The vanishing fishing village of Ban Pak Nai along Queen Sirikit Lake

Pak Nai at Queen Sirikit Lake - Nan Thailand

Reposting from 2017. Originally it was a fishing village along the Nan River, but in 1968 they started to build the Queen Sirikit dam and by 1974 the village was along the huge water reservoir Queen Sirikit. Although I assume that the village had been on another location as now. The village became famous as fishing village with house-boats. And it became famous because it is the point to cross the lake by ferry from Uttaradit province (Nam Pat) to Nan province (Pak Nai). The latter is becoming less and less popular as there are good roads going on both sides around the lake.

So in the past 20 years it became a tourist destination to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake, go fishing and stay overnight at one of the house-boats. But time & demands of tourism are changing and so is Pak Nai. There are still restaurants and house-boats. Even places to stay overnight. And the ferry is still used for cars and motorbikes. But it all looks & feels like it is a charm that soon will be lost. But we had a great day. When we arrived we made a 40 min boat-trip and we rented 2 house-boats with private balcony where we had dinner. Accommodation was basic, very basic (and not cheap). And the next day we used the ferry to cross the lake to Nam Pat.

When to go to Pak Nai?

Daily all year, although weather-wise best at the end of the raining season and during the cool season.

Where to go?

Pak Nai village along Queen Sirikit lake, about 100 km south of Nan town.

How to get to Pak Nai?

There is no public transport going there, although you could take the bus to Wiang Sa and then a Song Theauw to Na Noi and find yourself other transport to Pak Nai. By private car or motorbike follow route 101 south of Nan Town to Wiang Sa and the route 1060 to Na Noi. And from there continue south to Pak Nai.