Return to Nan & back to the future?

[Davidfl]

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DATE: Monday 12th -Tuesday 13th June 2006

THE WEATHER: Warm - hot 'n very humid, overcast but dry. Perfect riding conditions.



THE WAY:
1. Chiang Mai - Lampang - Long - Phrae - Sa - Mae Charim -Nam Tuang - Mae Charim - Nan.
Routes:11 - 101- 4020 - 1243 - 1168 .
2. Nan - Mae Charim - Rom Klao - Mae Charim - Nam Muap - Sa - Phrae - Den Chai - Lampang - Chiang Mai.
Routes: 1168 - 1259 - 1168 - 1243 - 1162 - 101 - 11.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 997 kms.

THE RIDER & BIKE: David Unkovich (Davidfl)- Honda Africa Twin 750 (@ 158,000 kms & still going strong!)

A short 1,000 kms "over night" trip to check out some of the rest of the "new" best rides in Nan - North Thailand's "top dog" for road bike riding!



The text message at night comes in -we are off to Nan again, wanna come for a ride on 1148??
The reply: "Nah just done 1148, but need to check out the other good stuff in Nan, so see you there for a beer or two. Who's paying for the drinks, mate?"
"We will if you show us the town & sites."
"See ya tomorrow night then."



Actually I was quite hesitant to go. Just a couple of weeks earlier I'd had a similar SMS experience. Late at night - midnight a text message comes in. The lads - 8 of them are drinking in a bar, the Sax Bar & need a Sunday ride. MotoGP is on the tele at 11.00 am & Chiang Rai is only 183 kms away. Sounds like a good deal they inebriated mob says. Meet at the Jet gas station on the super at 9.00 am & we?ll be in Chiang Rai with 10 minutes to spare before the red light changes & the race is on. OK count me in, I could do with a trip to Chiang Rai to finish off GPS-ing the town for a guide map I?m working on. But I don?t fancy riding for 180 kms in a group of hung over riders (4 is my mob limit) & I head off to Chiang Rai at 8.30 am, 30 minutes before the pack is due to leave town. Only trouble 40 kms out it poured with rain, after I had snuck through; & the mob started to get drenched so returned to base in Chiang Mai. I watched the race alone in Chiang Rai! Oh well at least I had a good ride & still got all my GPS mapping done.



Meanwhile back to the future in Nan.....
So it was a bit of late departure & I got away from the Chiang Mai super at 12.40 pm.
It was hot, overcast, very humid, but unbelievable dry all the way to Nan! I could not believe my luck.
The master plan then was so race over on R101 to Sa, approx 26 kms south of Nan, head east & hit R1243, rumoured to be better, if not as good as R1148, the top dog road in North Thai, and eventually end up in Nan around dusk to pick up the mob coming in on R1148.

All to good to be true and in my enthusiasm to "get into it" I neglected to take a map with me & instead had to rely on the "old memory" The old bit perhaps being a bit more appropriate than necessary as the last time I was out on 1243 was many years ago - when the roads where still all dirt and all you had to ride was the mighty Honda Wing 125cc road bike!


R4020: the good stuff up on the ridgeline

Anyway in Sa, my confidence (& old memory) got the better or me & I sailed straight through town, east & onto R4020. You should turn right (south) & then make aleft onto R1162 about 3-4 kms south of Sa.


R4020 then was a tight narrow bumpy but steep asphalt road that snaked its way through the hills to eventually link up with the middle of R1243. Not quite what I wanted but, but the ride was a bit alright.
Once you're on R1243 the road sort of really lets loose - sweeping swooping up & down the steep rolling hills.



It was pretty much exhilarating immediately & yet another reminder that Nan province really is the motorcycle on-road paradise in North Thailand!




R1168.

R1243 ran into R1168 about 4 1/2 kms south of Mae Charim & as the time was only 5.30 pm I thought I had a another hour of good day light to play with & decided to follow the rest of R1168 to the end & Lao border area. Wow! What a surprise the rest of R1168 is.



From The R1243 intersection it is fast flowing swooping steep smooth race track asphalt, to around Nam Phang.


R1168 "east" to Nam Tuang

Then it drops off somewhat but gets even steeper tight & more twisted. 14 kms later the road sort of ends up in the middle of nowhere - a Hmong village Nam Tuang, just a few kms off the Lao border.


