Dong Na Tham Forest

Open Days: Daily During The Open Season Of The Dong Na Tham – Pha Chana Dai Route

Opening Hours: Ascending From Dong Na Tham Gate 04.30 – 06.30, 10.30 – 13.00, 16.00 – 18.00 / Descending From Pha Chana Dai 07.30 – 09.30, 14.00 – 15.00, 19.00 – 19.30

 

Dong Na Tham Forest in Ubon Ratchathani is one of the most remarkable deep-nature travel areas within Pha Taem National Park. Located around Phu Na Tham in the northern part of the park, in Na Pho Klang Subdistrict, Khong Chiam District, it lies about 36 kilometers from the main Pha Taem National Park office. This area brings together sandstone terraces, open forest, cliffs above the Mekong River, seasonal waterfalls, wildflowers, prehistoric rock paintings, and Pha Chana Dai, the famous sunrise cliff known as one of the first places in Thailand to receive the morning light. For travelers who want a deeper understanding of Ubon Ratchathani beyond standard viewpoints, Dong Na Tham offers a powerful experience of forest, stone, mist, river, and ancient human traces in one protected landscape.

 

Travel in Dong Na Tham is mainly nature-based and trail-based. The route passes through dry dipterocarp forest, sandstone plains, rocky cliffs, and viewpoints overlooking the Mekong River. Important places include stone terraces, Phlan Tham Hai, twin Sao Chaliang formations, two-needle pine areas, Huai Phok Waterfall, Pha Chana Dai, Pha Kampan, Pha Hin Taek, Kwang Ton Waterfall, the amazing rocking stone, Phu Chom Kom, Tham Patihan, and prehistoric paintings hidden along cliff shelters. This makes Dong Na Tham different from the main Pha Taem cliff area. It feels quieter, wilder, and more suitable for travelers who want to walk, observe, and spend time with the real landscape rather than simply stop for a quick photograph.

 

Pha Chana Dai is the most famous highlight of Dong Na Tham. It is widely known as the viewpoint where visitors can see the first sunrise in Thailand. The cliff opens toward the Mekong River and the mountainous landscape of Lao PDR. Before dawn, visitors reach the viewpoint in darkness and wait as the horizon slowly brightens. When the first light appears, the forest, mist, sandstone cliff, and Mekong-side geography gradually become visible. The experience is memorable not only because of the scenery but also because of the feeling of standing near Thailand’s eastern edge as a new day begins.

 

The sunrise at Pha Chana Dai is a journey of timing and atmosphere. Visitors travel through the forest route before dawn, arrive at the cliff while the sky is still dark, and wait for the first light to reveal the landscape. Mist often moves through the valley in the late rainy and cool seasons, while the mountains on the Lao side appear layer by layer as the light grows stronger. This gradual transformation gives the viewpoint its emotional power. Pha Chana Dai is not only a sunrise location; it is a place where geography, silence, cold air, forest, and light combine into a complete travel experience.

 

Dong Na Tham is especially famous for rock-terrace wildflowers. From September to November, after the rainy season brings moisture to the sandstone surface, small ground flowers bloom across cracks and shallow soil pockets. Visitors may see yard nam khang, daeng ubon, en-a, lueang phitsamon, and several royally named wildflowers associated with Queen Sirikit, including dusita, soi suwana, manee thewa, thip keson, and sarat chan. These flowers are small and delicate, so they reward slow walking and careful observation. Their beauty lies not in size but in their ability to bring color and life to rugged stone terraces.

 

The late rainy season and early cool season are the most vibrant period for Dong Na Tham. Waterfalls carry more water, ground flowers appear on the rock terraces, and morning mist can flow across the Mekong-side cliffs. Huai Phok Waterfall and Kwang Ton Waterfall add the element of water to the sandstone landscape. The sound of water falling over rock, the freshness of post-rain forest, and the cool morning air make this period ideal for travelers who want to experience Dong Na Tham at its richest. For visitors interested in flowers, waterfalls, mist, and sunrise, September to November is the most rewarding season.

 

From January to March, the forest changes character. The wet-season freshness gives way to dry-season tones, and the forest begins to show changing colors. Trees such as rang, tabaek lueat, phut pha, chang nao, and dry-season flowering plants create a landscape of yellow, orange, brown, and muted green. The clearer forest structure makes sandstone terraces, cliff lines, and distant views easier to see. This period is also associated with boat trips along the Mekong River between Ban Pak La and Khan Tha Kwian, allowing travelers to connect the highland walking route with a river-based experience.

