Not the Usual Northern Thailand: Our Road Trip Through Nan, Sapan & Phayao

We spent four days driving through a part of northern Thailand that many international travelers never see. Starting in Chiang Rai, we picked up a rental car and began a road trip through Nan Province, a region popular with Thai travelers but surprisingly quiet when it comes to Western tourists. Along the way we explored the small historic city of Nan, visited beautiful temples like Wat Phumin, and stayed in one of the most interesting hotels we’ve found in Thailand — a converted tobacco factory. From there we drove into the mountains to Bo Klua, known for its ancient salt wells, before continuing to the tiny riverside village of Sapan, surrounded by forest hikes and misty mountain views. Our final stop was the lakeside city of Phayao, where we discovered a lively night market, a beautiful promenade along the lake, and a relaxed northern Thai atmosphere. If you're planning a road trip through northern Thailand — or just looking for places beyond Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai — this route through Nan, Bo Klua, Sapan and Phayao might surprise you. 0:00 Northern Thailand Road Trip Intro 0:24 Arriving in Nan 1:26 Temples of Nan 2:48 Unique Hotel in Nan 3:40 Driving into the Mountains 4:06 Bo Klua Salt Wells 5:12 Sapan Village 6:36 Sapan Waterfall Hike 9:20 Arriving in Phayao 9:49 Phayao Night Market 11:24 Phayao Morning Market 12:01 Phayao Hotel Review 12:49 Drive to Chiang Mai Google Map link of our route https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi... If this video helped answer your travel questions, give it a like and subscribe — it tells YouTube we’re worth showing to other curious travelers. 📸 Follow our adventures (and travel bloopers!) on Instagram → @krista.ef Filming Gear 🎬 Osmo DJI Pocket 3 📱 iPhone 15 Pro Max 🎤 DJI Mic 2 📷 GoPro Hero 11 with Media Mod 🎙️ Rode Wireless GO II (2 mics)