ah Chana Dai and Pa Dong Natham |
 Dazzled by flower fields, view the sunrise before anybody else at Pah Chana Dai and Pa Dong Natham at Amphoe Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani. Well known is Pah Chana Dai as the spot to view sunrise before anybody else in Siam. This name is heard whenever the Meteorological Department reports the time of sunrise. This vast forest land of Pa Dong Natham is also abundant with varieties nature has to offer, with the highest peak as high as 510 meters from average sea level. Most stone ground area is source of beautiful wild flowers. As the rainy season is passing by in October, these flowers will be blooming all over.
Pa Dong Natham is in the north of Pah Taem National Park with a total area of about 88 square kilometers or about 55,000 rai. Its eastern area connects Mekhong River forming the Thai and Laos border line. The forestland of Pa Dong Natham was announced as part of Pah Taem in 1991.
Pa Dong Natham is an ideal sight for trekking to study the nature. Apart from floral and wild flowers on stone grounds that bloom in late rainy season up to early winter between October – December, Pah Dong Natham has many a small and medium sized waterfall with abundant water in September – December. The steep cliffs by Mekhong River also offer good viewpoints, especially the scenery of the river and the sunrise, such as at Pah Chana Dai where the Meteorological Department refers to in determining time for the first sunrise in Thailand.
A tour at Pa Dong Natham can be done by trekking in two main routes – either a two-days and one-night or a three-day and two-nights.
Route 1 About 16.4 kilometers in total. Get start at Wat Tham Patihan passing Namtok Gid, a small but beautiful waterfall; Hin Tao Chomchan, a huge rock shaped like a turtle looking up in the sky; Namtok Za pan, a small waterfall similar to Namtok Gid; Nam Pud or a natural fountain; Plan Hin Tham Hi to view the field of wild flowers and a beautiful sunset; Sao Chaliang Koo, a giant mushroom – shaped rock; Ngone Taem, a flower field on stone ground and a viewpoint for the Mekhong; view Pine forest on the hill ridge and see the first sunrise before anybody else in Siam at Pah Chana Dai; stay overnight by the steam to admire the beauty Namtok Huay Phok.
Route 2 About 18.6 kilometers in total. Get start at Baan Tung Na Muang’s Forest Guard Unit 4, see the cave Tham Phra Soong and swim at Namtok Tung Na Muang, a beautiful waterfall that falls from the cliff as high as 30 meters; go ahead to view Phu Namtham and Pah Hinfon, a sandy high ground with water coming up all year long; visit Bok Long Cave and the stone pillar in the hill’s heart before going to see the marvelous giant swaying rock Hin Yok Yek weighing over 50 tons but push able with only one hand; skirt by to have a look at the wild flower field at Laan Phu Ormkom; stop for a view of Mekhong River and the sunrise at Pah Daeng; have the first view of sunrise before anybody else in Siam at Pah Chana Dai; across the forest to the cliffs Pah Kampan and Pah Hin Taek for a view of the morning’s fog sea and stop to visit the cave at Tham Famue Daeng; and end with a boat cruise for scenery by the Mekhong at Baan Park La. |
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Travel Details for Pah Chana Dai and Pa Dong Natham
Location: Baan Na Pho Klang, Tumbon Na Pho Klang, Amphoe Khong Chiam, on Highway number 2112 (Khong Ciam to Khemarat), about 120 kilometers away from the city.
Good time to go: Later rainy season up to early winter around October to December.
How to get there: The Tumbon Na Pho Klang Administration can be reached by two routes from the city towards Amphoe Pibun Mangsahan, go along the bridge over the River Mool and turn right onto Amphoe Khong Ciam, then take Highway number 2112 (Khong ciam to Khemarat), with a total distance of about 120 kilometers; otherwise use the route from the city towards Amphoe Trakan Phuet Phon, take a right turn onto amphoe Sri Chiang Mai, about 110 kilometers in total.