 

The twin Sao Chaliang formations are important geological features on the Dong Na Tham route. These natural sandstone pillars were formed by long-term erosion from wind, water, and weather. Their unusual shapes show how softer lower layers can be worn away while stronger upper rock remains, creating mushroom-like or pillar-like forms. Seeing these formations together with the rock terraces and cracked sandstone surfaces helps visitors understand the geological foundation of the Pha Taem landscape. Dong Na Tham is therefore a field classroom of sandstone landforms as much as it is a scenic destination.

 

The amazing rocking stone is another memorable feature. This huge boulder, weighing around 50 tons, can move slightly because of its natural balance point. Its presence creates a sense of surprise because the stone appears massive and immovable, yet it responds to a small amount of force. The site shows how natural balance, erosion, and rock positioning can create unusual landforms. It also adds variety to the route, proving that Dong Na Tham is not only about wide views and sunrise but also about small geological wonders scattered throughout the forest.

 

Tham Patihan and the prehistoric paintings along cliff shelters add a cultural dimension to Dong Na Tham. The sandstone cliffs and overhangs in Pha Taem National Park have long been associated with ancient human activity. Rock paintings hidden in these natural shelters show that people used the landscape thousands of years ago for living, observing, communicating, and recording symbols. These paintings turn Dong Na Tham into more than a forest trail. It becomes a cultural landscape where ancient human traces and natural formations remain together.

 

Pha Kampan, Pha Hin Taek, and Phu Chom Kom are viewpoints and rock features that reveal different sides of the landscape. Pha Kampan offers wide views across forest and river terrain. Pha Hin Taek shows the cracked nature of sandstone formations. Phu Chom Kom adds another layer to the route by presenting the variation of elevation and landform within Dong Na Tham. When these points are combined into one journey, visitors pass through stone plains, open forest, waterfalls, cliffs, and Mekong-side viewpoints, creating a varied and complete nature experience.

 

Access to Dong Na Tham requires more planning than a visit to the main Pha Taem viewpoint. The area is located deeper in the northern part of the park, and the route from the main Pha Taem office to Dong Na Tham is about 36 kilometers. Some sections are natural roads that require a suitable vehicle and careful driving, especially during or after rain. The Pha Chana Dai route follows scheduled ascending and descending times for safety. This system helps control travel in forest terrain, especially during dark hours when visitors enter for sunrise viewing.

 

The usual route begins from Ubon Ratchathani city toward Khong Chiam District, then continues along Highway 2112 toward Na Pho Klang Subdistrict and the Dong Na Tham gate. The route passes Ban Sa Som before entering the park’s northern area. From the park unit, visitors continue toward the Pha Chana Dai viewpoint, with a final walk of about 500 meters. The route is best suited to vehicles in good condition, especially during the rainy season when the road surface may become slippery or rough in places.

 

Dong Na Tham suits travelers who want a real nature experience. Visitors walk across sandstone terraces, pass through dry dipterocarp forest, observe two-needle pine, see ground flowers, listen to seasonal waterfalls, and look over the Mekong River from high cliffs. This is a place where the visitor becomes part of the landscape through walking and observation. The experience includes beauty and physical reality: strong sun on open rock, slippery surfaces after rain, darkness before sunrise, and the importance of staying on the designated trail.

 

Facilities in Dong Na Tham are more basic than in urban-style attractions. The main facilities are provided through Pha Taem National Park, including the visitor center, accommodation, camping grounds, youth camp buildings, toilets, showers, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and service areas in the main park zone. Camping or overnight stays on the Dong Na Tham and Pha Chana Dai route follow the park’s seasonal management. This makes the area most suitable for travelers who are prepared for nature-based travel and want an experience closer to the forest.

 

The entrance fee follows the Pha Taem National Park fee system. Thai adults pay 40 baht and Thai children pay 20 baht. Foreign adults pay 200 baht and foreign children pay 100 baht. Vehicle fees are charged separately, such as 20 baht for a motorcycle and 30 baht for a four-wheel car. The route is managed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation through Pha Taem National Park. Visitors should keep the entrance ticket during travel because the attractions are spread across different zones.