Above: The end of 1168


Above: Exciting Nam Tuang metropolis

With photo stops on R1168 it was 6.45 pm before I started to backtrack on R1168 to arrive in Nan around 8.00 pm. The last bit of the twisting roller coaster 1168 in the dark got a bit nerve racking when I lost sight of the road on the odd corner, anticipating the wrong turn / flow of the road in all the dips and rises.
I was a bit weary by the time I arrived in Nan, so the boys did not get exactly the grand tour they were looking for, but we did get to watch Australia beat Japan 3-1 in the World Cup football at the Poom3 restaurant.

Next day was a regular start with a mid morning breakfast with the lads off to do the Doi Phukha loop. I packed up & headed for home - the long way.
Back out onto R1168 to check out the rest of R1243, plus another newbie Id seen just near Nam Phang.

The newbie was R1259 & what an incredible steep road that one is. Arguably as good as the Doi Ang Khang or Phu Chi Fah roads, so it is as steep as at the start. (See elevation profile below)






Above: R1259 gets a bit windy & steep.


Above: R1259 on Google Earth.

It runs for 17 kms twisting & spiraling through the mountains to end up in another Hmong village Rom Klao, also near the Laos border. And again there?s no nothing there, just fabulous forest scenery & deserted roads.
After R1259 you have to back track onto R1243 & this time I was able to follow it all the way through to Nam Muap & the junction with R1162.






Above: R1243 runs along the ridgeline

R1243 is a fantastic road, but not quite as good as R1148 in my opinion due to variable road surface. Eventually R1243 links up with R1162



a real sport bike road - as long as you turn right / west in Sun Run Ruang you are ok.




Pix above: R1162.

Turn left / east in Sun Run Ruang & you'll end up on a bit of a dirt goat track, somewhere out there, as our good mates from Siam Superbike found out last year.
From Sa then it was R101 & 11 all the way back into Chiang Mai, non stop for a nice cool shower 3 hrs later.



Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Captain_Slash]

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David
The 1168 and 1259 are good roads arent they, I wrote about them on my Honda Wave tour. But I preferred riding the Bmw on both of them

If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The Cu-nt In Scun-thorpe

[scot harper]

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David, matey, what a post!!.Loved the GPS elavation printout, puts another dimension to the exiting ride you guys do in the Gt an environs. Stay upright, but only on the straights,have a chung for me.
See you in the forseeable future, ( If'n the good lords will'n an the creek don't rise). But untill the I'll read every post and seeth!
Scott....Green is the new black!!

[Davidfl]

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Colin
Glad you agree the "roads are good aren't they." I bet you can't wait to get back here riding on the BeeEm.

It's a shame that more guys don't get over to Nan & ride, as it is just about all sensational riding.
For anyone who wants to have a go, check out this little map below



And if you do ride in Nan, please contribute a brief report.

Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[rene-s]

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hello David;
Thanks a lot for the great info.As my tyres are going to look same like cartyres right now from driving the route Chiangrai-Mae sai, i think i go to Nan on the 25-26th( if the weather is ok) this month.As i readed this reports, i think my "pilot sports" can go in the original shape"round" again.
I think staying at the dhev. is a good option.
Thanks for the info and i will give a roadreport.
Rgds rene.

[Peter Hooper]

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Spectacular.
David please excuse my cartographical ignorance but is the top elevation line the actual profile of the road or of a cross section of the mountains the road crosses.
My brother and I intended to come back via Nan in Feb but ran out of time. It may be just as well ! Another day.
Cheers
Peter

"The Journey is the Destination"

[Davidfl]

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Peter
This is the GPS track as I went down the road, so that is the actual elevation profile of the road as you go - awesome stuff eh?

Message in from Silverhawk in his pick-up heading to south Thailand for some R&R: there is 5 kms of road resurfacing on R11, starting from the ridgeline about 27 kms north of Den Chai. In the wet it could be a bit (too) slippery, depending on your bike & tyres, otherwise ok in the dry.
SO the tip is, if you heading for Nan from Chiang Mai on route 11, then take route 1023 the back way into Phrae via Long & skip out the road resurfacing.

Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Davidfl]

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DATE: Sat 22 - Tues 25th July 2006.

Back to Nan for yet another look & mega ride.....

THE WEATHER: Warm - hot 'n very humid, overcast but dry. Perfect riding conditions yet again.



