I Ya Guesthouse — A Tiny, Peaceful Owner-Run Guesthouse Just Outside Phayao
If you want to escape the bustle and stay somewhere quiet where the owners come out to greet you by name, I Ya Guesthouse is a tiny guesthouse of about 4 rooms in Mae Puem, just outside Phayao town. This isn't a city hotel — it's a minimalist home-stay where guests agree the rooms look like they were finished yesterday, the bathrooms are big, and the owners are remarkably warm and personal. There's free covered parking right at your door and a small on-site cafe, I Ya Living and Food. The trade-off: it's about 12 km out of town, so you'll need your own transport. Rooms from approx. ฿700/night.
I Ya Guesthouse is a very small boutique guesthouse — about 4 rooms — set in Mae Puem, Ban Pong Klua Tai, in the rural part of Mueang Phayao district. The thing to know up front: it is not in Phayao town. It sits about 12 km out, right by the main road, which means you really need a car or motorbike to stay here. In exchange you get genuine countryside quiet, leafy surroundings, and a place the owners look after room by room — nothing like a systematised chain hotel.
The rooms are simple and minimalist, and spotlessly clean. What guests say most consistently is that the rooms look brand-new, are spacious, and the bathrooms are large and clean — several reviews note the bathroom is bigger and nicer than you'd expect at this price. Inside you get air conditioning, a flat-screen satellite TV, a fridge and fast Wi-Fi. The owners have even added small touches like anti-slip bathroom flooring, a sign they actually care. Covered parking is right in front of your room, so you park and walk straight in.
"The room was super clean, like it was built yesterday, the bathroom was big and beautiful, and the Wi-Fi was fast. You park right at your door. The owner was so kind and warm, even recommended restaurants and places to visit — we'd come back in a heartbeat."
The real heart of this place is the owners. The owner (Khun Alex/Somboon) and his wife are praised over and over for being genuinely warm and personal, not just running a business. After you book they email detailed directions, since the place is easy to find but out of town. Many guests mention the owners recommending local restaurants and things to do around Phayao, and sometimes cooking a generous Thai breakfast. There's also a small on-site cafe, I Ya Living and Food. This is the charm of an owner-run guesthouse that a big hotel simply can't offer.
On location, let's be honest. I Ya Guesthouse is about 12 km outside Phayao — it is not on Kwan Phayao lake or in the centre. Driving into town, the lake and Wat Sri Khom Kham takes roughly 15–20 minutes. The upside is how quiet it is: even right by the highway, guests say there's no traffic noise. If you plan to explore town all day and come back to somewhere peaceful to sleep, it fits perfectly. If you'd rather walk out the door to food and the lakeside, it won't suit. The overall score sits around 9.8 from 16 Trip.com reviews — very high for a tiny guesthouse.
Honestly, I Ya Guesthouse isn't for everyone. With only about 4 rooms it books out fast and needs advance planning. There's no pool, no lift, no big-hotel services, and — most importantly — you need your own transport because it's out of town. If you don't have a vehicle, or you want a central base you can walk to Kwan Phayao from, Hop Inn Phayao or M2 Hotel in town will suit you better. But if you're driving yourself and want a spotless near-new room, a big bathroom, warm owners and real countryside quiet at a light price — this place delivers so well that many guests say they want to return.
A tip from following the reviews here: book ahead, because with only about 4 rooms it fills up fast, especially on long weekends. After booking, read the owner's directions email carefully — it's out of town in Mae Puem, so GPS navigation is easiest. Fill up on fuel and grab some snacks on the way, as there aren't many shops nearby like in town. And if you get the chance, ask the owners about local restaurants and things to do around Phayao — they're locals who genuinely know and love to share.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spotless near-new rooms, spacious, with big bathrooms
- ✓ Warm, personal owners who treat you like a houseguest
- ✓ Free covered parking at your door, fast Wi-Fi
- ✓ Genuinely quiet — great for real rest
- ! About 12 km out of town; you need your own transport
- ! Only about 4 rooms, so book ahead
- ! Few shops nearby compared with town
- ✓ Very clean and modern-looking, great value
- ✓ Kind owners who recommend restaurants and sights
- ✓ Bigger, nicer bathroom than expected
- ✓ Quiet, safe, easy parking
- ! Roughly a 15–20 minute drive into town
- ! No pool or big-hotel services
- ! Few rooms; fills up fast on holidays
- 💡If you don't have your own car or motorbike — it's about 12 km out by the highway with nowhere to walk to → consider Hop Inn Phayao or M2 Hotel in the centre where you can walk to food instead.
- 💡If you want a lakeside or city-centre base — this is out in Mae Puem, not on Kwan Phayao, a 15–20 minute drive into town → look at M2 Hotel Waterside or Naga Tara on the lake instead.
- 💡If you're travelling on a long weekend — with only about 4 rooms it books out fast → reserve ahead and read the owner's directions email before you set off.