Nam Tok Silaphet is located between Nan and Pua in the north of the province and is a popular spot for locals to relax and swim on a hot day. The falls are not particularly big but they are quite pretty and have a pool for cooling off.
You can get to Nam Tok Silaphet by taking the secondary route to Pua from Nan, which goes through some pretty countryside and is well signposted. You can only visit the falls from November through July, however, as the rainy season engulfs the path that leads to Nam Tok Silaphet.
Unfortunately you can’t drive directly to Nam Tok Silaphet, with access being by way of a two-mile long path. There are some small restaurants near the start of this path by the riverside where you can stock up on food and drink for the trek, while the falls themselves drop about 10 feet over a wide cliff.
Many tourists combine a trip to Nam Tok Silaphet with a look at the traditional hill tribe village of Ban Pa Klang. It is between the falls and the town of Pua and the residents here, mostly of the Hmong tribe, are into making their own handicrafts and are especially masters at working silver.
Getting There
Take a Pua-Silaphet bus and ask the driver to drop you off for the falls, or, better still, rent a bicycle or motorcycle from Pua.
Need to Know
- What is it? A small waterfall in the north of Nan which is only accessible during the cool and dry seasons
- Opening hours: daily, November through July
- Entrance fees: free
- Address: Off H1081.
- Where: about 15km the southeast of Pua town in Silaphet district