Doi Phu Kha National Park
Doi Phu Kha National Park
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
46 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
19
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Arthurrvr
Marlborough, UK1,426 contributions
Dec 2011 • Friends
This park makes for a great visit whether for just a few hours or for a longer visit of a few days. At around 1,700 square kilometres it is the largest National Park in Northern Thailand, and is based around the nearly 2,000 metre high mountain, Doi Phuka.
The easiest way to get here is on the 1256 road from just outside the town of Pua (Bua) which, once one leaves the lowlands and starts ascending into the mountain, is a great drive in itself with lovely forests on all sides broken up with great views of the mountainous scenery. Alternatively, if coming from Nan City, one can take the 1257 road or 1081 road, both from near Santisuk, up to the junction with the 1256 and then turn left to Doi Phukha National Park. Both of those roads, especially the 1081, have even better views as often more open, and it is a great journey in itself, far better than most other roads in Northern Thailand – but very winding so take motion sickness tablets if you are susceptible to being car sick.
If coming from Pua, there is a clearly signed official entrance to the Park on the left, around 25 kms from Pua, with a barrier at the entrance. Pay your fee to the people there, I can't remember how much but it wasn't expensive and as neither we nor they had the right change they let us off some of the fee anyway! Driving up that side road you get to the Park Headquarters fairly quickly and can get advice there, some in English but have a dictionary handy, and also book Park accommodation. There are various camping sites, including one only a kilometre or so further up which also includes some permanent small wood huts with thatched roofs which looked quite romantic at least, if you were not keen on tents. A few hundred metres further along there are a group of more substantial, though simple, brick and wood lodges that one can rent for a time if preferred.
Plenty to do in the Park as well as the standard trekking, the Park is famous for limestone caves and waterfalls plus, apparently, for fossils, though we didn't have time to look for those. The Park is also very famous with Thais for being the only place in the world which has the very rare Chompoo Phukha tree which looks pretty ordinary most of the year but we were told is incredibly beautiful when it flowers early in the year. In addition, if you have transport, it is great driving around the area, including further up the 1081 road up to the very north of Nan, one of the most scenic road routes in Thailand.
Apparently this area is very popular with bikers, especially on the big touring bikes and we saw a lot of them in this area. Not much food or drink available around here so best to mainly bring your own. Very pleasant park and worth spending a bit of time here.
The easiest way to get here is on the 1256 road from just outside the town of Pua (Bua) which, once one leaves the lowlands and starts ascending into the mountain, is a great drive in itself with lovely forests on all sides broken up with great views of the mountainous scenery. Alternatively, if coming from Nan City, one can take the 1257 road or 1081 road, both from near Santisuk, up to the junction with the 1256 and then turn left to Doi Phukha National Park. Both of those roads, especially the 1081, have even better views as often more open, and it is a great journey in itself, far better than most other roads in Northern Thailand – but very winding so take motion sickness tablets if you are susceptible to being car sick.
If coming from Pua, there is a clearly signed official entrance to the Park on the left, around 25 kms from Pua, with a barrier at the entrance. Pay your fee to the people there, I can't remember how much but it wasn't expensive and as neither we nor they had the right change they let us off some of the fee anyway! Driving up that side road you get to the Park Headquarters fairly quickly and can get advice there, some in English but have a dictionary handy, and also book Park accommodation. There are various camping sites, including one only a kilometre or so further up which also includes some permanent small wood huts with thatched roofs which looked quite romantic at least, if you were not keen on tents. A few hundred metres further along there are a group of more substantial, though simple, brick and wood lodges that one can rent for a time if preferred.
Plenty to do in the Park as well as the standard trekking, the Park is famous for limestone caves and waterfalls plus, apparently, for fossils, though we didn't have time to look for those. The Park is also very famous with Thais for being the only place in the world which has the very rare Chompoo Phukha tree which looks pretty ordinary most of the year but we were told is incredibly beautiful when it flowers early in the year. In addition, if you have transport, it is great driving around the area, including further up the 1081 road up to the very north of Nan, one of the most scenic road routes in Thailand.
Apparently this area is very popular with bikers, especially on the big touring bikes and we saw a lot of them in this area. Not much food or drink available around here so best to mainly bring your own. Very pleasant park and worth spending a bit of time here.
