Phetchabun to Nan - Day 17 - Thailand Road Trip

What to do in Nan Hop Inn — There are lots of interesting things to do in the province of Nan. Every Hop Inn has one of these murals to show some of what you can do in the area.

Fortunately I got a decent sleep last night, because I was going to need to stay awake on this next part of the trip. I am making a long jump up from Phetchabun to Nan, then going over to Chiang Mai after.

I really like the driving in this area, with a bunch of good, twisty sections. It’s a beautiful area too, but I wasn’t stopping for anything. It would have made my day too long, and I would end up driving at night in some of the fun parts of the drive. Instead of going from Phetchabun to Nan, I’d considered stopping in Phitsanulok so I could explore more, but I was running out of time.

I should have had the GoPro on a timelapse for this, but I thought about that after. My driving style here was more like Mario Andretti’s, considering the good time I made and what Google Maps thought the trip time should be. I know a few people who would have loved the scenery but hated the road!

It was also rainy in one key spot early on in my trip where I had considered stopping, with heavy overcast cloud so I would not see what I wanted or have been able to fly my drone. I was at Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew with my parents, and this temple, along with the setting, is magnificent! It would be nice to stay in a hotel close to it sometime.

I don’t have any firm plans for this last part of my trip, and I am just going to wing it. I had my route more or less nailed down early on, but I will figure it out as I go now.

My lower back and shoulders were needing some work after that drive, so I stopped at Nan Chumpuphuka Thai Massage for an hour to help rectify that.

As you’ve probably gathered by now, I like to stay at Hop Inn hotels. This one is a bit unusual because it is painted in a brown colour scheme. There’s also a bit of extra artwork in the lobby. It’s been interesting staying at so many Hop Inns. I have many observations! Overall the service is very consistent and predictable. I like that when I travel here.

There are some restaurants close to my hotel here, so I had Thai food for supper. I already know where I will go for breakfast!