Thailand Namtok Phlio National Park: Nature and Discoveries in Chanthaburi Chanthaburi, Eastern Provinces, Travel to Thailand 4 (4)Like almost everywhere in Thailand (the country is home to 127 national parks), Chanthaburi is no exception and has at least 3 national parks and sanctuaries spread across the province. The largest in surface area (134 km²) and the best known is the Namtok Phlio National Park, then comes that of Khao Sip Ha Chan (118 km²) and finally the smallest, the Khao Khitchakut National Park (58 km²). There is also a major sanctuary covering more than 700 km² and recognized as a conservation area for several endemic bird species.During our visit to the region, of all the sites I talk about, we had only been to the waterfall in the national park of Namtok Phlio. Most of our visits having been mainly devoted to visiting the coast, we did not have enough time to see everything, with 4 days in all (including travel time from Bangkok, that left roughly 3 full days, c('is too fair). But here is roughly what I had spotted to see in the region if you like nature spots. Summary hide Namtok Phlio National Park Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park Khao Khitchakut National Park Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary Namtok Phlio National ParkNamtok Phlio National Park is located 14 kilometers from Chanthaburi, which is mainly visited for its eponymous waterfall, Namtok Phlio (namtok meaning waterfall in Thaï). They also changed the name in 1982, because when it was created in 1975, the national park was named after the mountain where the site is located, Khao Sa bap.Located 14 km south-east of the city, it is a popular place for going out Thai especially on weekends, to cool off by swimming in one of the natural pools along the watercourse. You can quickly see its popularity when you arrive at the entrance to the park, where shops line up offering buoys, water games, and of course something to eat. If you have a car, you will have a car park there (currently unpaved) where access is payable: 20 Baht.Shops lined up at the entrance to the park.Right from the entrance, you can access pools suitable for swimming.The stream and its main waterfall (which are divided into 3 levels) are normally powered toute the year, although a lower flow rate will be required in summer (March-April). You don't have to be ticklish or "scary" to get wet here, because the pools are full of carp which are generally curious and come to eat the bits of dead skin on your toes. (From fish free spa in sum).Besides swimming, you can take the surrounding hiking trail la waterfall. This short walk takes you up the hill to the upper level of the waterfall and back to the level of the chedi, the park's other attraction, after taking an old stone staircase. Allow about an hour to go around. Which I did alone that day because Jitima was not in the mood…Map of attractions in the area.The small bridge leading to the start of the trail around the waterfall.View from above the falls taking the path.The old stone staircase indicating the end of the trail (if you start in the same direction).Le chedi in question is named Along khon, built in 1876 at the request of Rama V, following the passage to the waterfall. Le chedi, all covered in moss is photogenic, because it stands out quite a bit in this corner of vegetation and its location makes it a great observatory to admire the waterfall, the latter being on a promontory. Not far from there is find a kind of pyramid (Phra Nan Ruar Lom stupa), added in 1881 to receive the ashes of the Queen Consort Sunandha Kumariratana, also known as Phra Nan Chao Sunanthakumarirat. The queen, who was the first wife of Rama V, tragically drowned after her boat capsized during a trip to the Chao Phraya (I talk about it in my article on the Bang Pa In Royal Summer Palace).In total, we spent about 2 hours there, without swimming for our part but that normally leaves plenty of time for the rest of the day. Access is easy, barely 10 minutes walk from the park entrance to the waterfall and there are even golf carts for the laziest (but given the price, you really have to be lazy, otherwise you'll have difficulty walking...).The old chedi.The view of the waterfall from the chedi.A day with a few people.Another day at closing.The pyramid containing the ashes of the queen consort of Rama V.If you want to complete the visit of the park, you also have to the East of the mountain, the Trok Nong Water Fall, Khlong Narai Waterfall to the North-West and finally Marok Waterfall (only spotted in Thai on Google Maps: น้ำตกมะกอก) to the North-East.Opening time : 8am-17pm (on the official website it says 18pm but because they closed, they made everyone leave by 17pm)Entrance fee: 200 Baht per adult – 100 Baht for children (under 15 years old)To get to the park, you can take a songthaew (pickup) from the north side of the market in Chanthaburi to the park entrance (฿50, 30 minutes ride). You will be dropped off about 1 km from the entrance. Private transportation costs ฿1500.Khao Sip Ha Chan National ParkAnother national park that is home to a waterfall, or rather a series of waterfalls, the name "Sip Ha Chan" literally meaning "15 floors". It is not the height of the fall but the number of successive small waterfalls that gives the park its name. While the first one is easy to access and again serves as a place to relax and cool off, it does not have much impressive to offer.If, on the other hand, you are keen on trekking, a real challenge awaits you to reach le 15th floor, just before the top of the mountain (800 m). This is a trek not really recommended for beginners. It is necessary to appeal to the Rangers du park to accompany you, because the mountain is home to wild elephants (among others), the latter being there to protect you, in addition to guiding you in this lush jungle where leeches and mosquitoes are just waiting to welcome you!It takes at least 6 hours to do the round trip, which involves some sections with sometimes tough climbing and where ropes will help you climb the steep slopes. To give you an idea of this "walk", you have a photo series on this site (in Thai) only.One of the levels of Khao Sip Ha Chan waterfall. (Photo source)Khao Khitchakut National ParkThis national park is best known to Thais for its "Buddha's footprint" located