Written March 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BangkokJock
Bangkok, Thailand500 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
If you have time, highly recommend a drive out of Nan city to the forested hills of Doi Phu Kha national park, with some of the most beautiful scenic drives in Thailand. Can be done on a day trip. Its about 1 hour drive north from Nan. We took the 1080 highway, passing Tha Wang Pha and Pua towns. Roads are good but not too big, about 2-4 lanes. This route is still in lowland but with lots of trees along the way. Not many restaurants, some in Pua. From Pua town, we did a u-turn and turned into a small side road that led to Highway 1256. There is a sign but very small, if I wasn't using GPS I probably can't find it. From then on its in the park territory. Stop by the "Lan Doo Dao" ("Stargazing Field") for a scenic viewpoint. After a while you will pass the toll gate to the park HQ on the left, but we drove on to the see the living fossil Phu Kha tree, extremely rare with unusual flowers growing upwards that bloom only in Feb. The tree is next to a spirit shrine with hundreds of offerings and a real chariot parked next to it. There was alot of fog drifting down the highway and there was nobody around, making the place feel eerie and mystical. We continued to drive on through the park and down the other side to Bo Klua town, stopping for lunch at Bo Klua View resort. Then back to Nan via Highway 1081, which is even more beautiful than the way we came. Part of the highway snakes long a hilltop ridge with corn plantations along rolling hills on both sides.
Written August 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charn P
Bangkok, Thailand4,518 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
Champoo Phuka, the tree and its flower is becoming a rare and extinct tree. Presently, it can only be seen in Doi Phu Khao National Park in Nan Province. In order to see this rare flowers, we trekked through the jungle for about two hours in different elevations before reaching the blossoming flowers. We met at least 20-30 other curious local tourists who made the same trek. By coming to this national park in mid February, we were expecting more blooming flowers. However due to the late winter, the flowers are expected to bloom later. Fortunately we were able to witness few blossoming branches.
Overall the Doi Phu Khao National Park is very well managed. The Visitor Center was very well prepared to assist the visitors. They prepared daily local guides to take the visitors around the park. The trial within the jungle was well prepared and kept up. Keep up with the good work.
Written February 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ARATT_SG
Ottawa, Canada279 contributions
Dec 2019
It is a 5-km hike, which will take you less than 2 hours. Don't listen to the rangers telling you that you need 4 hours! We did the hike with young kids.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Orasacho
Nonthaburi, Thailand53 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
It took nearly an hour from a resort we stayed in Chiang Klang. We planned to visit this Doi because of the famous of Chompu Phuka flowers though a little bit disappointed since there was only some. The best time for seeing these beautiful flowers should be mid-February.
Anyway, the wonderful view of the mountains impressed us a lot. We felt calm and relaxed to indulge with the nature all around. Worth visiting.
Anyway, the wonderful view of the mountains impressed us a lot. We felt calm and relaxed to indulge with the nature all around. Worth visiting.
Written February 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jiraponn S
7 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
Everything was so great from the the scenery all the way up here. I went for a little walk into the woods which had the waterfall inside. And it was sooo cold! (way too cold for me) The sunset here was breathtaking and the view from the road and everything. It become my favorite place in Thailand right now.
Written May 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Interim
Johannesburg, South Africa96 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
we rented a motorbike in Nan city, travelled to Pua... heard this was was a remarkable place... bought a tent and drove up up up up the mountain... we got there the last day of the year, day was hot and a beautiful drive up with many view points, the night was freezing cold dew to height and winter, but above the clouds it felt like i was in heaven and everything turned upside down,,, oh lawwwd the cold during the night caught us for a fool... but we survived unprepared and would go back there in future
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce W
Ottawa, Canada6 contributions
Nov 2021
the scenic views were unbeatable. Absolutely incredible drive through the park and awesome waterfalls.
Written November 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelFanaticDD
Boulogne sur Gesse, France732 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
If you are on a motorcycle then this is a must do! The riding is as spectacular as the Mae Hong Son loop with loads of twists and turns. Beautiful scenery and overall a great visit.
Written February 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikkis
Helsinki, Finland25 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Doi Phu Kha is a beautiful lush national park just outside Pua. We did the 4km circular nature trail and well worth it. As it is the end of the rainy season leeches every where and mozzies but still worth it.
Beware that the first hour on the trail is pure ascend with at times difficult and slippery path. But when you past the first ascend it is beautiful and quite an easy hike. Well recommended. And only found two leeches on my calves after the hike.
We are quite experienced hikera and it took us 1hrs45min for the 4km.
Beware that the first hour on the trail is pure ascend with at times difficult and slippery path. But when you past the first ascend it is beautiful and quite an easy hike. Well recommended. And only found two leeches on my calves after the hike.
We are quite experienced hikera and it took us 1hrs45min for the 4km.
Written October 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. Is it possible to organise a hike in advance? I am thinking of Friday 27 January, just me, one person?
Written January 12, 2017
Im sorry to inform that I have no info for hiking. but u can contact the Doi Phu Ka national park office directly. I just rented the bike and travelled there.
Written January 13, 2017
maomao9417
Sungai Petani, Malaysia
How do I get there using public transportation?
on Nan thailand
Written January 13, 2016
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