Marvel Overland Holiday

One of Thailand's furthest-flung provinces, Nan was also one of the last to be officially and fully incorporated into Siam. Though incorporation was official in 1932 after centuries of existence as an autonomous city state, due to Nan's remoteness and rugged, mountainous terrain, it continued to suffer from banditry, as well as being one of the major hotspots for the Communist Party of Thailand's military activity well into the 1980s.

A highway linking Nan town to the rest of Thailand was completed in the 1980s, and this opened it up to both commerce and tourism. Today, Nan is a typical, mid-sized Thai provincial town, albeit more attractive than the average, thanks to its riverside setting, beautiful Buddhist temples and a Tai Lue heritage. The overall feel is laid-back and friendly-and all of this comes together to create a destination that is well worth a visit-for at least a couple of days.

As a formerly off-limits province, in the 1990s Nan became something of the flavour of the month as an alternative travellers' destination, with plenty of good places to stay, and trekking agencies opened up to cater for the more adventurous tourists. Yet today, despite good access and a wealth of things to do and see, including fine national parks, an excellent museum and historic buildings.