Things to do
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Blue Lagoon
A spring fed pool the colour of copper sulphate sits below a tree hung with rope swings, a short ride west of town on a rough track. Tham Phu Kham cave opens in the cliff above it, up a steep scramble, with a reclining Buddha inside. Afternoons are busy and loud; mornings belong to the water.
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Pha Ngern Viewpoint
Three platforms are strung up a limestone ridge south of town, reached by a rooty climb with rope handrails and ladders in places. The valley opens wider at each one. Sunrise is worth the early start, though the rock turns slick after rain and the descent is harder than the ascent.
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Nam Xay Viewpoint
Motorbike photographs taken on a rock ledge above the Nam Song come from this ridge, a forty minute scramble up loose stone and roots on the east bank. Sunrise burns mist off the karsts below. A hat and water matter in the heat, and the trail is ticketed at a shack near the base.
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Tham Chang Cave
Steps climb the cliff behind a resort to a cave lit with coloured bulbs, used as a refuge from raiders in the nineteenth century and fitted with walkways since. Views over the valley open from the mouth. A spring at the base is cold enough for swimming, and the whole stop takes under an hour.
