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Lamphun Cotton Weaving Trip
Nong Chang Khuen–Pa Sang

Lamphun is a great fit if you like handmade things and souvenirs you can only get locally. We've built this trip as 2 days and 1 night, focused on two things Lamphun has done well for generations: Pa Sang handwoven cotton and longan. You start at the Nong Chang Khuen longan orchards before reaching the city, then head down to Pa Sang to browse fabric at Ban Don Luang and Ban Nong Ngueak. The timing leaves room to stop for local food along the way, no rushing.

🧶 Handwoven cotton🍈 Longan souvenirs🚗 Easy self-drive
Lamphun Cotton Weaving Trip Nong Chang Khuen–Pa Sang

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Lamphun sits only about 26 km from Chiang Mai, roughly an hour's drive, so a lot of people skip it and stick to Chiang Mai. But if you're into textiles and souvenirs with a real backstory, Lamphun delivers the genuine article. Pa Sang handwoven cotton has been made here for generations, and Lamphun longan is well respected by northern Thais for its quality. This plan ties the two together without making you drive in circles.

Trip overview and getting around

The main route is Highway 106 (the Chiang Mai–Lamphun road), lined with old yang na trees on both sides. On day one you come in via Nong Chang Khuen, about 8 km before Lamphun town, then stay overnight in the city. On day two you head south to Pa Sang district, another 11 km or so from town, to walk the weaving villages. This trip is easiest if you drive yourself, since the weaving villages and longan orchards are spread out and public transport doesn't reach them conveniently.

  • How long — 2 days, 1 night is about right. No need to rush, with time to choose fabric and chat with the weavers.
  • Getting there — driving yourself or renting a car from Chiang Mai is best. A motorbike works too if you know the roads.
  • Best season — November to February for cool, comfortable weather. For fresh longan, July to August is peak.
  • Rough budget — accommodation THB 600–1,500/night; food and souvenirs depend on how much you shop, so set aside a bit extra for fabric.

Plan your dates

Ban Don Luang holds a big annual fair, "Taeng Si Uat Lai Pha Fai Don Luang" (Don Luang Cotton Festival), in early April every year (in 2026 it runs 3–7 April). If your timing lines up, you'll see a huge variety of fabric and lots of weavers gathered in one place, but it gets crowded and parking is hard to find. If you'd rather wander at your own pace, pick a regular weekday outside the festival for a calmer visit.

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Day 1 — Nong Chang Khuen orchards + old Lamphun town

Day 1

Nong Chang Khuen → Lamphun town

09:00
Leave Chiang Mai on Highway 106 through the yang na tree tunnelThis road is lined with hundred-year-old yang na trees on both sides. Drive slowly and you'll get some lovely shots.
09:50
Arrive at Nong Chang Khuen, walk the longan orchards and roadside fruit stallsNong Chang Khuen is one of Lamphun's big longan-growing areas, with an orchard at nearly every house. In longan season (July to August) fresh longan is sold all along both sides of the road.
10:45
Pick up longan souvenirs — golden dried longan, golden-flesh longan, longan honeyLamphun dried longan comes in several grades, so compare prices and taste before you buy. Thung Thong is a well-known OTOP brand, with prices starting in the low hundreds of baht per bag.
12:00
Head into Lamphun town for lunch — khanom jeen nam ngiao or Lamphun-style noodlesSeveral long-running shops sit around Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and are easy to find on foot.
13:30
Pay respects at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun's landmark templeThe golden chedi is over a thousand years old and the symbol of the city. Free entry, but dress modestly.
15:00
Stroll the old town, stop at a café by the moatLamphun's old town is small and easy to walk. Several new cafés in restored wooden houses have opened in the old quarter.
17:00
Check in at your accommodation in town and relaxPlaces to stay in Lamphun range from wooden-house guesthouses to small hotels, all at friendly prices.
18:30
Dinner — northern Thai food: nam phrik ong, laap mueang, kaeng hang leLook for a family-run northern restaurant in town, with the bold, full-flavoured cooking northern Thais like.

Buy dried longan smartly

Dried longan comes both in the shell and as golden flesh (seeds removed). The golden-flesh kind costs more but is easier to eat and makes a nice-looking gift. If you're buying several bags, you can often negotiate a price for buying in bulk, and check the production date so it's fresh.

