The Sa'dan River flows north of Rantepao through a wide valley of rice terraces and traditional villages. The area around Sa'dan itself is known for its weavers — local women produce the geometric ikat textiles that are worn during ceremonies and sold in markets throughout the highlands. You can watch the weaving process at small family workshops along the roadside, and buy cloth directly from the producers at fair prices.
The valley road north from Rantepao passes through a series of traditional villages and makes for an excellent morning's cycling or motorbike ride. The rice terraces here are particularly photogenic in the growing season (November through March) when the paddies are a vivid green. The village of Deri, about 12 kilometres from Rantepao, has a fine row of tongkonan houses and fewer visitors than sites closer to town.