Doi Phu Nang National Park is situated in southern Phayao Province, Northern Thailand. It covers an area of 512 km2, spanning parts of three different mountain ranges: Phi Pan Nam, Mae Yom, and Nampi. It comprises mixed evergreen, dipterocarp, and dry deciduous forests. It is named after Doi Phu Nang Mountain which, at 1,202 meters, is the highest point within the national park. Apart from its vast, wild forests, the park includes dramatic rock formations and several impressive waterfalls.
After a lovely, sunny ride from Phu Sang National Park, we made it to Doi Phu Nang National Park late in the afternoon. We came from the north and drove south along the valley of Yom River that bisects the national park. The ride was astoundingly scenic and led through many remote, cute villages.
Between the villages of Ban Mae Chua Nuea and Ban Tha Fa Tai, this is where the road comes the closest to Yom River; the only point along the road where we got a direct view of it. Dusk was imminent by the time we made it there. It was about time to settle for the night. We drove off the main road and into Ban Tha Fa Tai. Clusters of genial villagers greeted us with surprise from every household. We crossed a bridge to the northern bank of Yom and headed back west to the top of a prominent hill overlooking the river curve, the surrounding plains, and the distant mountain ridges. We found a good spot and pitched our tent, taking advantage of the concluding twilight.
A wide variety of insects and birds filled the silence of the surrounding darkness for the first few hours of the night. They were then muffled by the pitter-patter of the showers that broke out over the valley… not to stop anytime soon.
The rain raged incessantly for the entire night. Morning came and it kept pouring and pouring. Stuck inside the tent, we waited patiently for it to stop, hopefully pricking up our ears upon any sign of it lessening, resignedly retreating back to our books upon it growing again.
It was one hour past midday when we finally decided to get ready to leave in the rain. Only after we began packing inside the tent did the rain finally recede. Sometimes one’s resolution influences one’s fortune. We were away by 2 am. The villagers greeted with relief, as they were probably worried since the road we drove out from the village on the previous day was a dead-end and they hadn’t seen us driving back again.
The rain kept falling on and off as we drove further south through the valley of Yom. Then we came to Ban Sra village where we stopped for a coffee at a petrol station. Northwest from that village, there lies a cluster of scenic mountain lakes. We drove up the muddy tracks, treating the scooter like a motocross, and spotted some amazingly beautiful locations.
Having to push the bike through the mud a great deal, we made it back to the village and drove further west along the 1251 road. We went past the Huai Ton Phueng Waterfall which, unfortunately, we didn’t get to visit, as it was closed due to the Coronavirus lockdown. We just rolled straight down the mountain, along this most scenic route, and headed for Phayao City and Doi Luang National Park, which was our next destination during this trip.
Accommodation and Activities in Thailand
Stay22 is a handy tool that lets you search for and compare stays and experiences across multiple platforms on the same neat, interactive map. Hover over the listings to see the details. Click on the top-right settings icon to adjust your preferences; switch between hotels, experiences, or restaurants; and activate clever map overlays displaying information like transit lines or concentrations of sights. Click on the Show List button for the listings to appear in a list format. Booking via this map, I will be earning a small cut of the platform's profit without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!
