Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A 1km trail leads to Pha Chu Thong (Flag Raising Cliff, sometimes called Red Flag
Cliff), where the communists would raise the red flag to announce a military victory. Also
in this area is an
air-raid shelter
, a
lookout
and the remains of the main
CPT headquarters
- the
most inaccessible point in the territory before a road was constructed by the Thai govern-
ment.
The buildings in the park are made out of wood and bamboo and have no plumbing or
electricity - a testament to how primitive the living conditions were.
There is a small museum at the park headquarters that displays relics from CPT days,
although there's not a whole lot of English explanation. At the end of the road into the
park is a small White Hmong village.
Walking Trails
( 8.30am-4.30pm)
If you're not interested in the modern history of Phu Hin Rong Kla, there
are
waterfalls
,
hiking trails
and
scenic views
, as well as some interesting rock formations - jutting
boulders called
Lan Hin Pum
and an area of deep rocky crevices where PLAT troops would
hide during air raids, called
Lan Hin Taek
. Ask at the visitor centre for maps.
HIKING
Sleeping & Eating
Golden House Tour, near the TAT office in Phitsanulok, can help book accommodation.
Thailand's Royal Forest Department
( 0 2562 0760;
www.dnp.go.th
; 2-8 person tents 150-600B, bungalows 300-2100B)
Bungalows for three to
15 people, in three different zones of the park, must be booked in advance via this organ-
isation. You can also pitch a tent or rent one, and rent sleeping bags (60B). Near the camp-
ing ground and bungalows are restaurants and food vendors. The best are Duang Jai
Cafeteria - try its famous carrot
sôm·đam
- and Rang Thong.
CAMPING GROUND
$
Getting There & Away
The park headquarters is about 125km from Phitsanulok. To get here, first take an early
bus to Nakhon Thai (52B to 94B, two hours, every hour from 5am to 6pm). From there
you can charter a
sŏrng·tăa·ou
to the park (700B) from near the market. As a day trip
from Phitsanulok, Golden House Tour charges 1700B for car and driver; petrol is extra.
This is a delightful trip if you're on a motorcycle since there's not much traffic along the
way, but a strong engine is necessary to conquer the hills to Phu Hin Rong Kla.
