Author: OTRAdmin January 17, 2024

The climate in Thailand has become progressively worse in recent years with hotter, longer dry seasons and wetter drawn-out rainy seasons often lasting months on end, not to mention the new smog season when air pollution is hazardous across most of the country from February to May. 

For that reason, we decided on a road trip to the north of Thailand to enjoy the cooler January weather while it lasted and before the haze season started (in some parts it already has). Additionally, there are four mountainous non-touristy provinces that I’d yet to visit – Uttaradit, Phrae, Nan, and Phayao. 

It is too far to drive from Bangsaphan or Hua Hin to the four ‘unseen’ provinces I wanted to visit so we spent a night just north of Ratchaburi to see the spectacular Nasatta Winter Illumination Light Festival. This place was a magical wonderland unlike anything I had seen in Thailand before and my two cameras were busy for three hours.

Next: Chainat, Uthai Thani and Uttaradit