THE WAY
DAY 1: Chiang Mai - Mae Kachan - Wang Nua - Phayao - Dok Kham Thai - Chiang Muan - Nan. Routes: 118 -120 -1- 1021 -1251 -1091
DAY 2: Nan -Tha Wang Pha - Pua - Chiang Klang -Maneepruek - Pua. Routes: 1081 -1291 -4017 - 1081
DAY 3: Pua -Chiang Klang -Thung Chang - Huay Kon -Pua - Tha Wang Pha - Doi Tiew - Chiang Kham - Thoeng - Chiang Rai. Routes: 1081 - 1148 - 1082 - 1021
DAY 4: Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai. Route: 118


Above: Nice weather near Pua.

The weather had sucked for the last week, but with a nice break from the rain apparent I was ready for a ride & Nan it had to be.......

WHY
A few months ago I read an article in the Bangkok Post or Nation newspaper about a huge new monument (chedi) that had been built in honour on the CPT (Communist Party of Thailand) soldiers killed fighting the govt troops out near Huay Kon north of Nan.
The photo of the chedi situated on the mountain ridgeline was spectacular, but the fact that the monument was erected in honour of the dead CPT soldiers killed battling the Thai govt troops intrigued me. This got me even more, when I read that it was officially opened by the previous head of the Royal Thai army, General Surayud (one of the good guys) and it had been his father who was killed leading the commies fighters against the RTA. (Who said Thailand was not a great democracy?) I had to go and check it out to see if it was all for real. I figured I did not need much info, just the fact it was on a mountain up near Huay Kon where there was only one road, Route 1081 (one of North Thaiâ's great biking roads), and that would be enough to suss the place out.


Above: A Hmong hunter on R1291. Loved the gun, but dont know about the accuracy.

THE TRIP DAY 1
As I prepared to leave Cnx City for Nan, the weather looked a bit wet & dicey so I decided to hedge my bets. Instead of heading to Nan the quick way via Lampang & Phrae (routes 11 & 101) I opted for Phayao first. Then from Phayao the options were open, & if it looked too wet towards the east & Nan I'd head north to Chiang Rai for the night & to Nan the next day, weather depending. If it was no good then it would be back to Cnx via Tha Ton & Fang. Having so many loops & options to do in North Thailand is one of the reasons it is such a brilliant place to ride and tour!

I got away from the super "on time" (normal for the ol GT Rider) at 1.00 pm. 53 kms out of Chiang Mai as I crossed over the mountain ridgeline on R118 my luck was in with glorious weather. R120 flashed past & I was in Phayao at 3.15 pm for a late lunch. If you have never done R120 from Mae Kachan - Wang Nua - Route 1, then you are missing another great sport bike road & ride in North Thailand. Check out the elevation profile below to get an idea how it crosses the mountains west to east.




After a short time GPs-ing some of the minor sois in Phayao it was time to head east & onto Nan.
From Phayao then you head back south 3 1/5 kms down R1 & take a lefty (east) onto R1021 for Chun & Nan. After 10 kms down Route 1021 I opted for Route 1251, the Dok Kham Thai - Chiang Muan road. This is one that John Nash from Jonadda ghouse has been raving about for the least few months, and he's right too. The road surface on 1251 is perfect racetrack asphalt - smooth thick, with hardly a ripple and some superb sweeping swooping corners towards the Chiang Muan end. The scenery is generally nice forest, but for me a bit uninteresting & I reckon that R1021 / 1091 to Chiang Muan is a more interesting (villages & farmland) ride than 1251. But 1251 does have one awesome descent at the Chiang Muan end & it's worth doing at least once just for this. Check out the elevation profile for this little baby.



When you first start the descent it is surprising because you are totally unaware that you are so high up compared to the land below.
From Chiang Muan then its up onto 1091 another superb sweeping swooping road with racetrack quality asphalt all the way into Nan. Check out the R1091 pics below.

In the last few weeks having done 101, 1148 & 1091 into Nan I feel that R1091 is the best way to ride into Nan, & then take 1148 out. The difference is marginal, but for sure you will get a better ride and feeling arriving in Nan via 1091.







Pix above: R1091 soars up into the mountains from Chiang Muan & Ban Luang.

Arrival time in Nan was 7.15 pm after checking out a few R1091 roads; & the tip is that Route 3030, north from Sanian (8 kms west of Nan) is good for a 16 kms side trip from Nan city to see some Yao hill tribe villages & lovely forest. Check it out sometime if you're hanging out in Nan looking for something to do.

