s beautiful countryside whilst receiving top-notch instruction from experienced fighters. Sitjemam delivers exceptional value with authentic training, comfortable lodging, and full equipment access. It’s a chance to connect with fellow travellers and immerse in the vibrant Pai Town scene. Hailed as the top budget camp in Northern Thailand, Sitjemam offers an unparalleled Muay Thai experience just a two-hour drive from Chiang Mai. Don’t miss this extraordinary chance to start your Muay Thai journey!
Schedule
Muay Thai training sessions happen every morning and afternoon (2 hours) Monday to Saturday. Sunday is a rest day.
- Jogging every morning at 7.30 am (optional).
- Morning session 8 am – 10 am
- Afternoon session 4 pm – 6 pm
Daily Program Includes:
- Stretching/warm-up/rope skipping
- Techniques and shadow-boxing under a trainer’s instruction
- Bagwork/warm-up supervised by a trainer
- Padwork with a trainer
- Drills on the bag (punches/knees/kicks/push kicks)
- Sparring and/or clinching supervised by a trainer (advanced level only)
- Core conditioning (sit-ups, push-ups, back, neck, leg exercises)
- Cool down/stretching
More Info:
- All training sessions are optional.
- We focus on small group training allowing one-to-ones with professional trainers.
- We use partner training (note: you will be partnered with students of a similar level).
Accommodation
- This package includes basic accommodation on-site at the Sitjemam Muay Thai Camp (private room with a single bed, wardrobe, free WIFI, shared bathroom). Check-in: 2 pm. Check-out: 12 pm.
- Upgrade: For those of you looking for more space and comfort, you can upgrade to a larger room (kingsize bed, private bathroom, fridge, kettle, drinking water, free WIFI) for an extra $20 US per week or $54 US per month, depending on availability. Request your upgrade in the additional information box when you place your booking.
Note: If there is no accommodation available on-site, students can be housed at the nearby resort, Baan Suan Violin for a similar price, depending on the season. Buan Suan Violin is a few minutes’ walking distance from the gym.
Food
Meals are not included in the price. There is an excellent and cheap local Thai restaurant right next door. Food Panda also delivers from several of the restaurants in town. Pai Town is a 10-min motorbike ride from the gym where you will find many different types of local and international restaurants, from Italian Pizza to Indian to Mexican. There are also many bars in town where you can enjoy a drink and live music.
Equipment/Gym usage
All students are given a Muay Thai kit of three pieces to use, free of charge, during their time at the gym (Booster or Yokkao gloves, Twins or Raja shinpads, Fairtex or Booster hand wraps (upon size availability).
- For sparring/clinching wearing a mouthpiece is compulsory for safety reasons (it can be bought in the on-site shop for approximately 450 THB).
- For hygiene reasons, if you want to buy your own hand wraps and gloves, they are also available at the on-site shop. (Gloves start at 1600 THB for 12 Oz (Booster leather). Hand wraps start at 400 THB.)
The gym is available for use free of charge after the normal class time (silence during rest time must be observed from 1.30 pm to 3 pm (lunch) and from 9 pm to 7.30 am (night-time)).
Location
Sitjemam Muay Thai is located in beautiful countryside just a short distance outside of the popular traveller hub of Pai, Thailand. You can catch a motorbike taxi or local songthaew into the town (10 minutes), or you can enjoy the walk (approx. 1 hour) or cycle (20 minutes). While you are here, we highly recommend that you hire a motorbike or bicycle so that you can explore the area and experience all of what beautiful Pai has to offer. We offer very good value for money motorbike or bicycle rental service on-site (2,500 THB per month or 100 THB per day) which we can organise from your first day with us.
How to get there
To reach Pai Town you can take the bus from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station. Minibuses depart every hour from 6.30 am to 5.30 pm and cost 150 THB per person (the journey is two hours). Once in Pai town, you can either grab a motorbike taxi to reach the camp or call us for a free pick-up to the camp. If you’re arriving at Chiang Mai Airport and want an easy way to get here, we can also arrange a taxi directly from the airport to the camp for a very reasonable price. Or, for another travel option, Wisdom Air flies from Chiang Mai to Pai (20 minute flight) daily.
Other activities
Pai is famous for its beautiful countryside. Around the local area you can visit hot springs, waterfalls, Pai canyon, ethnic hill tribe villages and elephant sanctuaries. Trekking, mountain biking and rafting is available and tours can be booked from Pai centre. The town itself has a daily walking market where you can find a variety of delicious local foods, handicrafts and souvenirs. There are plenty of spa and massage centres in town offering massage for as little as 200 THB per hour ($6 US), pedicures, manicures and other spa treatments are available.
What’s Included
Included:
- Muay Thai Training (2 hours) twice per day
- Accommodation
- Free use of gym
- Free equipment usage
- Water refills (please bring your own bottle).
- Free pick-up from Pai Town
Not included:
- Food
- Soft drinks or alcohol
- Travel insurance
- Transport to the gym (apart from free pick-up from Pai Town)
Instructors
At Sitjemam, each member of the training team has their own speciality. Thanks to the variety of styles that you will train with each of them, you’ll progress in many ways at once, resulting in a more balanced fighting style.
