About sixty kilometers from Loei lies Phu Ruea National Park, probably the most famous in the province, although my personal favorite is Phu Kradueng National Park (however, you have to climb the mountain on foot and should be in good shape, as the hike is quite strenuous and long!). The park is home to one of the region's most important peaks, the over 1,300-meter-high Phu Ruea Mountain. Above it rises a plateau covered in pine forest. The most beautiful thing you can experience there is the sunrise from the summit. With a bit of luck, you'll witness one of Thailand's most spectacular sunrises, when a sea of ​​mist envelops the plain and gradually dissipates. The morning mist is most common during the rainy season, but can be observed year-round, depending on the weather. Unfortunately, there was no sea of ​​mist when I was there in December. It was still magnificent, and getting up at 5 a.m. was absolutely worth it. Of course, it's also beautiful at sunrise, but experiencing both is even better. I personally rented a bungalow for my whole family at the park's visitor center (they also have campsites there) and set off for the summit the next morning before sunrise. There's a parking lot at the top. From there, you can either take the small nature trail to the viewpoint – be sure to bring a headlamp! – or take one of the pickup trucks that transport visitors the last mile. The choice is yours, but I recommend taking the nature trail at least on the way back and making a detour to Lon Noi Cliff. The view from up there might even be better than from the summit. Otherwise, there are several other interesting viewpoints, waterfalls, and rock formations in the heart of the park. The most interesting are: Pha Lon Noi – Pha Sapthong or Pha Kulap – Namtok Huai Phai – Yot Phu Ruea, Tham Hin Taek, Hin Khang Mo, Hin Wua Non, Hin Phan Khanmak, Hin Phra Siwa, Suan Hin Tao, and Thung Hin Lek Fai.

Entrance fee: 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child. Rent for a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom bungalow (smaller bungalows are not available) is 1400 THB. A tent and all necessary sleeping equipment will cost approximately 300 THB. Bookings can be made directly at the visitor center upon arrival (before 5:00 PM). However, bungalow availability is not guaranteed (a tent should generally not be a problem), especially on weekends and holidays. Advance booking is recommended but is only possible through the National Parks of Thailand website. Telephone inquiries are automatically redirected to the website. This is inconvenient, as payment must be made by bank transfer. However, it is the only payment option. The website address is: nps.dnp.go.th. I'll also give you the phone number: 04280 1716 or 04280 7625. Be aware that Phu Ruea National Park is known for being the coldest in Thailand (average temperatures year-round). Plan to bring warm clothing, especially if you intend to stay overnight and/or watch the sunrise.

There are buses, even from the Mo Chit bus station in Bangkok, and more regularly from Udon Thani or Loei, that go through Phu Ruea town and can drop you off at the local market. From there, you can find private hire vehicles to drive to and visit Phu Ruea National Park. However, I advise you to have your own vehicle, as it won't be easy without speaking Thai.

How to get there

How do you get to Phu Ruea National Park? There are buses, even from the Mo Chit bus station in Bangkok, and more regularly from Udon Thani or Loei, that go through Phu Ruea and can drop you off at the local market. From there, you can find private hire vehicles to get to and explore Phu Ruea National Park. However, I recommend having your own vehicle, as it won't be easy without speaking Thai.