Most of the surrounding villages in the Pai valley are quite modern now, but some have pleasant Shan-style wats worth a peek and they can be pleasant spots for a stroll. You'll usually find a village noodle shop too if you need a change from Walking Street tourist food.
Wat Nam Hoo in Nam Hoo village northwest out of town is a picturesque one with an unusual Buddha statue. Wiang Nua has recreated its old brick town gates and though there isn’t much else to see in the village it’s worth a wander.
If you follow the road through Nam Hoo you'll reach the old KMT (Kuomintang) village of Santichong, which was settled in the 1950s by fleeing Republican army units taking refuge over the border after their defeat by Mao Tse Tung's communist forces. A string of these villages loop across northern Thailand; US-backed Thailand was more than happy to accept these staunchly anti-communist and well-trained troops as extra protection for their northern frontier, even if it meant turning a blind eye to their opium activities used to fund themselves.