Exploring Nan: A Road Trip Adventure.

Nestled in northern Thailand, Nan is renowned as the ‘slow-life’ city, perfect for year-round travel. Join us on a road trip through this charming province, designed to rejuvenate your spirit and bring you joy. If you're ready to embark on this journey, booking an affordable flight with Mytour is easier than ever. Don’t miss out on the ‘Price Alerts’ feature, which allows you to compare ticket prices from various airlines and catch great promotions. Activate price alerts, snag a ticket, and get ready for an adventure in Nan!

Day One of Our Adventure

As the sun rises, we set off for Nan. Our journey begins at Don Mueng Airport, where we are all set to fly from Bangkok to Nan. This adventure is all about the road trip, so we’ll need a car to explore every destination the city has to offer.

Naturally, besides plane tickets and accommodations, we also need a vehicle for our journey. We booked a rental car through Mytour for this trip, which offers rental services in many cities across Thailand. Simply choose your pickup location, specify the number of passengers, select the date and time, choose your preferred vehicle, and hit the booking button. Make sure to do this before your trip to avoid any last-minute negotiations or hassle in finding the right car rental service.

Upon our arrival at Nan Airport, we picked up the car we had reserved and set off for our first stop – Phumin Temple. This temple is renowned for its stunning wall paintings. One notable artwork is ‘The Whisper of Love,’ depicting a man leaning in to whisper sweet nothings to a woman – a scene many might recognize from postcards.

While the painting is the temple's main attraction, it's also a sacred place for Thai locals to come and pray. If you find yourself in Nan, make sure this temple is on your itinerary.

After being awed by the temple's beauty, we headed to another breathtaking spot – the Tunnel of Plumeria. Located within the Nan National Museum, this tunnel is best visited in January or February when the flowers are in full bloom, creating a stunning white canopy. The picturesque view, combined with the enchanting fragrance of the tropical flowers, makes for an unforgettable experience.

Credit: Facebook: Cafe Soodgongdee

After strolling for a bit, we decided it was time for a little break. Our stomachs started to rumble, so we opted for a fusion restaurant called ‘Cafe Soodgongdee.’ Nestled beside the river and shaded by trees, the café provides a cozy atmosphere for diners. We ordered a variety of dishes and coffees, enjoying our meal under the leafy canopy – it was both relaxing and revitalizing.

Once we finished our meal, we headed to the hotel to check in and drop off our bags before heading to our next stop -- Wat Ming Muang. This temple, over 149 years old, is one of the city's oldest. It houses a city pillar shrine beneath a magnificent white chapel adorned with intricate artwork.

This revered temple is held in high regard by both locals and visitors, attracting many who come to pray for success in their lives. As a result, it’s common to see this place bustling with people nearly every day.

We concluded our day by visiting another magnificent temple -- Wat Sripanton. Renowned for its stunning beauty, intricate craftsmanship, and ornate decorations, this ancient temple was established by the King of the Phuka dynasty centuries ago. Its architecture is adorned in gold and embellished with exquisite handmade artistry and paintings. We also noticed the seven-headed Naga gracefully flanking the staircase, crafted by top artisans, which adds to the sacred and enchanting atmosphere of this site.

The second day of our journey

We awoke to a gorgeous morning and decided to immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of Nan at Wang Sila Lang. This hidden gem, often referred to as ‘Pua City Grand Canyon,’ features cliffs reminiscent of a small canyon, with water flowing between them.

Captivated by the stunning natural formations created by erosion, we found the opportunity to relax in the cool waters as well.

After rejuvenating ourselves in the cool canyon waters and refreshing breezes, we headed to a quaint local spot known as ‘Sapanna Village.’ This small community is brimming with life, offering a path for visitors to stroll and engage with the locals and their lifestyle. With hostels available for an overnight stay, it's a perfect place to unwind. Surrounded by rice fields and morning mist, this place truly feels like paradise on earth.

Our next destination is a truly unique spot—indeed, the only place in the world that extracts rock salt from the mountains. This is a must-see highlight!

Here, natural rock salt is produced using two wells: the north well and the south well. The traditional production method remains unchanged; locals draw saltwater and boil it for 4-5 hours until the water evaporates, leaving only salt behind. You can also purchase some of this natural rock salt as a souvenir or to season your dishes.

Our final day in Nan

Time flies! It’s already the third and final day of our adventure. As everyone knows, a good day begins with coffee, so we made our way to ‘Ban Tai Lue Café.’ This charming café is renowned for its delicious coffee and food, complemented by stunning views. Sipping coffee while gazing at the lush rice fields (which turn golden during the harvest season) is an experience that simply can’t be topped!

For our last stop, we decided to visit a temple for some blessings before heading back to Bangkok. The temple is called ‘Phuket Temple,’ and yes, you read that correctly. We are still in Nan, not on the southern island of Phuket. It gets its name from the nearby village on a hill called ‘Ket.’ In this case, ‘Phu’ means hill, while ‘Ket’ refers to the village—together they signify a temple on a hill called Ket.

As mentioned earlier, the temple is perched on a hill, providing a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding rice fields. Both tourists and locals flock here to pray for blessings from a Buddha statue, known for bestowing success in work and financial matters. Don’t forget to stop by and soak in the view!

Credit: Facebook: ฟาร์มเห็นบ้านหัวน้ำ

Our final destination on this trip is Huanam Mushroom Farm. This delightful farm specializes in mushrooms and offers a variety of dishes featuring them. A must-try here is the Mushroom Pizza—enjoy a hot, thin, and crispy pizza topped with flavorful mushrooms for lunch, alongside other Thai dishes like stir-fried mushrooms and spicy mushroom salad. The view of the farm adds to the experience, making it a perfect way to conclude a wonderful day with good food and scenery.

And that wraps up our road trip in Nan! We hope you’ve gained insights into the local lifestyle, enjoyed the breathtaking nature, and savored some delicious food. Start planning your own adventure like we did and book an affordable flight to Nan. Get ready and hit the road!