Nan

A tranquil old town in northern Thailand with Wat Phumin's 'whispering' mural, ancient mountain salt wells, seas of clouds and starry skies, at an even slower pace than Chiang Mai.

Nan lies in northern Thailand on the upper reaches of the Nan River, bordering Laos. The provincial capital, about 330 km from Chiang Mai, was the seat of the ancient Nan kingdom for several centuries from the 14th century on and preserves a blend of Lanna and Tai Lue culture. In the old town center you can walk between Wat Phumin (home of the 'whispering' mural), Nan National Museum, Wat Phra That Chang Kham, Wat Ming Mueang and Wat Hua Khuang; from Friday to Sunday evenings a walking-street night market sets up in front of Wat Phumin. Wat Phra That Chae Haeng on a hill east of town and the big Buddha at Wat Phra That Khao Noi to the west are great sunset spots. Beyond town there are two routes: south to Doi Samer Dao in Si Nan National Park (seas of clouds and starry skies) and the Sao Din Na Noi earth pillars; and northeast over the mountains to the ancient salt wells of Bo Kluea, Sapan village and Doi Phu Kha National Park, where the winding roads make an overnight stay worthwhile. Along the way you can stop at Wat Nong Bua for its Tai Lue murals and the Riverside Art Gallery. The best time is the cool season from Nov to Feb, with morning seas of clouds in the mountains and the chomphu phu kha (Bretschneidera) trees blooming on Doi Phu Kha in Jan–Feb; Mar–Apr is hot with haze from crop burning, and the Jun–Oct rainy season makes mountain roads slippery. Getting there: direct flights from Bangkok take about 1.5 hours, or take a bus from Chiang Mai (about 6 hours). In town you can rent a bicycle or motorbike; for the countryside, hire a car with driver or drive yourself. Plan on staying 3–4 days.

Top sights

• Wat Phumin – Nan's landmark temple, whose cruciform hall is lifted by giant nagas, with 'whispering murals' inside that are treasures of northern Thai a…
• Wat Phra That Chae Haeng – A royal temple on a hill east of the Nan River, with a golden pagoda about 55 meters tall and two giant nagas winding down the stairs.
• Nan National Museum – A museum in the Ho Kham Luang, the royal palace of Nan's last king, built in 1903, whose treasure is a rare black ivory tusk.
• Wat Sri Panton – A golden temple in the modern Lanna style, its main hall and naga railings glittering with gold, and a popular photo spot in Nan.
• Wat Phra That Chang Kham – A royal temple in the center of the old town, whose chedi is supported by stone elephants and houses a golden Sukhothai-style Buddha image.
• Wat Ming Mueang – A temple that houses Nan's city pillar, its white main hall covered with intricate Lanna-style stucco reliefs, a popular spot for photograp…
• Wat Phra That Khao Noi – A hilltop temple west of the town, where a giant standing Buddha overlooks Nan, making it the best spot for sunsets and panoramic city view…
• Wat Hua Khuang – An old temple beside the old town square, with well-preserved Lanna-style chedi and wooden scripture library, and the weekend night market…
• Kad Khuang Mueang Walking Street – A weekend night market in front of Wat Phumin, where locals sit on mats to eat northern Thai snacks and listen to folk music in a relaxed a…
• Doi Samer Dao – A grassy viewpoint in Sri Nan National Park overlooking cloud seas over the Nan River valley and the starry sky, a popular camping spot in…
• Sao Din Na Noi – Earth pillars and gorges carved by rain erosion, dubbed "Thailand's Grand Canyon," in Sri Nan National Park.
• Bo Kluea Salt Wells – Ancient mountain salt wells in use for hundreds of years, where villagers still draw brine by hand and boil salt over wood fires.
• Sapan Village – A small village in the mountains surrounded by streams, rice terraces, and small waterfalls, hailed as the most beautiful village in Nan.
• Doi Phu Kha National Park – The highest mountain forest park in Nan, known for the rare Chomphu Phu Kha tree and its "Phu Kha pink" blossoms, cloud-sea viewpoints, and…
• Nan Riverside Art Gallery – A riverside gallery founded by Nan-born painter Winai Prabripoo, showcasing contemporary northern Thai art in a fresh, elegant building and…
• Wat Nong Bua – An old Tai Lue temple in Tha Wang Pha District, whose murals were painted by the same artist as Wat Phumin's and preserve scenes of Tai Lue…

Where to eat

• Ton Nam Khao Soi – A khao soi institution in the old town of Nan, operating for over thirty years from a two-story wooden house with just…
• Huen Horm Lanna Restaurant – A Lanna-style wooden restaurant diagonally across from Wat Phumin, known for its northern sausage and platters. It's a…
• Huan Phuka Restaurant – A Nan local restaurant that won LINE MAN Wongnai Users' Choice 2025, known for its Nan appetizer platter and mountain p…
• Poom No. 3 Congee Shop – A longtime congee shop in central Nan that serves only dinner into the late night, famous for its fruit massaman curry…

Itineraries

• Lampang, Phrae & Nan Scenic Loop – Drive east from Chiang Mai through Lampang, Phrae, Nan, and Bo Kluea on a less-traveled mountain loop.