Ban Pak Nai

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: Morning To Evening Is Recommended; Check Ferry / Pontoon Service Before Traveling

 

Ban Pak Nai, also known as Pak Nai Fishing Village, is a lakeside fishing community in Na Thanung Subdistrict, Na Muen District, Nan Province. It is also an important travel connection to Uttaradit Province through Tha Faek Subdistrict, Nam Pat District, across the reservoir above Sirikit Dam. This makes Pak Nai a distinctive destination where Nan and Uttaradit are linked by water, mountains, local ferries, floating restaurants, fishing culture, and slow travel. For travelers exploring northern Thailand by road, Pak Nai is not only a stopover but also a memorable experience in itself.

 

Although Pak Nai is often mentioned in connection with Uttaradit travel routes, the fishing village itself is located on the Nan Province side. The Uttaradit side connects through Nam Pat District and Tha Faek Subdistrict, where travelers can use a ferry or pontoon service across the reservoir. This water crossing links the Nan side and the Uttaradit side over the broad surface of the Sirikit Dam reservoir. For many travelers, the experience of driving a car onto a ferry and crossing the water between mountains is one of the most memorable parts of the journey.

 

The landscape of Pak Nai resembles a large lake surrounded by green mountains and forested slopes. The broad water surface, calm atmosphere, floating restaurants, fishing boats, and mountain backdrop create a peaceful setting that feels very different from busy urban destinations. Visitors come here to eat fresh fish, relax on floating rafts, take photos, stay overnight on the water, and enjoy the slow rhythm of a community that has long lived with the Nan River and the reservoir above Sirikit Dam.

 

The history of Pak Nai is closely connected to the construction of Sirikit Dam. Before the reservoir changed the landscape, communities lived along the Nan River. After the dam was built, the water level and geography of the area changed significantly, and villagers had to adapt to new living conditions. Pak Nai gradually became a fishing village within the reservoir landscape. This history gives the village a deeper meaning: it is not only a scenic destination but also a community shaped by major environmental and social change.

 

Fishing remains one of the village’s defining features. Many local livelihoods are connected to fish, floating restaurants, raft accommodation, boat services, and tourism. Visitors can enjoy freshwater fish dishes from the reservoir, such as fish soup, fried fish, grilled fish, spicy fish dishes, and seasonal local menus. Eating on a floating restaurant while surrounded by water and mountains is one of the main reasons travelers stop at Pak Nai.

 

Floating restaurants and raft accommodations make Pak Nai more than a quick viewpoint. Some visitors stop for lunch before continuing to Nan or Uttaradit, while others stay overnight to enjoy the morning atmosphere. Early morning at Pak Nai is especially attractive, with soft light over the reservoir, fishing boats moving slowly, and mountain layers reflected on the water. Travelers who enjoy photography, quiet scenery, and simple local life should consider spending at least one night here.

 

Popular activities include eating on floating restaurants, boat trips, fishing, staying on rafts, watching sunrise, photographing the reservoir, observing fishing life, and crossing between Nan and Uttaradit by ferry. The ferry crossing is part of the travel identity of Pak Nai. Cars, motorcycles, pickup trucks, and local vehicles can board the ferry depending on service conditions. Travelers should always follow instructions from ferry operators when boarding or leaving the pontoon.

 

The ferry connection is important for both local people and travelers. On the Nan side, the route connects to Na Muen District and Highway 1026. On the Uttaradit side, it connects to Tha Faek Subdistrict, Nam Pat District, and Highway 1339. This makes the route useful for road trips between southern Nan and northern Uttaradit. However, ferry schedules and service conditions can depend on water level, weather, maintenance, and local operations, so travelers should check current information before departure.

 

Pak Nai is suitable for many types of travelers. Families can enjoy floating restaurants and calm views. Groups of friends can stay on rafts, take boat trips, and photograph the scenery. Road-trip travelers can use Pak Nai as a scenic connection between provinces. Nature lovers can enjoy the reservoir, mountains, sunrise, and quiet atmosphere. Community-based travel enthusiasts can observe how local people live with fishing, water transport, and tourism.

 

Travelers who plan to stay overnight should contact accommodations in advance. Raft stays are different from standard hotels, so details such as room type, meals, toilets, electricity, parking, boat transfer, and safety rules should be confirmed before traveling. Useful personal items include insect repellent, a flashlight, light outerwear, waterproof bags, medicine, and cash. Mobile signal and payment options may vary, so basic preparation is important.

 

Food is central to the Pak Nai experience. Recommended dishes are usually based on fresh fish from the reservoir. Visitors should ask about available fish, price, and cooking method before ordering, especially for large fish or seasonal species. The appeal is not only the flavor but also the setting: eating local fish while floating on a raft, surrounded by water and mountains.