In Nan, the hotel was the Fah Tanin again & it's top value for money at 450 baht a night. I crashed out for a couple of hours, and later woke to drag myself downtown for dinner at the Poom3 & some of Toom's (Ex Da Darios) Italian food.
The food must have been alright because I managed to fire up & drag myself down to the Verachon Pub & Restaurant at 11.00 pm to discover Nan's number 1 adult nightspot. The place was packed, & really rocking with a good band. Twice before in Nan I had tried to find the Verachon, but without success. Now the tip is that it is in a dead end soi, riverside, downstream from the bridge and just past the Nan prison. So find the jail, & go straight onto the river & there you are. (The other # 1 nightspot in Nan is Channel X disco is you're are into delinquent teenagers & loud dance music. All right for some, but not oldies like me.)

THE TRIP DAY 2
Next day up at 8.00 am (super early) for me, check out of the hotel & cruise Nan for a few hours GPS-ing new sois & environs roads. Hint: there's a lot of interesting rural back roads suitable for cycling, west of R101, south of 1091, if you want to spend time dawdling around Nan city outskirts.

Around 2.00 pm I headed north in search of the communist soldiers monument. I figured that I still had 4 1/2 hrs day light riding left for me to slip up to Huay Kon & perhaps track down the monument the same day. Easy eh?
Pua is only approx 60 kms north of Nan and a fast 40 minute ride on R1081.
Chiang Klang is another 16 kms north of Pua.
3 kms north of Chiang Klang a huge new blue highways dept sign indicated the turn off to the Pha Daeng battlefield.


Above: Big new road sign with the local attractions, but no kms. So they are out there somewhere!

I could not believe my luck, this had to be it - I was almost there already. This was Route # 1291, a new one on me & it headed east straight up into the hills.



Above: R1291 & 4017, 2 great biking roads to tackle.

What a road it is. Another exhilarating steep & winding Nan mountain road. After 15 kms R1291 for some reason becomes Route 4017 to run for another 22 kms way way up in the mountains.


Above: R1291 thru the cabbage fields (must be Hmong hill tribes around somewhere?)

Eventually the road ran out in Maneepruek a Hmong village.


Above: Downtown Maneepruek megatropolis.


Above:Maneepruek super highway to nowhere.


Above: End of the road, Thai style. But where's the monument & battlefield?

The GPS showed I was only 7 kms as the crow flies, from route 1081 on the Lao border / east side of Doi Phukha. But there was no battlefield or chedi that I could see. Perhaps Maneepruek was really a Fakawi tribal village, as they certainly knew nothing about a huge monument to fallen communist soldiers or where the battlefield was. You could only laugh about it, but I'd found a new spectacular road, had a great ride, got some nice pictures & so had a good rewarding time. But where was the huge monument nestled spectacularly on the mountain ridgeline?


Above: Pua rice padis with Doi Phukha in the background.

I backtracked to Pua for the night & checked into the Chomphu Phukha resort. If you've ever been thru Pua you've probably thought it's not much of a town - just a whistle stop for the buses, and you'd be right.


Above: Downtown Pua, pretty exciting place eh?

There aint much in town, but there are 2 nice resorts, plus 1 cheap Charlie guesthouse. I use the Chomphu Phukha Resort @ 350 - 600 baht a night. The other resort is the Oob Kaew, costs a bit more & is further up the hill behind the Chomphu Phukha. The Chomphu Phukha wins every time because of the location, good restaurant & the beautiful Miss Ting (who should have quite a fan club amongst North Thailand bikers by now, she is so captivating, but un-catchable!)



Now if you're doing any of the Doi Phukha loops, then my tip is to start / finish from Pua and not from Nan approx 60 kms away.
After a sumptuous steamed fish with lemon & a 1/4 of a bottle of whisky I realized I was still not going to make any impression on Miss Ting & retired to my room and Thai TV for the night. You cant win em all, but it's fun trying.


Above: Pua excitement for the night!

THE TRIP DAY 3
I was on the road by 8.15 am the next morning after sampling the Chomphu Phukha brekky - tepid coffee, a cold kow pat moo, but a hot slice of dry toast. Again you can't win 'em all. The CP brekky does not yet rate in the Michelin guide, but there's nowhere else to really go!


Above: Sign spotted in the local village shop in Maneepruek!

Route 1081 north of Pua gets better the further north you go, and eventually you cant really get roads more winding twisting swooping in North Thai. So R1081 north of Pua is one of the great rides of North Thailand.