near the top of the mountain (which is over 1 m). These traces, sometimes “natural”, often artificial, also called Buddhapada in Sanskrit, are a symbolism of the words of Buddha, useful to the faithful to facilitate belief without knowing how to read. The site, accessible from the What Phluang, is a true place of pilgrimage which takes place every year between the months of January and March only. During this short period, many pilgrims climb the mountain following the 1 km hiking trail. And since time is limited, the site remains open 24 hours a day for these few weeks, so some people sleep near the summit to enjoy the site in the early morning.Before you begin your hike to the top of the National Park Khao Khitchakut, you must go to the starting point with a 4×4. From the temple of What Pluang, it is almost an 8 kilometer vertical journey on the wooded mountain. The journey takes about 30 minutes and hold on tight, as the road is not wide and it is very likely that you will come across another pick-up truck zigzagging down the steep slope.The recognizable large rock of Khao Khitchakut National Park.The area with the red ribbons.Towards the summit, you will see large rocks with particular shapes, each earning them nicknames: there is a “pagoda”, a “monk’s bowl”, an “elephant” or even a “turtle”. The footprint of Buddha under the large main rock does not, however, mark the end of the journey. After paying their respects to the footprint, the pilgrims follow a path for another 4 km, in order to reach an area where red pieces of cloth, called "pa", are hung. daeng » by locals. Local belief is that if you write your wish on one of these pieces of red cloth, it will come true. And this is what makes the place so popular, the high proportion of wishes granted according to the people who have testified. In my circle, several of my wife's friends have been there and it is through this that I learned about this place.It's already missed for this year, but it's clearly in our goals of places to visit. Apart from this important place of worship, you have a more modest one, the What Khao Banchob, whose architecture is atypical and essentially made of wood. Otherwise, the national park can be visited all year round and is home to a multitude of flora and fauna and, of course, its share of cascades. The main one being that of Krathing, which descends 13 floors and is located to the west of the park. To see them all, you'll have to trek through the jungle (with a Park Ranger) and you'll be off for aA minimum of 3-4 hours of fairly intense trekking.Towards Khlong Phaibun waterfall.Further north, but still west, you have the Khlong Phaibun Water Fall, close toun temple of the same name (but with a different transliteration since it is written What Khlong Paiboon).Finally just at the southeast corner, close to the temple site What Khao Banchop, there is a small waterfall Ang beng Waterfall, which has little visual interest and remains essentially a place of relaxation for hot summer days.Entrance fee: 200 Baht per adult – 100 Baht for children (under 15 years old)Khao Soi Dao Wildlife SanctuaryAs I mentioned in the intro sentence, the latter is not a national park but a wildlife reserve. It covers the area around Mount Soi Dao, which is part of the Cardamom Mountains extending mainly into neighboring Cambodia. Khao Soi Dao Nuea and Khao Soi Dao Tai (northern and southern mountains), form the two highest peaks of the Chanthaburi and eastern Thailand mountains (with 1 m and 675 m above sea level respectively).The sanctuary is adjacent to the smaller National Park of Khao Khitchakut to the south and the national park of Khao Sip Ha Chan further northwest (not far There is another sanctuary, which is part of the neighboring province of Chachoengsao: Khao Ang RUE Nephew).The wildlife sanctuary of Khao self Dao was created in 1972 and covers precisely 744,96 kilometers square, most of which is mountainous terrain. In 2007, the sanctuary was also designated an Important Bird Conservation Area. (ZICO), therefore of global importance for bird conservation. There you can find, in particular, prelate pheasants. (called Siamese Fireback locally) but mammals are not left out either. The sanctuary is home to elephants, a few tigers and gaurs. (also called gayals) and even wild cats (Chat Temminck's or Asian Golden Cat) as well as bonneted gibbons. Alternatively, the sanctuary is renowned for its large number of insects and butterflies fluttering about all year round.Khao Soi Dao Shrine Waterfall.The mountains are covered with tropical rainforest, where the river Chanthaburi take his source (in the mountain Khao self Dao Tai). It is also along this stream that one of the park's attractions is located, Khao self Dao Water Fall, a waterfall spanning 16 floors this time. The first is located at the starting point of the trek leading to the summit, where again, you must be accompanied to reach the last floor, passing through the jungle. The route to the 6th floor remains easy and includes 1.2 km of path through lush vegetation, you will then have a view of the 9e and 10th floor of the waterfall. Although there are only 600m between the 6th and 9th floors, this is probably the most difficult section, involving a narrow path going up and down. Allow 40 minutes for this part, but you will be rewarded by the 9th waterfall, considered the most beautiful on the site. The latter and the 10th floor also have natural pools at the foot of the falls.To get to the sanctuary from Chanthaburi, take a bus going to Sa Hello and go down to the locality of Pa Tong (at the crossroads with the What Leaves Khao), you then have 3.4 km left until the entrance of the sanctuary (you will need to find transport to get there if you don't want to walk this distance...)If you are going to Chanthaburi, you might be interested in these other articles:What to visit and see in the “moon city”?From Nong Bua village to Ko Proet island, visit between land and seaWhat to visit around Laem Sing BeachWhat to do between Kung Wiman and Chao Lao beachesDid you like the article? share on Pinterest! Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 4 / 5. Number of votes: 4 No votes yet. Be the first to rate this article! Did you like the article? Follow me on social media Cascade Mountain National Park 0 0 Roman 15/03/2020