Kru Yai Joe – Head trainer
Kru Joe comes from the world-renowned Yokkao Saenchai Muay Thai Team Bangkok and is a feared Nak Muay currently representing Sitjemam on international and national stages with his distinctive Muay Fimeu style. He has extensive experience having formed numerous champions in Thailand and abroad.
Ajarn Mam – Co-Founder-Gym Manager-Trainer
Mrs Mam is a former fighter and is now the General Manager of the camp. She is an ‘A-License’ Grand Master recognised by the Thai government, International Registered Referee and a Promoter. She is also Kru Muay Boran and specialized in training kids.
Kru Dudee – Trainer-Fighter
Kru Dudee has been part of the Sitjemam family since the very beginning as a fighter, and later, a trainer (still active in the fight scene). Kru Dudee is a classic example of a Muay Mad fighter (a focus on punches)
Kru Ron – Trainer-Fighter
One of the latest additions at Sitjemam, Kru Ron specialises in another traditional Muay Thai style, Muay Khao (knee fighter). Full of character, Ron is a former Central Thailand Champion and proudly represents Sitjemam on both national and international stages.
Mr. Em – Co-Founder, Fight Manager
Mr. Em takes care of the matchmaking and fighters’ preparation, working as a scout and referee for several top promotions. He is a former top fighter, having fought some of the biggest events in Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, and Europe. Mr Em has worked as a trainer in Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
FAQs
- What should I bring with me? Comfortable sports clothes that you can move in, running shoes, a small towel, refillable water bottle.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region!
Flo –
Loved the experience training Muay Thai at Sitjemam. Really great classes and amazing trainers for all levels (I was a total beginner) and very supportive environment. Met really nice people. Location is amazing and accommodation is really nice as well – Would definitely recommend!
Jackie F. –
I came here for a month, I am already planning to be back next year.
I wasnt really into thai boxing myself, but I wanted to have the real experience while in Thailand, and Sitjemam fullfulled my dream.
The lessons are held in a training area facing a valley out of a postcard, with Mam and the team creating a supportive and high-energy athmosphere, focusing on any level – from fighters to beginners.
The training group is relatively small and so its easy to socialize and hang out together after training times.
Good fun, great memories and felt part of the family since day one, can’ t wait to be back ❤
Jules Danes –
Been here while on holiday with my girlfriend. Trained k1 style years ago and always had the desire to train in Thailand. The Trainers were really attentive and understanding(i was a bit rusty and unfit) and they adapted the pad work accordingly focusing on correcting the technique.
Highly recommended
Patrick –
High quality training close to Pai surrounded by Nature. All the staff is extremely kind and helpful. The group experience is great. Definitely recommend.
Paul Barley –
I went for 2 weeks and I really enjoyed it.
Every session is well constructed with a fair share of bagwork, partner work and padwork with the teachers.
I got some great feedback from the coach Tee and coach Dudee throughout the pad sessions on how to improve and it’s so important to me, as I came to learn and the coaches really care and they are not just telling me how good I am every kick I throw.
This place has a very cool vibe and a really high standard in the gym.
I think the training fee was great value for the caliber of this gym.
I would highly recommend this place.
nikki –
Great experience in such a nice location and with Mam ,Em , Tee and Bas I really felt like home.
They even let me enter stadium with them for Miriam’s fight and I worked as cornerman for her :).
I will be back for Christmas holidays and stay longer this time.
thomas –
In february 2019 I travelled to Thailand with my girlfriend to train muay thai for 3 weeks.
It was our big dream and we chose sitjemam after a long research, we wanted a genuine experience ‘off the beaten path’ and this is exactly what we got.
Mam, Em, Dudee and Natt made us feel like home, always being treated like family and invited to join for fights and activities with the other students(we went trekking and even joined a half marathon together).
I trained with Natt, top notch trainer from Bangkok and my girlfriend trained with Mam(the owner), they were also supportive and we learned a lot with fun.
Our plan is now to go back at Sitjemam next year for a longer period, and hopefully compete for the gym.
Iain –
Iain
3rd visit but first time with my partner, I was here to train alongside 4 other fighters who I met at the gym who also have upcoming fights in the near future.
As I was fighting in China I had YouTube footage of my opponent so mam and em went through this with me, and the 4 weeks was great prep.
My partner is a complete beginner, I knew she would enjoy the atmosphere of the gym which got her through the hardship of the training 🙂 without this she would not have had the motivation to keep going.
Amy
The gym is well signposted and wasn’t to far from pai centre but far enough to get away from it all. the views are spectacular the gym is set in a peaceful area Mam and Em are such a lovely couple who have time for everyone.
All my worries left as soon as I met them, so if you are like me and apprehensive about going don’t be.
Noor –
This (Muay Thai boxing camp) is something I would like to recommend to everyone! Whether you have years of experience or have never practiced Muay before.
Speaking for myself I didn’t have experience and now just have finished a 3 months intensive training at Sitjeman. In a short time by daily 4 hourly practising by intensive training I have improved my almost non-existent skills a great deal, thanks especially by the ever encouraging trainers.
At the end of this very intensive training I’ve had my first official fight and that was an amazing experience!
The owners Mam and Em are fun, loving and helpful people who have an enormous passion for muay thai boxing.
It’s certainly worth it to visit Sitjeman and see the inspiration for yourself. I’ll definitely will visit Sitjeman again!
Miriam –
Awesome experience. Great and fun trainers in a friendly environment surrounded by nature. I will surely be back next year!