Where to Stay in Phayao: Lakeside Town and Chiang Kham

Phayao is a small lakeside town, and most visitors stay by Kwan Phayao so they can walk to the temples, the lake pier and the evening market. A smaller group uses Chiang Kham, in the east, as a base for the Tai Lue temples, Phu Sang and Phu Langka. This page lists seven places in those two areas so you can pick one that fits your trip.

We list seven places, and we say so up front. We include a hotel only if it has a live official website whose text we could open and quote. Green Hill Phayao answered with a bot check, Phayao Northern Lake Hotel loads its text with JavaScript, Wa Lee Karn Resort's website did not resolve, and several other hotels had only Facebook pages or booking-site listings, so they are not here. We found no such place inside Phu Sang or Doi Phu Nang national parks, so those are day trips or park-run stays you arrange with the park. We show no prices because rates change with date and room type, and we have not stayed at any of these places. Every card shows facts taken from the hotel's own website and checked on 19 October 2026 after a separate verification pass, with the source linked.

How to choose

1. Decide between the lakeside town and Chiang Kham. Six places are in or beside Phayao town: Naga Tara, Phayao Gateway, KM Kwanphayao, HOP INN, B2 and Ban Nai Soi. One, Rico Resort, is near Chiang Kham.
2. Read the distances as the places' own claims. Ban Nai Soi says it is about 10 metres from the lake and 1.6 km from the bus station. B2 says Wat Si Khom Kham and Wat Phra That Chom Thong are about a 10-minute drive. Rico says about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Chiang Rai airport. Treat every figure as a hint and open the map pin before you book.
3. The national parks and Phu Langka are far from town, and we found no public transport to them that we could confirm, so a car or driver helps. Ask your hotel what it can arrange, and confirm the final rate with tax, parking and cancellation terms.

Area comparison

No hotel price is quoted here because we cannot verify a current rate for your dates. Each hotel card gives the source and the date each fact was checked.

Area guide

Lake, Wat Si Khom Kham and the walking street

Phayao town and Kwan Phayao

Vibe

Small lakeside town that mostly works on foot

Noise

No verified noise information; ask the hotel

Setting / access

Ban Nai Soi says it is about 10 metres from the lake

Rate

Check live rates

How you arrive

Bus or drive to the town; Ban Nai Soi lists the bus station as 1.6 km away

Six places on this list are in or beside the town. Ban Nai Soi, KM Kwanphayao and HOP INN say they are near the lake, Phayao Gateway lists 108 rooms with a pool and fitness room, B2 is a small boutique-style hotel near city hall with a 24-hour front desk, and Naga Tara is a resort on the lakeside edge of town with pool villas and a spa. Wikivoyage says the main sights along the lake are within walking distance and tuk-tuks wait at the bus station.

Choose it if: You want a base on foot to the lake, Wat Si Khom Kham and the evening stalls.

Skip it if: You want a rural base close to Chiang Kham and the Tai Lue temples.

Mistake to avoid: Do not assume every place here is on the waterfront; B2 puts the lake sights a 10-minute drive away and Naga Tara is on the edge of town.

Our pick here: Phayao Gateway Hotel Check rates

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Rural base for the Tai Lue temples and the parks

Chiang Kham (east)

Vibe

Quiet rice-field setting, drive-in

Noise

No verified noise information; ask the resort

Setting / access

Rico says it sits in the rice fields of eastern Phayao near Chiang Kham

Rate

Check live rates

How you arrive

Rico says about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Chiang Rai International Airport and can arrange a driver for up to 4 guests

One place on this list is on this side. Rico Resort Chiang Kham's own site says the 19-acre property sits in the rice fields of eastern Phayao near Chiang Kham, about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Chiang Rai International Airport, and that it can arrange an airport driver for up to 4 guests. TAT's Chiang Rai-Phayao site puts Phu Sang's park office about 20 km from Chiang Kham and Phu Langka 47 km away.

Choose it if: You want to see the Tai Lue temples and go on to Phu Sang or Phu Langka without driving back to Phayao town.

Skip it if: You want to walk to the lake and the evening stalls.

Mistake to avoid: Do not assume it is close to Phayao town; it is in the eastern part of the province and you will drive.

Our pick here: Rico Resort Chiang Kham Check rates

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Hand-picked places to stay

Examples of established Phayao hotels, spread across areas and budget bands. Every fact below was checked against the hotel's own website or a reputable source on 2026-10-19 and links to that source. We have not stayed at these places and give no ratings; we show no prices because rates change daily. The band is the property class (hostel or guesthouse, mid-range, upscale), not a live price.

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Naga Tara Resort

Ban Tom, on the lakeside edge of Phayao town Upscale

• The site gives the address as 608 Moo 14, Baantom Sub-District, Mueang District, Phayao. [Source]
• The Accommodation page says villas have a private pool and a personal butler. [Source]
• The Facilities page lists a spa, a fitness room and bicycle rental. [Source]
• The Dining page mentions a poolside snack bar. [Source]

Suits: It suits couples and families who want a resort with a pool, spa and villas with private pools near Phayao town.

