Phayao



Phayao (พะเยา) is a city in the Northern River Valleys of Northern Thailand, about 700 km from Bangkok and 100km northeast of Chiang Mai.

Understand
Surrounded by mountains and valleys, Phayao sits in a peaceful, though modestly developed, area. The town was the centre of an independent city state until it was folded into the Lannathai kingdom in the mid-14th century.

The modern town covers most of the eastern shore of Phayao Lake.

By bus
Buses run regularly from Bangkok's northern bus terminal (Mo Chit).

The bus from Chiang Rai costs 92 baht (Feb 2024) and takes 2 hr.

There are four buses departing Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 daily, arriving at Phayao Bus Terminal. The whole journey takes around 3 hours.

By car
Highway 1 (Phaholyothin Road) passes through Muang Phayao.

From Bangkok, drive on Highway 32 to Sing Buri, then take route 117 to Phitsanulok, and Highway 11 to Phrae then routes 101 and 103, and it will merge onto Highway 1. The route is almost 700 km in length.

From Chiang Mai, drive on route 118, then turn onto route 120 at Mae Chedi town, going through Lampang and then Highway 1 to Muang Phayao. The route is around 150 km in length.

By plane
The closest airport to Phayao is Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (IATA: CEI, ICAO: VTCT) which is around 100 kilometres north of the city centre of Phayao.

By train
The nearest railway stations are in Lampang and Chiang Mai.

Get around
There are tuk-tuks at the bus station.

See




Do

 * Take a boat trip to the "sunken wat" in the middle of the lake. Small boats leave from the jetty. Price: 40 baht per person.
 * Take a lakeside stroll or do as the locals do and picnic on the grassy shore.
 * While not as mainstream as some of the other Northern Provinces, the provinces has as some hiking trails that are more isolated: Doi Luang-Doi Hnog (ดอยหลวง-ดอยหนอก), Bo Sib Song (บ่อสิบสอง), Phu Lanka-Doi Phu Nom(ดอยภูนม) and Phu An Ma (ภูอานม้า) are some major ones in the area.
 * While not as mainstream as some of the other Northern Provinces, the provinces has as some hiking trails that are more isolated: Doi Luang-Doi Hnog (ดอยหลวง-ดอยหนอก), Bo Sib Song (บ่อสิบสอง), Phu Lanka-Doi Phu Nom(ดอยภูนม) and Phu An Ma (ภูอานม้า) are some major ones in the area.

Eat


A long stretch of cheap (roughly 50 baht) night eateries starts about 200m from the bus station. Buy (and open) beer at the 7-Eleven across the road and take it to your stall of choice.