Distance
320 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
3,500 m
Nan Loop — Northern Thailand Frontier.
A 320km mountain loop through Nan province — the quiet northeastern frontier of Thailand on the Lao border. The route climbs through Doi Phu Kha National Park (Highway 1256, 47km of relentless twisties) to the 800-year-old Bo Kluea salt-well village, then returns south via Pua. Cool, forested, and largely missed by mass tourism. Best ridden November to February.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance320 km
Days2
Total climb3,500 m
DifficultyModerate
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 7 waypoints to discover along the way.
NanStart · Start in Nan, the Lanna-era walled city largely missed by mass tourism. The Wat Phumin temple murals are 19th-century gems. Take Highway 1080 north toward Pua.
PuaScenic Point · Old Lao-style market town in the rice plains beneath Doi Phu Kha. Last reliable fuel before the mountains. Hand-woven cotton at the Lanna Textile Museum.
Doi Phu Kha National Park HQMountain Pass · Highway 1256 climbs through 47 dizzying kilometres of rainforest to the park HQ at 1,400m. Look for the bohini chamberlainii pink-flowering tree, found only here.
Bo Kluea Salt WellsOvernight · Overnight in Bo Kluea — 800-year-old brine springs evaporate into mountain salt over wood fires in the village centre. Two riverside guesthouses. Buy a bag of village salt direct.
Doi Phu Kha Pass returnScenic Point · Climb back over the Doi Phu Kha pass. Or take the eastern Highway 1081 through Hmong hill villages — more remote and still mostly paved.
PuaRestaurant · Lunch in Pua on the return leg. Shopping for hand-woven cotton textiles before the run south.
NanEnd · End back in Nan. The riverside Wat Phra That Chae Haeng pagoda glows gold at sunset.
More routes in Thailand
Doi Tung — Chiang Rai to the Northern Border via the Royal MountainTH 57 · 130 kmDoi Mae Salong — Chiang Rai to Santikhiri Tea MountainTH 57 · 150 kmDoi Suthep & Doi Pui — Chiang Mai's Sacred MountainTH 50 · 55 kmKrabi to Koh Lanta — Andaman Island CrossingTH 81 · 210 kmChaloem Burapha Chonlathit — Chanthaburi to Trat Coastal RoadTH 22 · 160 kmPhu Thap Boek — 111 Bends to Thailand's Cabbage MountainTH 67 · 110 km
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