Family visit: journey between Nan and Chiang Mai

Travel to Thailand Northern Provinces Nan

Update

08/01/2025

Continuation of this 7th day with the Nan – Chiang Mai journey, a road which takes us down to cross the mountainous roads of the north of the country.

Here we go, finally we have already descended a whole mountain.

Signposted hot springs are here right on the side of the main road, so no need to look for them…

Obviously, when you say tourist “attraction”, you mean lots of souvenir shops.

We will take advantage of this stop to have a bite to eat.

The temperature is ideal for cooking an egg!

The geyser in question, the highest in Thailand, therefore spits at regular intervals.

Right next door they have just built a "fake" Khmer-style temple for some reason or other... (movie set? On the side of the road, that seems unlikely to me...)

At the back of the "complex" are other channels for foot baths and a swimming pool, all of which are no longer used because the water is no longer hot (diverted, blocked?) hence the formation of green algae visible in the foreground.

We finally arrived at our hotel in Chiang Mai, where we will be picked up by the people from the Elephant Nature Park. It took us less than 7 hours including stops (including 1h30 at the hot springs). The welcome was very warm, the hotel is new, the rooms spacious, I recommend it (the TJR Boutique House). It turns out that Jitima was in Chiang Mai with friends, just enough time to see each other quickly as she was leaving that same evening.

The hotel is very well located, in a quiet little street.

While being in the heart of the "square" of Chiang Mai and in this case overlooking the famous street with the weekend night market.

A good heavy rain is going to be invited to the evening.

Time to settle down Jitima and I, my parents going around the market on their side, to eat, just a little after the Tha Pae gate (some 150m after in the main street opposite)

Very good, too bad I didn't note the name but following my directions the restaurant is on the right (on Tha Pae Road therefore)

After having accompanied Jitima back to her hotel, the same one where we had stayed the first time we went up to Chiang Mai together 5 years ago, close to the restaurant in fact, I set off again for a walk around the market where I would meet my parents.

Roman

When I discovered Thailand in 2006, I certainly didn't expect to settle down there 2 years later! Since then, I've been based in Bangkok and regularly travel throughout the country (especially in the north!). I share my stories, photos, and tips to help plan your trip to Thailand and other Asian countries. This blog is for anyone who wants to discover the land of smiles, who's looking for a bit of adventure, and those who dream of Asia.