Lampang is a city located in the Northern province of Lampang, it Is often referred to as Nakhon Lampang. The city has a population of over 58,000 people. It is a small city that still has its own character and charm and still has its simple old traditions. What to do in Lampang Thailand?
In Lampang, you can visit several temples, the Elephant Conservation Center, you can shop in the walking street market, and there is more. The best thing is the local people are friendly, who still to this day practice their local traditions and customs. Also, Lampang is famous as the gateway to other provinces in the area.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Lampang Thailand. Let’s get started!
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Is Lampang Worth Visiting?
Lampang is worthwhile to visit if you enjoy experiencing the local culture and sightseeing with Lampang’s biggest attractions being the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and the elephant sanctuary.
The city is not touristy so there is a limited number of hotels, plus there is no real nightlife, and things are more basic for example don’t expect too many western toilets.
Things To Do In Lampang Thailand
Lampang is located in the Northern Province of Lampang. The city is not a popular tourist destination in Thailand, especially if compared to other places around Thailand such as Chiang Mai or Pai.
Here is our list of things to do in Lampang Thailand.
See Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
Even though not exactly located in Lampang city, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is one of the most spectacular wats in Thailand. The wat is located around 18 km from Lampang and is believed to be one of the oldest wooden buildings in Thailand.
Built in the 15th century, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is the house of the Emerald Buddha with Nam Tam Vihara on the inside.
Featuring the Lanna-style chedi, this wat is believed to be the oldest wooden building in Thailand.
Enjoy Walking Street Market
Walking street markets is common in most traditional Thai towns and Lampang is also included in the list. On the weekend, it is a great opportunity to mingle with locals on the walking street.
It is indeed a great place to buy some local produce, and traditional souvenirs, or maybe taste one traditional street snack or two.
Visit The Thai Elephant Conservation Center
Visiting elephants in the tourist industry may still have its pros and cons but the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is certainly not to be missed.
The place is less touristy and you can even spend more time up to three days learning about elephants. The conservation includes rehabilitation as well as a hospital for domesticated elephants.
Visit The Medicinal Plant’s Conservation Center
For those who are interested in indulging in Thai medicinal plants, this place is worth visiting. The conservation center includes spa service with Thai massage and herbal soak and also skin treatment using traditional herbs.
You can also study more than 150 varieties of herbs in the displays.
Explore Chae Son National Park
Lampang is not as famous as other famous towns in Thailand. This includes the hidden natural gems of Chae Son National Park.
The national park is home to a waterfall of the same name, hot springs, and also ancient caves. The park is a good destination if you want to avoid the tourist crowds.
Ride The Horse-Drawn Carriage
One famous attraction in Lampang is the horse-drawn carriage ride. It is the traditional transportation mode of the local people. For years, transportation has been used both for local people’s transportation and as a tourist attraction.
Just hop on the carriage and let it bring you around the city. The local guides, who are also the drivers, will be pleased to explain what is in town lately.
Visit The Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum
This ceramic museum is more of a demonstration-type museum. You will learn about the origin of pottery and ceramic industries in Lampang from the past to the present.
Each step employs real people who are carefully skilled and artistic work. You will not find any factory lines here.
Your guide will lead you through the museum and factory. At each station of the factory, you were able to see and watch the processes used to create their pottery.
There is also a shop there, where you can buy pottery or you can relax at the cafe shop. The museum entrance costs 100 Baht per adult and 60 Baht per child.
Make sure you don’t arrive at lunchtime because the tours are stopped while the staff is having lunch.
Explore Wat Chedi Sao
The Wat Chedi Sao temple is located about 1.5 kilometers north of Lampang.
In the northern dialect ‘Sao’ means twenty and here it refers to the twenty white chedis with gilded tops that line up in the courtyard.
The compound lies in a quiet neighborhood on the north side of the Wang River. It was a Thai-Burmese style but had an unusual pair of statues of Guan Yin, the goddess of compassion, outside it.
The front image has two arms, and the taller one behind has many. Nearby is a garden with statues of rural activities like plowing fields and planting rice.
Cross The Ratsadapisek Bridge
The Ratsadapisek bridge is small but it is unique. It was more than 100 years ago. The bridge crosses the Wang River to the old town quarter where there is a Ratsada morning fresh market, selling local food and drinks.
I would recommend going when the water level in the river is high and in the evening especially at the weekend as it’s lively and well lit.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Lampang is slightly off the beaten track and not touristy. You can visit several temples, visit the Elephant Conservation Center, you can shop on the walking street market, and more. The best thing is the local people are friendly, who still to this day practice their local traditions and customs.
Also, Lampang is famous as the gateway to other provinces in the area.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on things to do in Lampang Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.