🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The charm of this route is that both are second-tier towns where you can still walk slowly — the old wooden houses are still standing, people still smile easily, and crucially they're close enough to do back-to-back without backtracking. If you fly into Nan and rent a car, just flip the order: do Nan first, then drop down to Phrae. The plan below follows the direction of driving north.
Route and getting around
- Phrae ↔ Nan — take Highway 101, about 118 km, roughly 1.5–2 hours of driving. It's a mix of hill climbs and flat stretches with good views, but some sections are winding, so it's easier to drive in daylight.
- Coming from Bangkok — you reach Phrae before Nan. Run up the Asia Highway toward Uttaradit and you'll hit Phrae town in about half a day, so spending one night in Phrae before continuing to Nan works out nicely.
- Flying into Nan — there are flights into Nan Nakhon Airport, then you rent a car and drive yourself. In this case, flip the order: do Nan first and drive down to Phrae on the last day.
- Car — this trip is best done with your own car or a rental, since the sights are spread out and it crosses provinces. Public transport between the two towns exists but isn't flexible.
Before you set off
Fill up the tank before leaving town. Along Highway 101 between Phrae and Nan, the big gas stations are fairly far apart, and if you're driving in the rainy season, allow extra time on the winding hill sections.
Book the activities in your Nan trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Walking old-town Phrae
Old-town Phrae is small but packed. You can easily walk or drive a loop around the old moat in a single day. The main draws are the former royal residences and the antique teak houses still in good condition.
Old-town Phrae · Mansions, teak houses, the chedi
Where to get the best photos
Wongburi House shoots best in the late morning when the light is still soft — the pink walls against the white fretwork come out well. Wat Phra That Cho Hae catches the gold nicely in the late afternoon when the sun is low.
Day 2 — Drive up to Nan, temples inside the old town
Pack up and leave Phrae in the morning, drive up Highway 101 to Nan in about two hours, and arrive by late morning. Drop your bags at a hotel in town and you can start walking the temples in old-town Nan right away — the main temples are close together and walkable.
Phrae → Nan · Wat Phumin · walking street
Day 3 — Nan from up high, then home
On the last day, pick off the spots that need a bit of a climb — Phra That Khao Noi and Phra That Chae Haeng — then buy souvenirs before heading home or to the airport. If you've still got energy and time to spare, you could push on up to Pua or the northern mountains, but this plan keeps the focus on the old towns and finishes clean.
Phra That Khao Noi · Chae Haeng · souvenirs
Where to base yourself
One night in Phrae (if driving from Bangkok)
If you come by car from central Thailand, you reach Phrae first. A night in the old town lets you make the most of day one without rushing straight up to Nan.
Two nights in Nan
Your main base should be inside old-town Nan, since you can walk to Wat Phumin and the walking street, and it's easy to head up to Phra That Khao Noi early in the morning.
Find hotels in old-town Nan within walking distance of the temples and the walking street
See the Top 10 Nan hotels →