Keep in mind: The site does not list rates or room sizes in text, so confirm what is included before booking.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Phayao Gateway Hotel

Phayao town centre (Pratu Klong 2 Road) Mid-range

• The Thai home page says the hotel has 108 rooms. [Source]
• The Thai home page places it in the centre of Phayao, near Kwan Phayao and Wat Si Khom Kham. [Source]
• The home page lists a swimming pool, fitness room, snooker and Thai massage. [Source]
• The Spa page gives massage opening hours of 10:00 to 24:00. [Source]

Suits: It suits travellers who want a larger town hotel with a pool, fitness room and meeting rooms close to the lake and Wat Si Khom Kham.

Keep in mind: The site is mostly in Thai and the copyright line reads 2018, so confirm current services directly.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

KM Kwanphayao Hotel

Phayao town, near the lake Budget

• The Thai site says the hotel is near Kwan Phayao and some rooms have a lake view. [Source]
• The site lists four room types, including a family room. [Source]
• The site gives breakfast as 07:00 to 10:00. [Source]
• The site says direct booking is by LINE or phone. [Source]

Suits: It suits budget and short-stay travellers who want a simple room close to Kwan Phayao and are happy to book by LINE or phone.

Keep in mind: Booking is by LINE or phone rather than an online engine, and lake views are only from some rooms.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

HOP INN Phayao

Phayao town, Tha Kwan Road Budget

• The hotel page says it is on Tha Kwan Road in Phayao city. [Source]
• The page names King Ngam Muang Monument, Kwan Phayao and Wat Si Khom Kham as nearby. [Source]
• The page gives check-in from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00. [Source]

Suits: It suits budget travellers who want a chain hotel on the main road near the lake and Wat Si Khom Kham.

Keep in mind: The page itself says getting around the city is possible but there may be some limitations.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

B2 Phayao Boutique & Budget Hotel

Phayao town centre, near city hall Budget

• The page says the hotel is close to the city hall and district office. [Source]
• The page lists three room types: Superior, Superior Premier and Deluxe Triple. [Source]
• The page lists a 24-hour front desk, 24-hour security and free WiFi. [Source]
• The page says Wat Si Khom Kham and Wat Phra That Chom Thong are about a 10-minute drive away. [Source]

Suits: It suits budget travellers who want a small boutique-style room in the town centre with a 24-hour front desk.

Keep in mind: The site puts the lake attractions a short drive away rather than on the doorstep.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Rico Resort Chiang Kham

Chiang Kham, eastern Phayao Mid-range

• The site says it sits in the rice fields of eastern Phayao near Chiang Kham. [Source]
• The site says the property covers 19 acres. [Source]
• The contact page says it is a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Chiang Rai International Airport. [Source]
• The contact page says the resort can arrange an airport driver for up to 4 guests. [Source]

Suits: It suits travellers combining Chiang Rai and Phayao who want a quiet rural base near Chiang Kham.

Keep in mind: The site is dated in style and rates and booking are by email or phone, so confirm availability first.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

Area photo, not the hotel. Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Ban Nai Soi Homestay

Phayao town, next to the lake Budget

• The Thai site says it is about 10 metres from Kwan Phayao. [Source]
• The site says it is near the walking street and the Wat Klang Nam boat pier. [Source]
• The site lists the bus station as 1.6 km away. [Source]

Suits: It suits budget travellers who want a simple homestay right by the lake and the walking street.

Keep in mind: The site is in Thai only and gives no online booking; contact by phone or email.

Official site Check rates on Booking.com Checked 2026-10-19

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Day trips and planning from Phayao

We have no registered tour listing for Phayao yet, so we show no tour prices. The button opens Klook's own search. It is an affiliate link: if you book through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and results may be limited. Ask your hotel first, since some arrange day trips themselves.

• Phayao guide: Kwan Phayao, temples and Phu Sang
• Chiang Rai guide: the province to the north

Browse activities on Klook

Disclosure: we are an affiliate partner of travel booking sites, but these links currently open the providers' own sites and earn us nothing yet.

Getting to Phayao

Most visitors reach Phayao by bus or car; Wikivoyage gives the distance from Bangkok as almost 700 km. The 12Go Bangkok to Phayao page showed buses when we opened it on 16 October 2026, but timetables and fares change, so check the operator, departure point and last service before you book. Our Phayao guide covers the sights and how to get around.

Read the Phayao travel guide Check Bangkok to Phayao on 12Go

Affiliate disclosure: these links may earn us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we write.

Before you book

• Open the map link for the area and then check the hotel's exact pin. A neighbourhood name can cover a wide area.
• Check the final rate with tax, payment timing, cancellation terms and what the room includes.
• If arriving late, confirm the check-in method and the last transport that actually runs.
• Phayao Gateway's site is mostly in Thai and its copyright line reads 2018, so confirm current services directly.
• KM Kwanphayao takes bookings by LINE or phone, and only some rooms have a lake view.
• HOP INN's check-in times are chain-wide wording for HOP INN Thailand, not specific to the Phayao branch.
• Rico Resort and Ban Nai Soi take bookings by email or phone, and the Ban Nai Soi site is in Thai only.

FAQ

Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.