 

Pak Nai also reflects the adaptation of a community to a changed river landscape. The reservoir created new challenges but also new livelihoods. Fishing, floating restaurants, raft accommodation, and ferry services became part of the local economy. Visitors should respect this living community by keeping noise low, not littering, not throwing waste into the water, and avoiding behavior that disrupts fishing or local operations.

 

The village is also a good example of community-based tourism. Local people provide food, accommodation, ferry services, boats, and information. When travelers support local businesses responsibly, tourism income stays closer to the community. At the same time, responsible tourism is necessary to protect the water, fish resources, and peaceful atmosphere that make Pak Nai attractive.

 

Photography is excellent at Pak Nai. Popular subjects include floating restaurants, fishing boats, sunrise over the reservoir, cars boarding the ferry, mountain reflections, local fish dishes, and quiet moments on raft accommodation. Morning and late afternoon are the best times for photography because the light is soft and the reservoir atmosphere is more peaceful.

 

Pak Nai can be included in travel routes on both the Nan and Uttaradit sides. From Nan, travelers can connect with Na Muen, Na Noi, Sao Din Na Noi, Kok Suea, Si Nan National Park, and Nan city. From Uttaradit, travelers can connect with Nam Pat, Tha Faek, Lam Nam Nan National Park, Sirikit Dam, and other natural attractions. This makes Pak Nai a useful stop for multi-province itineraries.

 

Road conditions on the Uttaradit side can include long mountain stretches. Travelers should check brakes, tires, fuel, and lights before the trip. Motorcyclists should be well prepared because the route can be long and curving. Night driving is not recommended for those unfamiliar with the road. It is also wise to refuel before leaving larger communities.

 

Recommended items include cash, drinking water, personal medicine, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a light windbreaker, a waterproof phone bag, and motion-sickness medicine if needed. Travelers staying on rafts should prepare for cooler air at night and in the early morning. Those who are sensitive to boat movement should prepare accordingly.

 

Water safety should be taken seriously. Visitors should not stand carelessly near raft edges or ferry edges, and children should be supervised at all times. Life jackets should be used during boat trips. When crossing by vehicle ferry, drivers should follow operator instructions, board slowly, stop where directed, and avoid moving the vehicle until told to do so.

 

Getting There can be done from two directions. From Nan Province, travel to Na Muen District and Na Thanung Subdistrict to reach Pak Nai Fishing Village. From Uttaradit Province, travel through Nam Pat District and Tha Faek Subdistrict to the ferry point, then cross the Sirikit Dam reservoir by pontoon or ferry. Travelers should check ferry service, weather, and water conditions before departure, especially during holidays or rainy periods.

 

The main local contact for Pak Nai Fishing Village is Na Thanung Subdistrict Administration Organization in Na Muen District, Nan Province. For the Uttaradit-side route, travelers can contact Tha Faek Subdistrict Administration Organization in Nam Pat District. Those planning to use raft restaurants, raft stays, or ferry services should also contact service providers directly before traveling.

 

In summary, Pak Nai is a destination that combines natural scenery, fishing life, local food, raft accommodation, and the unique ferry route between Nan and Uttaradit. Its beauty is simple and sincere: wide water, mountain views, floating restaurants, local fish, and a community shaped by the reservoir above Sirikit Dam. With respectful travel and good preparation, Pak Nai can become one of the most memorable stops on a northern Thailand road trip.

 

 

A: Pak Nai Fishing Village is in Na Thanung Subdistrict, Na Muen District, Nan Province, but it is an important connection to Uttaradit Province through Tha Faek Subdistrict, Nam Pat District, by ferry across the Sirikit Dam reservoir.

 

A: It is a fishing village on the Sirikit Dam reservoir with floating restaurants, raft stays, mountain views, broad water scenery, and a ferry connection between Nan and Uttaradit.

 

A: Travel from Uttaradit to Nam Pat District and Tha Faek Subdistrict, then use the ferry / pontoon service across the Sirikit Dam reservoir to reach Pak Nai on the Nan side.

 

A: Suitable activities include floating restaurant dining, boat sightseeing, raft stays, fishing, sunrise photography, observing fishing life, and crossing between Nan and Uttaradit by ferry.

 

A: Yes. Pak Nai has several floating restaurants serving fresh reservoir fish dishes, including Phae Lung Tee, Phae Song Bua, and other local raft restaurants.

 

A: Yes. Raft stays and floating rooms are available in the Pak Nai area, along with accommodations in Na Muen District and nearby areas. Travelers should call ahead to confirm rooms and services.

 

A: Morning to evening is recommended. Travelers using the ferry should check service times before departure and avoid driving unfamiliar mountain routes at night.

 

A: Visitors can contact Na Thanung Subdistrict Administration Organization at 054-787238 or Tha Faek Subdistrict Administration Organization on the Uttaradit-side route at 093-580-6171.