Phu Soi Dao national park
When we mention the province of Uttaradit, many of you will probably be trying to figure out where in the country it is located. Understandably, this locale might not be as highly praised as its peers in the north, but Uttaradit is still home to many nature spots and we’re about to share an upcoming hotspot next.
Phu Soi Dao is a mountain that’s home to national park with a foggy pineyard in winter, a waterfall, a campsite, and a mountaintop viewpoint in Uttaradit. The national park keeps its visitors coming back with its Murdannia Giganteum field, which is well-liked among flower lovers. So if you’ve never been to this lesser-traversed part of Thailand before, consider letting this place be part of your first eye-opening experience.
More attractions in Thailand:
- Skywalk Aiyerweng lets you walk over the mountains in Yala
- Cicada Market is a night market in Hua Hin with grilled mala & free shows
- Z9 Resort is a floating resort on a dam with kayak paddling
Go on a 6-mile hike to get to the top of Phu Soi Dao
Image credit: @_cd1998
As you already know, reaching to the mountaintop isn’t an easy task as you’ll have to be prepared to engage in a rather long, strenuous hike. At the Phu Soi Dao National Park, you’ll need to hike up 6.5 kilometres through a dense jungle and streams to get to the pineyard and the viewpoint.
Image credit: @_makkara_
Of course, we all know hiking will come with many obstacles, be it rough trails, streams and bridge crossings, or insect bites. But we believe these obstacles are part and parcel of the challenge that these adventure trails pose, for a fun and eventful experience along the way.
Image credit: @my_ncha
To climb up Phu Soi Dao, hikers will have to journey through 5 small hills – The Death Hill is the hardest one as it is very steep.
Frankly, trekking up through the thicc forest can be arduous, but the thought of being able to admire views of these verdant forests and hillsides already recharges our energy.
Admire Murdannia Giganteum (Dok Ngon Nak) flowers at a pine yard
Image credit: @beyourmoho
Once you make your way to the pine yard, you’ll spot a panorama of copious evergreen pines scattered amongst a vast green field. If you come here during the rainy or winter season, the expansive field will usually be covered with patches of dense fog.
The pine yard is a location where backpackers can opt to camp overnight after an entire day of forest hiking. The national park provides a camping ground for guests within the tranquil yard. The camping fee is ฿30 (~USD0.70)/pax per night. If you don’t possess a tent, you can rent one from the place. The prices range from ฿600 (~USD15)/tent to ฿900 (~USD23)/tent, depending on the size.
Image credit: @bungkeebungkie
What keeps people coming back to this national park, however, is this field of Murdannia Giganteum –Â or Dok Ngon Nak – flowers. We believe most visitors will seize the opportunity to admire the gentle lavender blossoms up close, whenever they’re in season.
From September onwards, it will be the blooming season for these flowers, so if you desire to visit Phu Soi Dao, we recommend taking a trip here before the end of the year.
Image credit: @eaggaton
Just a short distance away from the campsite, lies a viewpoint to see mountain ranges and more banks of fog. Definitely set aside some time to take a look around after setting up your tent. Just sitting cross-legged amongst the soothing sounds of nature will definitely help cleanse the tiredness out of our systems.
Image credit: @kpn_tor
One more thing that we don’t want you miss after waking up the next day is to explore Sai Tip Waterfall which is hidden in Phu Soi Dao. The waterfall consists of seven levels with water falling from the top to the bottom of the rock’s cliffs. Also, we love the mossy surfaces on the rocks as well, but do be careful while moving around due to its slipperiness.
Getting to Phu Soi Dao national park
Image credit: @ll_effps
We won’t deny that fact that Phu Soi Dao is a lowkey popular nature destination for its beautiful mountains and lush jungles. Visiting the national park requires ฿200 (~USD5) as an admission fee for non-Thai visitors, and there might be other fees for activities or renting camping equipment, so it’s best to check with employees there for more info.
Whether you’re taking a day trip or camping overnight, a memorable experience amidst nature will surely inspire you to revisit this place in the future. If you don’t have any plans for your holidays, try inviting your friends or significant-other to join the trip with you.
FYI, Phu Soi Dao is two hours away from Uttaradit’s centre. If you have a private vehicle, that would be very convenient to get here. But if you don’t, hiring a car straight to the national park will be pricey, but it’s way more convenient than changing cars or buses several times. On top of that, we’d recommend travelling with a squad of friends to help share the costs.
Phu Soi Dao
Address:Â Huai Mun, Nam Pat District, Uttaradit 53110
Opening Hours: 8AM – 4.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 9 1024 7633
Phu Soi Dao’s Facebook | Google Maps
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @beyourmoho, @bungkeebungkie, @kw_kridsana, @ll_effps
Enjoying The Smart Local Thailand? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this.