Ratings by backpackers :

Description :  A small town with traditional teak architecture in its relaxing old part.

Comments : Off the backpacking track, this is a place to relax while walking around the teak houses and the Wat.

What to do ? Smile back at people / Scares the dogs which haven't seen a lot of foreigners / Be impressed by the biggest teak house of Thailand (and the world ?) / Be surprised by the sight of another westerner / Go up the surrounding "flower garden" to say hi to some of the prison's inmates (from a fair distance) / 

What you may not like ? The lack of accomodation for travelers / The noise of the dogs / The cost of the songthaews (20B) from the not that far away bus station / Not being the owner of that huge teak house

How long ? One day 

Where to stay ? 

Hotels  << Get precise info, book online and save money !

• Tepviman Hotel (054 511003), 226-228 Charoen Muang Rd, 20mn walk from bus station, down Yantarkitkosol Rd, then turn right, on the left in front of Bank / Big room w. HW shower 80, 100 or 110 depending on the floor & facing / Go there as this is the only cheap option in sight and because the price is a bargain, even so the rooms lack freshness and charm
• If you feel depressed by the above, try Thep Vong Place (521985), 346/2 Charoen Rd, actually off the noisy road on Thok Mayom Soi / Much better standard at B200 for nice room with TV, HW shower and terrace / AC Rooms 350
  

Where to eat ? At the night market, just before the entrance to the old city.

Teak houses ? Scattered around town. By far the most impressive and actually worth the trip in itself is Pratubjai House, south-west of old town, about 2km from the city center (a nice walk, follow the signs) : a 200 years old golden teak house, the biggest in Thailand with 130 pillars. The ground floor makes you wonder why you came. The second floor, the actual living place, gives you the answer. Open daily 8 to 17, B20. Compared to the above, the 100 years old Ban Vongburi "Heritage House" might not be worth the B20 but it cost nothing to look at it. 

Bus Schedules :

The trip to Nan : SS / L&R / B39 / 2 hrs / fan
Our 7am bus left at 7:30 for a smooth ride with some nice countryside sceneries during just over two hours non stop. 

See also the trip from Lampang