Above: If R1081 north of Huay Kon doesn't put a huge smile on your dial, something's wrong with you!

Huay Kon is approx 60 kms north of Chiang Klang & here at last I got some info at a military "passpoint".


Above: A place (passpoint) to check in, promptly.

Yes there was indeed a monument to fallen communist soldiers, but it was yet another 40-50 kms further up the road, and supposedly up a steep 4-6 kms dirt sidetrack. Now to get this valuable info I had to first be quizzed exactly what I was doing in this neck of the woods. I did not think that I was that far out of the way, but they insisted I quickly dismount from bike, register my details (& half life history in Thailand), before they would answer my query about the monument. I also think we had a bit of a personality clash so the whole situation was a bit tense for the first 10-15 minutes. Eventually all was clear & I knew that I was on the right track. Now the hot tip they did give me was that the dirt track would be terribly greasy, & so impassable if it was wet. I had no chance on the heavy Africa Twin. I thanked him for their info & headed off as fast as I could.



It was an enjoyable ride with magnificent panoramic views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Then suddenly after 35 kms the cloud cover came in, blackened out the sky totally & poured with rain.


Above: The rain eventually got me!

I stopped to put my waterproofs on, then changed my mind & thought lets get out of here. It would be a waste of time continuing Even if it stopped raining there was no sun to dry out any dirt tracks, so it would only be grease. I could only laugh yet again, but I'll be back after the wet season for another crack it.

At Huay Kon then I checked out the local border crossing to Laos & noted that there is not much going on.


Above: Huay Kon border crossing to Laos. Not much going on here.


At least the Huay Kon immigration sign advises you to complete a pax & crew list if you are leaving Thai with a vehicle!

I first came here 11 years ago, when word got out that the border was an international crossing, and indeed it was - but only on the Thai side & you could not get into Laos! Now after 11 years it is still the same & obvious that the Lao are not in any rush to open up the border to foreigners.


The road out to the Huay Kon border crossing, not much traffic using this road. Check out the weeds growing in the middle of the road.

But on the Thai side you have to wonder about the huge signs promoting the border market & crossing to Laos - I think they jumped the gun a bit.



It was a bit of a race back down into Pua, but what a ride it is on 1081 from Huay Kon. Basically from just north of Huay Kon you are at the source of the Nan river, and with the road generally following the river south you are just going downhill all the way. Check it out sometime - it's an extremely good ride!

Just out of Tha Wang Pha then I decided to check out another favourite road of mine, but one that I don't get on too often as it is just a side road up a big mountain.


Above: R1082 is also another steep mountain road to check out in Nan province.

This is route 1082 & the Doi Tiew road. The views here are sensational and the climb really is as good as they get.


Views on R1082, the Doi Tiew road.


Riding the ridgeline on R1082.

The asphalt ends up in the village of Sop Khun, 37 kms from R1091. If you're on a road bike, then the only option is to turn around and come back out. But if you're on a dirt bike & a bit of a half decent trail rider, then there still is a link up from Sop Khun over to the next mountain Doi Phachi, & then onto either Ban Luang or Pong. Doi Phachi is also another old CPT HQs site, and every year there is supposed to be a re-union of old cadres here. Worth investigating & exploring sometime....


Above: GPS Elevation profiles for the morning & lunch time rides - another hard day at the office.


And if it all gets too much, then pamper yourself yourself with some "cosmatics" available at the Pua Shell gas station mini mart.


Fleeing the scene (rain)on R1148, headed for Chiang Rai.


Above: Scenery on Route 1148. Tha Wang Pha - Chiang Kham.

Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[Davidfl]

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Sorry lads, just a couple of Google Earth images with GPS tracks for Nan.


Above: R1168 Nan -Mae Charim


Above: R1257. The Don Phrai Wan Road.

Check em out sometime when you're in Nan. You won't be disappointed..

[beddhist]

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Hi David,

I've just been told by Ei here at the Centerplace YHA that this crossing is now open to foreigners and they are taking tours through to Muang Ngeun and thence to Pak Beng via a road that is not shown on your map.

However, no visa on arrival here.

You should go and see this guy some time. He tells tales of places he's been to on a bike where your map shows no tracks, many in Laos.

Cheers,
Peter.

[Davidfl]

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Hi David,

I've just been told by Ei here at the Centerplace YHA that this crossing is now open to foreigners and they are taking tours through to Muang Ngeun and thence to Pak Beng via a road that is not shown on your map.

However, no visa on arrival here.

