Introducing Mukdahan National Park
Although little more than a speck of a reserve at just 48 sq km, hilly Mukdahan National Park (0 4260 1753, reservations 0 2562 0760; admission 400B; 5am-6pm), also known as Phu Pha Thoep National Park, has some beautiful landscapes and is scattered with unusual mushroom-shaped rock formations. The main rock group, known as both Phu Pha Thoep and Hin Thoep, sits immediately behind the visitor centre, and wildflowers bloom from October to December.
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Besides the rock formations there are several clifftop views where pretty much only forest is visible around you and Nam Tok Phu Tham Phra, a scenic waterfall with a grotto atop it holding hundreds of small Buddha images. It only takes a couple of hours on the well-marked trails to see all of these. Than Fa Mue Daeng, a cave with 5000-year-old hand paintings, is an 8km walk through the forest and must be visited with a park guide; you might see flying squirrels, barking deer, wild boar, monkeys or civets along the way.
For accommodation, you have a choice of camping (camp sites per person 30B, 3-person tent hire 80B) or simple rooms in bungalows (500B) that can sleep seven.
The park is 15km south of Mukdahan off Rte 2034. Sǎwngthǎew (15B, 20 minutes) to Amphoe Don Tan (which leave from the bus terminal in Mukdahan every half-hour) pass the turn-off to the park entrance, and for an extra 20B the driver will take you the remaining 1.5km to the visitor centre. The less frequent Kham Marat buses also pass the park entrance and the 4pm service is your last guaranteed ride back to town, though hitching shouldn’t be tough.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
