Lamphun's Longan Orchards and Rice Fields
A Quiet Drive Through August Fruit Season

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Lamphun goes by the nickname the longan capital because it grows more longan than anywhere else in Thailand. When the rains arrive in late July and into August, the fruit ripens across the whole province at once — and that's the best moment to drive out past the edge of town. You don't need a tight plan; just follow the orchards and rice fields wherever they go, stop at any orchard that looks worth a look, and pull in at a fieldside cafe when you want a break. The charm of this trip is how slow it is, and the smell of sweet longan drifting in on the breeze.

The main loop covers two areas: Ban Nong Chang Khuen to the north of town, and Pa Sang district to the south. Both are only 15–25 minutes from Lamphun town, and you can string them together into a small circle comfortably in a single day.

Ban Nong Chang Khuen, the heart of longan country

If you only have time for one stop, start at Ban Nong Chang Khuen in Mueang Lamphun district. This village is the biggest longan-growing area in the province — almost every house has its own orchard. Drive into the village lanes and you'll see longan trees lining both sides of the road; come harvest time, the clusters hang so thick the branches bend down under the weight. Many families set up stalls selling fresh longan right in front of their orchards, cheaper than in town because it's cut from the tree that same day.

• E-Daw variety — Lamphun's main variety: thick flesh, small seed, sweet and crunchy. It's the one you'll see most often at the farm-gate stalls.
• Biao Khiao variety — greenish skin, dense crunchy flesh, usually priced a touch higher than E-Daw. It's the variety locals in the know like to keep for themselves.
• Chompoo (pink) variety — pale pink flesh with a sweetness all its own, a rare variety Lamphun is proud of. You'll more often find it during the festival than at ordinary stalls.

The Pa Sang route, orchards and rice fields

Drive south toward Pa Sang district and the scenery shifts to longan orchards alternating with stretches of rice field. This route is quiet and pretty in a countryside way — perfect for driving slowly with the windows down. Pa Sang is also an old town with wooden houses and hand-woven cotton shops, so it becomes a zone where you can take in orchards, rice fields, and an old-town stroll all in one trip.

Fieldside cafes and orchards actually worth stopping at

Part of the appeal of driving Lamphun's outskirts is the scattering of farm-house-style cafes, several of them set right in the middle of a field or inside a working longan orchard. We've pulled together places that are open and that locals actually go to, in case you want a break between stretches of driving.

The Lamphun Longan Festival, the heart of August

If you come during longan season, don't miss the province's longan and agricultural fair, held in early August each year (in 2025 it ran 1–12 August at the Ban Mae Sarathi Paet Ton grounds in Lamphun town). The fair brings together every variety to sell and compete — E-Daw, Biao Khiao, and Chompoo — along with contests for the best longan cluster, longan-decorated floats, a longan pageant, plus farm produce and local food. It's the event people in Lamphun look forward to all year.

• Dates — roughly early to mid-August. Check the exact dates with the province's page or the Lamphun chamber of commerce before you go, since they shift slightly each year.
• Highlights — contests for the best clusters of each variety, longan-decorated floats, a parade, and longan sellers from orchards across the province all gathered in one place.
• Best timing — the fair is liveliest from late afternoon into the evening, once the air cools down, making it easy to walk around tasting food and buying longan to take home.

A two-day driving route

Lamphun is easy to get around because everything sits close together. We've laid out a relaxed, unhurried two-day driving route: the first day focuses on the Nong Chang Khuen area and the town, the second runs down to Pa Sang and the rice fields. If you only have one day, just pick half of either day.

When to come and how to prepare

• Peak longan season — late July to August, when the whole province ripens, the orchards are lush green, and farm-gate prices are at their lowest. It's the moment that fits this trip best.
• Rainy season, bring an umbrella — August is the rainy season, with showers often in the afternoon. Pack an umbrella and allow extra driving time, since some orchard roads are dirt.
• Driving yourself is easiest — the orchards and cafes are spread around the outskirts where public transport doesn't reach. Renting a car or motorbike from Chiang Mai or in Lamphun town is far more convenient.
• Go early for the best feel — mornings have soft light and, on some days, a thin mist over the fields, with prettier views and cooler air than the afternoon.