Wat Pa Phu Pha Sung

Wat Pa Phu Pha Sung is a forest meditation monastery on Khao Chang Luang, a peak in the Phu Luang mountain range, at roughly 760 metres above sea level in Sung Noen district. It follows the practice lineage of Luang Pu Man Bhuridatto, one of the most revered monks of the Thai Forest Tradition, and its glass skywalk viewpoint over Pak Chong district is open daily 09:30-16:30. Entry to the grounds is free.

Experience

The monastery’s centrepiece is the Phra Borommathat Chedi Sri Phu Pha Sung, a chedi built into the hillside and visible from some distance below. Locals know the mountain itself as Khao Chao Pho (“guardian spirit hill”) as often as by its official name, and the forest around the temple — dry evergreen woodland spanning parts of four districts (Sung Noen, Sikhio, Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai) — feeds the streams that run down to Wa Phukaew Waterfall, Hin Phloeng Waterfall and the Sap Pradu reservoir lower down the range. The glass skywalk platform, added in recent years, lets visitors up in groups of 20 at a time for a clear view over Pak Chong district and the forested ridges toward Khao Yai.

Atmosphere & Timing

This is a working meditation centre as much as a tourist stop, so quiet, unhurried behaviour matters more here than at a typical temple. Mornings are cooler at this elevation and generally quieter before day-trip traffic from Pak Chong picks up. The skywalk’s 09:30 start means an early arrival at the temple itself, rather than the platform, if the goal is to beat both the heat and the queue for the viewing groups.

Insider Tip: Combine the visit with Wa Phukaew Waterfall, fed by streams off the same mountain and in the same Makluea Mai subdistrict — it’s a natural pairing rather than a detour.

Watch out: The skywalk platform takes visitors in capped groups of 20, so there can be a wait on busy weekends. The access road climbs steadily through forest; a car with reasonable clearance is more comfortable than a low-slung sedan.

Practical

The temple is reached from Sung Noen town via local roads climbing into the Phu Luang foothills — there’s no public transport to the site, so a car or motorbike is necessary. Modest dress is expected throughout the grounds, as at any active Thai monastery; shoulders and knees covered, shoes off inside the chedi and viharn.