 

Dong Na Tham can be explored as a half-day, full-day, or overnight route. A focused trip can begin before dawn for Pha Chana Dai sunrise, then continue to the twin Sao Chaliang formations, Huai Phok Waterfall, and nearby viewpoints. A full-day route can add Pha Kampan, Pha Hin Taek, the rocking stone, Phu Chom Kom, and Tham Patihan. The richest season for a complete experience is the late rainy to early cool season, when wildflowers, waterfalls, and mist appear together.

 

Dong Na Tham also connects well with other destinations in Pha Taem National Park. After exploring the forest route, travelers can continue to Sang Chan Waterfall, Thung Na Mueang Waterfall, Soi Sawan Waterfall, Sao Chaliang, and the main Pha Taem prehistoric cliff paintings. If staying in Khong Chiam, travelers can also visit the Two-Color River, Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, the Mekong riverside, Kaeng Tana National Park, and local riverside restaurants. Placing Dong Na Tham at the center of the itinerary creates a journey that includes trekking, geology, archaeology, Mekong views, waterfalls, and local riverside culture.

 

For foreign travelers, Dong Na Tham is one of the best places to understand the natural diversity of southern Isan. It combines dry dipterocarp forest, sandstone terraces, cliffs, Mekong River scenery, wildflowers, waterfalls, prehistoric paintings, and a famous sunrise viewpoint. Pha Chana Dai also helps explain Thailand’s eastern geography in a direct and memorable way. A visit here shows that Ubon Ratchathani is not only a province of temples and rivers, but also a landscape of deep forest routes, specialized ecosystems, and ancient cultural traces.

 

The value of Dong Na Tham goes beyond photography. Each point on the route has its own story. The stone terraces tell the story of season and small plants. The twin Sao Chaliang formations tell the story of erosion and time. The rocking stone tells the story of natural balance. Pha Chana Dai tells the story of geography and first light. Huai Phok and Kwang Ton waterfalls tell the story of seasonal water. The cliff paintings tell the story of ancient people who once used this landscape. Together, these elements make Dong Na Tham a place where nature and culture are inseparable.

 

Overall, Dong Na Tham Forest in Ubon Ratchathani is a deep-nature route within Pha Taem National Park that is ideal for nature lovers, hikers, photographers, stargazers, wildflower observers, and travelers interested in the Mekong border landscape. Pha Chana Dai is the most famous highlight as the first-sunrise viewpoint of Thailand, but the completeness of Dong Na Tham comes from much more: sandstone plains, ground flowers, twin Sao Chaliang, two-needle pine, Huai Phok Waterfall, Pha Kampan, Pha Hin Taek, Kwang Ton Waterfall, the amazing rocking stone, Phu Chom Kom, Tham Patihan, and prehistoric cliff paintings. It is one of the most distinctive and meaningful nature routes in Ubon Ratchathani.

 

 

A: Dong Na Tham Forest is located around Phu Na Tham in the northern part of Pha Taem National Park, Na Pho Klang Subdistrict, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is a forest and cliff-view route with Pha Chana Dai as its main highlight.

 

A: Dong Na Tham is open daily during the normal open season of the Dong Na Tham – Pha Chana Dai route, with scheduled ascending and descending times managed by Pha Taem National Park.

 

A: Ascending from Dong Na Tham Gate is available in three rounds: 04.30 – 06.30, 10.30 – 13.00, and 16.00 – 18.00. Descending from Pha Chana Dai is available in three rounds: 07.30 – 09.30, 14.00 – 15.00, and 19.00 – 19.30.

 

A: The area follows Pha Taem National Park fees. Thai adults pay 40 baht and Thai children 20 baht. Foreign adults pay 200 baht and foreign children 100 baht. Vehicle fees are charged separately.

 

A: September to November is best for ground flowers, waterfalls, and Mekong mist. January to March is good for changing forest colors, dry-season flowers, and Mekong River scenery by boat.

 

A: The main highlights include Pha Chana Dai, twin Sao Chaliang, two-needle pine, Huai Phok Waterfall, Pha Kampan, Pha Hin Taek, Kwang Ton Waterfall, the amazing rocking stone, Phu Chom Kom, Tham Patihan, seasonal flowers, and prehistoric cliff paintings.

 

A: Camping and seasonal overnight areas are available under Pha Taem National Park management. The main park also has accommodation and camping facilities, while additional hotels and resorts are available in Khong Chiam District.

 

A: Yes. Dong Na Tham is suitable for foreign travelers interested in deep nature, trekking, sunrise viewpoints, the Mekong River, wildflowers, waterfalls, and prehistoric cultural evidence in southern Isan.