Phayao between the lake, temples and waterfalls
Accommodation in Phayao
Phayao offers many different reasons to set out and explore: a natural lake in the middle of the city, temples with their own histories, markets selling regional specialties and waterfalls in national parks. When choosing your holiday rental, it is worth first considering which of these sides you would like to make the focus of your trip. The lake and cultural sites are associated with different locations than excursions into the province’s natural areas.
Lake and temples in Phayao
Kwan Phayao is a natural lake within the city of Phayao. It is also a freshwater fishing area and is used to breed more than 50 fish species. The lake is therefore not only a scenic feature, but is also connected with the use of freshwater. Wat Analyo Thipphayaram offers views of Kwan Phayao and the city of Phayao. If you are interested in the city and the lake, you will find two different perspectives on the same place here: a view of the water and a view of the city.
Wat Si Khom Kham, also called Wat Phrachao Ton Luang or Wat Thung Iang, is located by the lake. The temple was built around the 15th century as the city’s principal temple. It houses Phrachao Ton Luang, considered the largest and oldest Buddha image in the Lanna Kingdom. The annual festival honoring the image takes place in the sixth lunar month, in May. This combination of temple history, the image and a recurring festival makes Wat Si Khom Kham a special cultural highlight of a trip to Phayao.
Other temples offer their own distinctive features. Wat Nantaram preserves a Thai Yai-style assembly hall, built entirely of teak and decorated with openwork wood carvings. Wat Phra Nang Din is known for its principal Buddha image, which has no pedestal. At Wat Phra That Khing Kaeng, a water-pouring ceremony takes place every year on the fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month; in northern Thailand, this is called the “seventh lunar month.” If you would like to learn about different religious traditions, you can consider these sites and events as distinct cultural themes for your trip.
Natural areas and waterfalls
The province’s natural attractions each have their own character. Phu Sang National Park extends across the districts of Phu Sang and Chiang Kham and borders Laos. Namtok Phu Sang is a small waterfall about 25 meters high, with water flowing year-round. Phu Langka Forest Park lies in the districts of Chiang Kham and Pong and covers approximately 7,800 rai. The district locations mentioned can help you decide which areas you would like to explore further on your trip.
Namtok Pu Kaeng, a nine-tiered limestone waterfall that flows year-round, is part of Doi Luang National Park. Its described sequence of nine tiers and limestone formation distinguish it in appearance from Namtok Phu Sang, which is about 25 meters high. If you are interested in waterfalls, you can therefore consider these two clearly described natural features without treating them as a single destination.
Markets and local experiences
Phayao Walking Street is held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in front of Kwan Phayao Lake; on the other days, it is at the City Pillar Shrine. It offers regional souvenirs such as crispy pork rinds, as well as the chili pastes Namphrik Num and Namphrik Ong. The changing locations mentioned and the range of local products give the market a distinctive place in your travel plans. If you are interested in regional food culture, you can look out for these specialties there.
Ban Din Kham Pu Chu Learning Center (Live and Learn) in Tha Wang Thong, in Mueang Phayao District, offers a different kind of learning experience. As part of the “Phayao Learning City” project, an activity on building earthen houses was held there: clay was mixed and shaped, then laid out to dry in the sun. The example offers insight into individual steps involved in building with earth. It adds a topic focused on hands-on creativity to the temples, markets and natural attractions.
When searching for accommodation, you can consider which experiences matter most to you: the lake and cultural sites in Phayao, regional products and market visits, or natural attractions in their respective districts. For further orientation within the province, destinations include Pong, Dok Khamtai District, Mae Chai District, Yuan, Ban Lao, Wiang and Ban Mai. This lets you base your holiday rental search on the places you would like to explore during your trip.
For an overview of the wider region, see: Thailand.
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