Northern Thailand - Thailand - page 682

Doi Phu Kha
National Park

This national park ( 0 2562 0760, 08 2194 1349; www.dnp.go.th ; admission 200B) is centred on 2000m-
high Doi Phu Kha, the province's highest peak, in Amphoe Pua and Amphoe Bo Kleua,
about 75km northeast of Nan. There are several Htin, Mien, Hmong and Thai Lü villages in
the park and vicinity, as well as a couple of caves and waterfalls , and endless opportunities
for forest walks . The park headquarters has a basic map and staff can arrange a local guide
for walks or more extended excursions around the area, as well as rafting on Nam Wa.
The park is often cold in the cool season and especially wet in the wet season.
There is a variety of bungalows ( 0 2562 0760; www.dnp.go.th ; bungalow 2-7 people 300-2500B) in the
park, and there is a nearby restaurant and basic shop.
To reach the national park by public transport you must first take a bus or sŏrng·tăa·ou
north of Nan to Pua (50B, two hours, hourly from 7am to 5pm). Get off at the 7-Eleven
then cross the highway to board one of the three daily sŏrng·tăa·ou that depart at 7.30am,
9.30am and 11.30am (50B, 30 minutes).

Ban Bo Luang

Ban Bo Luang (also known as Ban Bo Kleua, or Salt Well Village) is a picturesque Htin
village southeast of Doi Phu Kha National Park where the long-standing occupation has
been the extraction of salt from local salt wells. It's easy to find the main community salt
wells, which are more or less in the centre of the village.
If you have your own transport, the village is a good base for exploring the nearby na-
tional parks, Doi Phu Kha and Khun Nan National Park ( 0 5477 8140; admission adult/child 100/50B;
8am-4.30pm) . The latter is located a few kilometres north of Ban Bo Luang, and has a
2km walk from the visitor centre that ends in a viewpoint looking over local villages and
nearby Laos. Accommodation (bungalows 800B to 1600B) and a basic restaurant are
available.
There is a handful of places to stay in Ban Bo Luang. By far the best of these is Boklua
View ( 08 1809 6392; www.bokluaview.com ; r & bungalows incl breakfast 1850B; ) , an attractive and
well-run hillside resort overlooking the village and the river, Nam Mang, that runs
through it. The resort has its own garden and serves good food (be sure to try Chef Toun's
chicken deep-fried with northern Thai spices). If Boklua View is full or beyond your
budget, Oon Ai Mang (

) , just 08 1374 7994; no roman-script sign; bungalows incl breakfast 600-1500B;