Phitsanulok Thailand – Two National Parks not to Miss

There are two great national parks in Phitsanulok province both of which can be visited either as a day trip from Phitsanulok or as a part of a longer multi-day adventure. For the best experience we would suggest spending at least one night in Phu Hin Rong Kla, though.

Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park

Located 120 km east of town, this relatively small national park has played an important role during the civil conflict that went on for almost 2 decades between the Thai government and the communist party which chose this mountainous region as one of their main headquarters. Declared National Park in 1984, 2 years after the war had finished, Phu Hin Rong Kla is nowadays an interesting destination for both nature lovers and political history enthusiasts. Unfortunately not only humans suffered from bombings for 20 years: at the moment there is not too much wildlife living in the park. The rangers will tell you that few tigers are still left but the small size of the territory and the fact that there hasn’t been any recordings for ages suggest that this is more of a hope than truth.

What is left from that period is administration buildings, hospital, air-raid shelters and a small museum explaining the history of the conflict can be easily visited – short trails from the visitor centre will lead you there.

Several attractive waterfalls can be reached with non-challenging hikes brunching off the main road that crosses the park at different points.

Many scenic viewpoints are also scattered around the park, the most impressive one being Laan Hin Pum, where a number of strange rock formation that look like a picture from a lunar movie set was used by the communist party as a shelter during the bombings.

The visitor centre features a camping ground and few bungalows to rent if you wish to spend the night in the park. If you don’t have a tent, you can rent it along with a mattress, sleeping bag and pillow. Reservation is required for the bungalows and it’s possible only through the DNP website.

How to get to and from the park

The best way to get there is to rent a car in town. Drive east along the route 12 for roughly 70 km and turn left over to the route 2013 and drive 50 km more. From there you’ll find the signs to the visitor centre.

Local buses run from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Thai, 33 km north of the park, from where you can get a local songthaew to the visitor centre. If choosing this option you should probably consider sleeping one night in the park.

The park is open every day from 6.00am till 6.00pm, the entrance ticket is THB500 (THB250 for kids).

Namtok Chat Trakan National Park

Located 140 km northeast of Phitsanulok, Chat Trakan waterfall is the main attraction of the national park and it makes for a great multi-day combination with Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park.

The waterfall consists of 7 different levels but very few tourists go past the bottom one, which features a sandy beach by a large natural pool suitable for swimming. A popular picnic destination for Thais, it can be quite crowded during weekends, while it’s a lot quieter and tranquil on a week day.

If you find yourself in the park, Kradanleg Cliff is definitely worth a visit. It is located only three km away from the park headquarters. It is a prehistoric site where geometric symbols have been carved in the rocks; the meaning of the drawings is still unknown.

How to get to and from the park

To get there by your own car follow the same road as for Phu Hin Rong Kla until you reach Nakhon Thai, from where you have to take route 1143 for 40 km more.

Alternatively there’s a direct bus from Phitsanulok old bus station with the first departure at 6.00am and the last one at 4.30pm. Admission fee is THB300 and the park is open from 6.00am till 6.00pm. People are allowed to camp inside, but very few facilities are available. Phu Hin Rong Kla is way better option to stay overnight.