Located at altitude in northern central Nan Province is the small mountain village of Ban Pa Klang, home to various hill tribes.
It is a popular destination for those looking to spend time with villagers at a home-stay and learn about their way of life and their handicrafts. However, few villagers wear traditional costumes these days, and unless you arrange a visit through a tour operator in Nan, it is likely that you will see nothing of interest here.
The village is a couple of hours northeast of Nan town and is home to Hmong, Yao and Htin minorities. They are friendly folks that settled here in the 1960s and retain their ancient customs, earning their living by farming lychees and producing traditional handicrafts, especially silverware. One of the most endearing images of Ban Pa Klang is a view from the mountaintop at a lychee farm.
Many visitors to Ban Pa Klang also visit nearby Doi Phu Kha National Park, which is just a few miles off to the north along Highway 1080. Also within the vicinity of Ban Pa Klang is Silaphet Waterfall, which is pretty and is a few miles to the south of the village.
Getting There
Public buses run to the town of Pua from Nan along Highway 1080, after which you can take a songthaew south to Ban Pa Klang.
Need to Know
- What is it? A hill tribe village within the mountains of north/central Nan, where traditional handicrafts are produced and lychees are farmed.
- Opening hours: daily, year round
- Entrance fee: free
- Address: Off H1081
- Where: about 70km to the northeast of Nan city, between Pua and Silaphet Waterfall.