You should go and see this guy some time. He tells tales of places he's been to on a bike where your map shows no tracks, many in Laos.

Cheers,
Peter.

Sounds like it could finally open.
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... html#26524
Almost unbelievable if it does.

[Mark Rossi]

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Old but Gold i'm glad you reposted this report, awesome stuff full of information with some great roads.
The 1259 really got my attention haven't ridden this road.
Why are the surfaces in Nan province so much better?
Is it because they are newer with a better built base or are they imported contractors like the Chinese built hwy 3 in Lao?

Slash: classic man, ridden all! On a Wave, a Bmw, and now a Phantom. Have i missed any bikes Colin?

[Franz]

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What a beautiful trip !!!! Thanks for posting all the details, this should be my next tour end of December 08 !!!! Nan is really a bikers paradise !
Keep'em coming !! Cheers, Franz

[Captain_Slash]

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You only missed one out Mark, my first bike was also a Phantom. I had a Phantom for the 02 and 03 holidays, a Wave for 04, the Bm for 05 06 and 07 and now I have gone full circle and back on a Phantom again for 08

[Davidfl]

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Check out the long Doi Phukha loop in 2008 here
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... html#28120

[Davidfl]

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Captain Slash on some of the same roads
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... html#32385

[Davidfl]

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Yet another return to Nan & the future biking capital of North Thailand???. Ho. Ho.
Are "we" serious?

Well, take a look at these recent reports

1. Sukie:
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t6963.html

2. The Secret Soi Riders:
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... html#41935

3. The Secret Soi Riders: http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t6766.html

4. Captain Slash:
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t6974.html

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t6984.html

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... t6977.html

To help some of you guys I attempted to list some of my fave places here
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorc ... html#41846
& I can now update that list for you a little better here.

NAN CITY SUGGESTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The "old" Deheveraj hotel, still good value for money I think. GPS N18 46.691 E100 46.518

2. Grand Mansion hotel N18 47.182 E100 46.614. 350 baht a night, good value but no advance bookings - ring on the day / night before! (They would not even let me pay in advance for rooms wanted only 3 days away?)

3. Darios restaurant, run by Toom. GPS N18 46.877 E100 46.474.

4. The Terrace for drinks / nice food / folk songs music early evening. GPS N18 46.692 E100 46.929. (Encountered a stunning group of nurses here three nights ago & everyone was fashion model quality.)

5. The Veerachon Pub, down on the river just past the prison. N18 46.157 E100 46.416. The adult Pub & Restaurant in Nan (& where the nurses ended up )

6. Hot Bread for fresh homemade bread, cookies & fresh real coffee. GPS N18 46.519 E100 46.180. Convenient location around the corner from the Museum & Wat Phumin. Perfect English spoken.

7. Poo Payak Coffee House. Good coffee + souvenir T-shirts, communist caps & books from Phu Phayak the old commie HQs in Nan. Under Royal Patronage. (GPS N18 46.631 E100 45.943. (There are 2 other branches in town.)

8. Channel X Disco & The Fifth, late at night for the delinquent youth scene. GPS N18 47.035 E100 46.033

9. Nan Steak House for 80 baht steaks “on the river;” upstream from town. Swedish owner & Phantom rider with 60,000 kms up. GPS N18 47.470 E100 47.427.

The Mai Muang, Klong Prem & Duan Phen Pubs have all closed.

For other accommodation that I've GPS-ed.
1. Eurng Kham. N18 47.053 E100 45.964
2. Rim Suan Place. N18 47.050 E100 46.084
3. Win House. N18 47.044 E100 46.097
4. 69 Hotel. N18 46.843 E100 45.744
5. Phai Lueng Guesthouse. GPS N18 46.611 E100 46.181
6. Nan Boutique Hotel. GPS N18 46.905 E100 46.796
7. Fah Place. GPS N18 46.844 E100 46.643
8. PK Guesthouse. GPS N18 47.418 E100 47.002
9. Nan Guesthouse. GPS N18 46.667 E100 46.180

Photos coming soon.

[Fishenough]

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Thank you David for bring this thread to the top of the heap!




Man that's sexy, wanna blow it up to poster size and put em up on my bedroom wall.

[Ally]

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Mmmm very sexy indeed!



Ally

[Captain_Slash]

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Kevin a better idea still is to get your D-Tracker over here and ride it, only problem is you wont want to leave. Come to think of it Nan could do with a Mexican restaurant