In late January wife and I will be driving from Bangkok to Nan where we plan to stay about a week before driving back to Bangkok via Lampang.      Will probably spend first night in Nan (city)  then procede north on route 1081 along the Thai/Lao border then circle back around on route 1080 to Nan.   We are real flexible on the routing except we want to stop in Lampang on the return trip to visit friends.   On another thread posters mentioned how scenic route 1148 is  so will work in a drive there too.     Any suggestions on mid-range places to stay, restaurants, things to see, etc along this route?       

The road from Bor Kleua to Chalerm Prakiat (1081) has a lot of potholes and hairpin bends and is narrow. It may not be everybody's idea of relaxing driving.

I should add that south of Bor Kleaua, it resembles a car advertisement in parts. Endless sweeping turns.

 

Also the 1080 is very scenic.

 

By late January, the hordes should have gone back to Bangkok.

Great Lady    Enjoy!!!    Oh the place,,, sorry

the following FB link ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1723668091226630/) provides a day by day account of my route around the border in June this year (albeit on a motorcycle) start with posts from June 25th for this area. It advises good roads and bad ones. Also the 120, 1120, 1251 and the 1091 between chiang mai and nan are great. Regarding stopping places i would advise Chiang Kong, Mai Sai. Endless points of interest along theses routes and plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets.

 

I would also suggest you put this question in the motorcycle forum section as its a busy biking area so many people can advise. 

..it is along way from BKK to Nan!  Slow down and enjoy the journey..

2 hours ago, kurtcap said:

the following FB link ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1723668091226630/) provides a day by day account of my route around the border in June this year (albeit on a motorcycle) start with posts from June 25th for this area. It advises good roads and bad ones. Also the 120, 1120, 1251 and the 1091 between chiang mai and nan are great. Regarding stopping places i would advise Chiang Kong, Mai Sai. Endless points of interest along theses routes and plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets.

 

I would also suggest you put this question in the motorcycle forum section as its a busy biking area so many people can advise. 

Nice account, looks one heck of a ride!

Going with TW for the new year , looking forward to blue skies above the 1148 , going on the Forza , no fun at all in the car.

44 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

..it is along way from BKK to Nan!  Slow down and enjoy the journey..

Yes, we do enjoy the journey.       When we depart Bangkok we will be making  a number of overnight stops before we get to Nan.    It's just that Nan will be the end of the line then we will  turn around and head back home to Bangkok by a different route.    We plan on the trip to take a couple of weeks.

14 hours ago, natway09 said:

Great Lady    Enjoy!!!    Oh the place,,, sorry

Bring me back some of that excellent bread,

Some of the best roads, my favorite riding destination in Northern Thailand which I visit regularly.

Spaniel, have a look and take your pick:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

Some of the best roads, my favorite riding destination in Northern Thailand which I visit regularly.

Spaniel, have a look and take your pick:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting, we enjoyed the clips.     My motorcycling days are long behind me (I'm 72)  so wife and I will be making the trip in our CRV, but if I were younger a bike would be the way to go!       

 

There's one other option:  from Nan, take Highway 101 South to Na Noi, then Highway 1083/1268 to Dan Sai and on to Loei.  We found 1268 to be one of the most "interesting" roads in Thailand - narrow, many switchbacks and MANY curves.

 

From Loei there are many routes through Issan back to central Thailand.

I also want to visit Nan any time between now and the end of the winter as I was hoping to experience the top of Doi Samer Dao in cold weather. Last week apparently the temperature fell to 10°!

 I already have my thick coat, scarf and gloves but alas here in Pattaya today the temperature is almost 34° so I feel I have missed the winter which happened last week

does anyone think there is any chance temperatures in Nan will drop lower again between now and the end of February?

 

 

 

There is no way that winter is over this early in the season.  Get off your but and come north.

On 12/27/2016 at 0:28 PM, villagefarang said:

There is no way that winter is over this early in the season.  Get off your but and come north.

 

i will be there