Amazing Nan

A couple of weeks ago Thorsten was on an amazing field trip to Nan Province in the North of Thailand. Together with a colleague of mine and colleagues from UNDP we visited some of their field sites in the remote area of Nan province. What we experienced there war truly magnificent. I would call the area up there as the hidden corner of Thailand, far away from all the beaten Tourist tracks. At times I felt like 25 years back. Already the city of Nan itself is of stunning beauty with some of the Wats dating back to the 5th century. But going into the countryside tops even that. In the valleys in and around Nan some 30 different tribes have found their homes. Most of the tribes originated from Laos and Yunnan province in South-West China, some 300 kilometers further North. This potpurri of tribes gives the area a very distinct beauty and atmosphere.
A highlight of our trip was our stay at the Bamboo Huts in Ban Toei. This Eco Tourism place is in the midst of a beautiful valley populated by the Lawa tribe. William the owner speakes perfect English and offers a number of fabulous treks in the surrounding area. Depending on the condition of the clients he offers 1 to 3 day treks of various difficulty. His wife and two sons are good fun and the whole area is of extreme beauty.
The downside? There isn't really any exept that it is basic and one should not expect Luxury, but everything is very clean, food is super delicious and the whole place is well managed. The price is absolutely competetive and one is inclined to top the bill up. William owns a mobile phone but reception is poor, thus most times he cannot be contacted. However, there is actually no need to book in advance as he has a number of huts and if these are full he can arrange for rooms in the village.
Ban Toei is in between Pua and Doi Puhka National Park in the midst of the mountains. The place is signposted but without own transportation difficult to reach. For people who want to escape the city to relax and be closer to real nature, that's the place to be!