Nan Loop — Northern ThailandFrontier.

Distance

320 km

Duration

2 days

Climb

3,500 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

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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Day-by-day

2 days, 2 moods.

A suggested split across 2 days with 7 waypoints to discover along the way.

DAY 01

Nan → Bo Kluea Salt Wells

4 stops

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.

DAY 02

Doi Phu Kha Pass return → Nan

3 stops

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.

More routes in Thailand

Krabi to Koh Lanta — Andaman Island CrossingTH · 210 km Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit — Chanthaburi to Trat Coastal RoadTH · 160 km Phu Thap Boek — 111 Bends to Thailand's Cabbage MountainTH · 110 km Koh Chang West Coast — White Sand Beach to Bang BaoTH · 45 km Route 1148 — Nan to Chiang Kham via Thailand's Legend RoadTH · 210 km Umphang Death Highway — 1,219 Curves to Thi Lo SuTH · 255 km

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