Day 2 — Ban Don Luang + Ban Nong Ngueak, Pa Sang

Day 2

Lamphun town → Pa Sang (cotton weaving villages)

08:30
Breakfast in town, then drive south to Pa Sang districtPa Sang is about 11 km from town, an easy 20-minute drive.
09:15
Arrive at Ban Don Luang, Mae Raeng subdistrict, and walk the handwoven cotton marketBan Don Luang is a handwoven cotton hub known across the country, with fabric shops and weaving workshops lined up one after another. You'll find lengths of cloth, shirts, shawls and scarves.
10:30
Choose fabric and watch the weavers — local-pattern cotton, brocade cottonScarves start in the low hundreds of baht, cotton shirts from the hundreds to around a thousand, and good handwoven lengths vary in price by pattern and detail. Feel free to ask about where a pattern comes from; the weavers are happy to tell you.
12:00
Lunch around Pa Sang — a roadside local restaurantPa Sang has several local and made-to-order restaurants at local prices.
13:15
Continue to Ban Nong Ngueak, a Yong communityBan Nong Ngueak is also in Mae Raeng subdistrict, not far on. It's a Yong community that still keeps its old ways of life.
13:45
Learn about natural-dye weaving + stop at Wat Nong NgueakHere they dye cotton with natural colours like ebony (makluea), and at certain times you can try weaving and dyeing yourself. Wat Nong Ngueak has wood carvings and old Yong houses to see.
15:30
Grab any last souvenirs, then drive backIf you haven't got all your dried longan yet, you can stop at the roadside souvenir shops along Highway 106 on the way back.
16:30
Leave Pa Sang for Chiang Mai or your next stopThe drive back into Chiang Mai is about an hour. Allow a little extra for evening traffic.

Weaving villages and souvenir stops worth a visit

Handwoven cotton

Ban Don Luang (Mae Raeng, Pa Sang)

Lamphun's largest and best-known handwoven cotton hub, with fabric shops and weaving workshops lined up one after another. You can find lengths of cloth, shirts and shawls all in one place.

Natural dyeing

Ban Nong Ngueak (Yong community)

A Yong community that weaves naturally dyed cotton using ebony. You can try weaving and dyeing yourself, plus see Wat Nong Ngueak and the old Yong houses.

Longan souvenirs

Nong Chang Khuen (along Hwy 106)

One of Lamphun's big longan areas. Buy fresh longan in season, golden-flesh dried longan, and longan honey to take home.

Why do the weaving and longan trip in Lamphun

The charm of this trip is seeing where the things you buy come from. Pa Sang cotton isn't factory-made; it's handwoven at home, and you can ask the weaver where a pattern comes from and how long it takes. Nong Chang Khuen longan, meanwhile, is grown across the whole village to the point where it's become the main livelihood. Buying straight from the source means your souvenirs come with a story, and the price is usually better than buying after it's passed through several hands.

  • The real thing from the source — buy fabric from the weaver and longan from the grower, for a good price and the genuine article.
  • Easy to reach — close to Chiang Mai, easy to self-drive as a day trip or with one overnight.
  • Not crowded yet — the weaving villages are still a real way of life, not staged for tourists.
  • Things to eat and to use — you go home with woven cloth and dried longan from a single trip.

Give the weavers some notice

If you want to try weaving or dyeing yourself at Ban Nong Ngueak, it's worth calling or messaging the community page ahead of time, since the activities need someone from the community to teach them. On some days the weavers may be tied up with orchard work or merit-making events, so booking ahead saves a wasted trip.

Want a different Lamphun plan or to see places to stay in town

See the Lamphun travel guide →

FAQ

How many days is ideal for the Lamphun weaving and longan trip?

2 days and 1 night is about right: day one covers Nong Chang Khuen and the old town, day two heads down to Pa Sang to walk the weaving villages. If you're really short on time you can squeeze it into a single day, but it'll feel rushed and you won't get to try weaving.

Do I need to drive myself for this Lamphun route?

Driving yourself or renting a car is easiest, since the longan orchards and weaving villages are spread out beyond the town and public transport doesn't reach them conveniently. A motorbike works too if you know the roads.

Roughly how much does handwoven cotton at Pa Sang cost?

Scarves start in the low hundreds of baht, cotton shirts run from the hundreds to around a thousand baht, and good handwoven lengths vary by pattern and detail, from the hundreds to the low thousands per piece. Compare a few shops before deciding.

When is fresh longan available at Nong Chang Khuen?

Fresh longan is most abundant in July and August, the peak season, which is when the Lamphun Longan Festival is held. Outside the season, dried longan and longan honey are sold year-round.

Can I try weaving myself at Ban Nong Ngueak?

Yes, the community offers activities where you can try weaving and natural dyeing, but you should book or message the community page ahead, since someone from the community needs to teach it. On some days the weavers may be busy with other work.

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