:: Na Muen

Ban Pak Nai , about 22 k ilometres along the road winding over the shoulder of the mountain, some 96 k ilometres from the provincial town, is a fishing village on the bank of the fresh - water lake above the Sirikit Dam in U t t a radit province. Local rafts are turned into restaurants and accommodations for visitors who prefer vacationing amid peaceful natural surrounding. The most famous food is the many kinds of fresh-water fish caught in the lake.

:: Mae Charim

Rafting along the Wa B rook  This exciting activity is for tourists who like to shoot many rapids. Rafting, can be followed by elephant-riding. The most suitable time for rafting is from September to February. Visitors can contact travel agencies in the town.

:: Festival

The Traditional Boat Race is held in October or November each year, when the Nan River flows swiftly past the province. It is incorporated in the celebrations of the Black Ivory and the local Kathin ceremony. Boats are dugouts made from large logs ad beautifully decorated. Manned by well-trained oarsmen, the racing boats are lustily cheered on by spectators lining both banks of the river.

:: Hotels and accommodation

Amonsi :: 97 Mahayot Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5471 0510] :: :: 120-200 baht

Chan Inn :: 15/4 Mahayot Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5471 0757] :: :: 140-300 baht

Chomphu Phukha Corner Resort :: 258 Mu 8 Nan - Thung Chang Road Amphoe Pua [Tel: 0 5479 1160] :: :: 500-700 baht.

City Park :: 99 Mu 4 Yantrakitkoson Road, Tambon Du Tai Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5474 1343-52, Fax: 0 5477 3135] :: :: 800-4,500 baht

Dao Rueang :: 7/1 Worawit Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5477 1899] :: :: 31 rooms

Fa Thanin :: 303 Anantaworaritthidet Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5475 7321-4 Fax: 0 5475 7327] :: :: 490-1,000 baht.

Nan Fa :: 436-438-440 Sumonthewarat Road, Tambon Nai Wiang Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5471 02847] :: :: 390-490 baht.

Nan Guesthouse :: 57/16 Mahaphrom Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5477 1849, 0 1288 8484] :: :: 70-200 baht.

Nan Valley Resort :: 229 Nan-Thung Chang Road, Tambon Pha Sing Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5477 3019] :: :: 700-2,500 baht

Pa Pua Phuka :: 141 Mu 4, Pua - Nam Yao Road, Tambon Silalaeng Amphoe Pua [Tel: 0 5479 1156, 0 5479 1166] :: :: 1,200-1,600 baht

Suk Kasem :: 119-121 Anantaworaritthidet Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5471 0141, 0 5477 1581] :: :: 150-350 baht

Thewearat :: 446 Sumonthewarat Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5471 0094, 0 5471 0212, 0 5471 0803 Fax: 0 5477 1365] :: :: 300-4,000 baht

Wiang Kaeo :: 379 Phuttabucha Road Amphoe Muang [Tel: 0 5475 0573, 0 5475 0987 Fax: 0 5477 4573] :: :: 380 baht

:: Restaurants

Amphoe Muang

San ian :: 136 Mu1, Nan-Phayao Road, Tambon San ian, Tel: 0 5478 5087 (Thai food, open 10 am - 10 pm)

Suan I San :: 2/1 Anantapracha Road, Tel: 0 54710761, 0 5477 2913 (Thai and Isan food, open 9 am - 9 pm)

Ruean Kaeo :: 1/1 Sumonthewarat Road, Tel: 0 5471 0631 (Thai, Chinese and local food, open 10 am - 10 pm)

Ya Chai :: 34/2 Sumonthewarat Road, Tel: 0 5477 1401 (European food, open 6 - 12 pm)

Bo Nam :: Suriyaphong Road, Tel: 0 5471 0860 (fish menu, open 10.30 am -- 11 pm)

Da-dario :: 37/4 Rat Amnuai Road, Tel: 0 5475 0258 (Thai & European foods, open 10 am - 2 pm and 5 -10 pm)

Thanaya :: 75/23 Anantaworaritthidet Road, Tel: 0 5471 0930 (Vegetarian, 7 am - 8.30 pm)

Khaotom Pum :: 115 Mu 3 Anantaworaritthidet Road,Tel: 0 5477 2100 (open 5 pm - 4 am)

Suriya Gargen :: 9 Sumonthewarat Road, Tel: 0 54 710687, 0 5477 2980 (Thai, Chinese and local food, open 11 am - 12 pm) King Amphoe Phu Phiang

Rim Bueng :: 259 Mo 4,Tambon Muang Tit, Tel: 0 5477 4883, 0 1784 2832 (Thai food, open 10 am - 12 pm) Amphoe Tha Wang Pha

Wangsila :: Tel: 0 5479 9245 (Thai food, open 11 am - 12 pm) Amphoe Chiang Klang

Ruamrot :: 52 Mu 5 Tambon Chiang Klang, Tel: 0 5479 7065 (Single Dishes) Amphoe Na Muen

Songbua :: Ban Pak Nai, Tambon Na Thanung, Tel: 0 5477 9652-3 (fish menu)

:: How to get there

:: By car

:: By bus

From Bangkok, take Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan and use Highway No. 117 to Phitsanulok, Highway No. 11 to Amphoe Den Chai, then take Highway No. 101 to Nan via Phrae, a total distance of 668 kilometres

Transport Co. Ltd. operates bus services from Bangkok's Mochit 2 Bus Terminal to Nan every day. Call 0 2936 2852-66 for more information. Other private companies are such as Phrae Tour Tel: 0 2245 2369, Sombat Tour Tel: 0 2936 2495-6 and Choetchai Tour Tel: 0 5471 0362 (Nan Office).

:: By plane

Air Andaman provides daily flight services from Bangkok and 2 flights a week from Chiang Mai to Nan. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2996-9119 or view their website at www.airandaman.com.

Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Nan every day. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000 or view their website at www.thaiairways.com.