Phu Khao-Phu Phan Kham National Park

Phu Khao-Phu Phan Kham National Park protects 201,250 rai (about 322 km²) of dry dipterocarp forest and twin sandstone hills straddling Nong Bua Lam Phu and Khon Kaen provinces — not Ubon Ratchathani, a different province about 300 km away that shares a similarly-spelled name. Foreign adults pay 200 THB to enter (Thai adults 40 THB), and the park is open roughly 08:30-16:30 daily.

The park was declared in 1985, combining the Phu Kao hills in Nong Bua Lam Phu’s Non Sang district with the Phu Phan Kham range across the border in Khon Kaen’s Ubolratana district. That “Ubolratana” name is the likely source of confusion with Ubon Ratchathani — they’re unrelated. Ubolratana is a separate Khon Kaen district named for the Ubolratana Dam on the Nam Phong River, and the park headquarters sits right on its shoreline, on a hill called Phu Phan Kham. From there, the reservoir stretches out below the park office, with the best sunset views of the whole park.

Most of the terrain is dry dipterocarp (teng-rang) forest — spare, open woodland that sheds its leaves and turns russet-brown in early November, a distinctive look for a Thai forest more used to being described as lush. On the Phu Kao side, trails lead past prehistoric rock paintings and petroglyphs on cave walls, connected to the same prehistoric culture sphere as the more famous Ban Chiang site further north, along with reported dinosaur footprint traces in the sandstone. Hiking here ranges from short walks near the park office to longer treks up the twin peaks the park is named for.

Insider Tip: Visit November through February — the cool season brings the clearest air for the reservoir views from Phu Phan Kham and the most comfortable hiking temperatures, since Isan’s hot season (March-May) can push daytime highs past 35°C on the exposed hilltop trails.

Watch out: This is genuinely remote — don’t expect facilities beyond the park office. Bring your own water, sun protection, and insect repellent, and fill up on fuel before leaving Nong Bua Lam Phu town.

For more of the province’s prehistoric sites, pair this with the Non Don Klang Archeological Site or the Shell Fossil Museum, both easy add-ons from Nong Bua Lam Phu.