[TH] Phu Chi Fa: Marvel At The Stunning Sunrise

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Phu Chi Fa is a mountain area at the Thai-Laos border near Chiang Rai, Thailand, famed for its popular “sea of mist” views. It is by far the most popular spot for catching the sunrise in the surrounding area and attracts both local and foreign tourists.

Equally scenic mountain viewpoints in the area include Phu Chi Dao, Phu Chi Duen, and Doi Pa Tang. Since these are located within 25 km of each other, do visit them on the same trip if time permits. For a more tranquil experience, opt for catching the sunrise and Phu Chi Dao, Phu Chi Duen, or Doi Pa Tang instead. It is easy to reach Phu Chi Dao and Phu Chi Duen by hiring a 4WD ride or catering sufficient time to hike up from the car park.

The area gets especially crowded in winter (December – January) where cherry blossoms and crescent flowers are blooming.

What to expect

Phu Chi Fa

Visitors are required to register at the Phu Chi Fa Forest Park gate, which opens from opens from 5 am to 6 pm. It will take another 1.7 km from the gate to the viewpoint car park.

From the car park, it is a short and easy 20-minute hike to the viewpoint at 1628 msl. During my visit on 21 Nov 2023, sunrise occurred at 6:25 am, and the viewpoint began to fill up around 6 am. To secure a prime spot and witness the transition from the starlit night sky to sunrise, aim to arrive at the viewpoint by 5:40 am.

Phu Chi Fa's iconic cliff silhouette, 5.55am

You will find vendors selling warm clothes, snacks, instant noodles, and coffee in the car park. So don’t worry about not bringing enough water or clothes.

Doi Pha Tang

Doi Pha Tang is located 25 km away from Phu Chi Fa and consists of 3 viewpoints – the Chong Pha Bong viewpoint (102 Viewpoint), the 103 Viewpoint, and the Noen 104 Viewpoint. Viewpoints 102 and 103 are reached via the main entrance while Viewpoint 104 is located further north past the car park. The 102 Viewpoint is the easiest hike from the car park and also attracts the most visitors.

Ban Pha Tang, the nearest village, is populated by ethnic Chinese descendants of the former 93rd division of the Nationalist KMT army. Thus, if you are a Mandarin speaker, you will find it easy to communicate with the villagers and vendors. For those who are interested in the history of the region, you may visit the community-managed exhibition in the village.

Entrance to Doi Pha Tang Viewpoints 102 & 103

102 Viewpoint

The 103 and 102 Viewpoints follow the same initial path and you will see signage where the trail splits. I opted for the 102 Viewpoint which took me ~35 minutes from the entrance to the peak. The hike was easy and you can already see panoramic views 5 minutes into the hike.

Heading down after sunset at Doi Pha Tang

104 Viewpoint

The Noen 104 Viewpoint, situated at 1570 msl, boasted a noticeably smaller crowd compared to the bustling 102 and Phu Chi Fa viewpoints. During my visit, only one other group of visitors accompanied me. Nevertheless, this hidden gem delivers a panoramic vista that rivals its more frequented counterparts. You will traverse the ridge line, pass by sizable stones, and watch the stunning scenery unfold before you.

The 104 Viewpoint is an easy 40-minute hike away from the Doi Pha Tang car park. Otherwise, hiring a 4WD to pickup from Banphot Witthaya School is possible as well.

Sunrise at Doi Pha Tang 104 Viewpoint trail

To hike to 104 Viewpoint, follow the trail beside the toilet at the car park. From the pavilion mid-trail where the path diverges, take the wider vehicle path as the alternative hiking trail has overgrown vegetation. Unfortunately, I woke up too late and took the more difficult hiking trail so I could not make it in time to catch the sunrise at the 104 Viewpoint.

Path to the Doi Pha Tang 104 Noen Viewpoint

Phu Chi Duen

Phu Chi Duen is at 1742 msl and accessible by foot or by hiring a 4WD. If hiking, always take the larger vehicle path as the narrow roads lead to the plantations. The trail on maps.me does not seem accurate so it is best to just follow the large vehicle path you see. I mistakenly took the grassier path to the right so I ended up having a difficult time cutting through the plantation to get back onto the trail.

In total, I took 1 hour 40 min for the ascent, including all the detours, and 1 hour for the descent.

How to go from Chiang Rai

Phu Chi Fa area is located around 80-100km away from Chiang Rai. Since there is no public transport to Phu Chi Fa, the best way to get there is by renting a car or scooter. I rented a Scoopy 110 (Club 12) scooter from Chiang Rai for three days at 250 baht per day.

Where to stay

There are plenty of privately owned accommodation places in the area. The choices range from campsites and glamping sites to rooms and bungalows.

Tips:

Contact the accommodation in advance to ensure there are rooms available – some places may not be open during off-peak season
Choose a location near the mountain you intend to visit for sunrise so you don’t have to wake up THAT early

Where I stayed – public campsites

Alternatively, public campsites are available in the area.

Near Phu Chi Fa, there are two campsites – inside the forest park and outside the forest park. However, when I visited in Nov 2023, all campers were directed to the outer campsite. The fee to set up a tent at the outer campsite is 50 baht. Expect basic amenities and bring your toilet paper. Also, don’t expect to shower.

At Doi Pa Tang, there are 2 donation-based camping sites near the car park. Cold showers and clean toilets are available. Food is available a short walk away at the stalls near the entrance to Doi Pa Tang. The stalls close at sunset (~6.15 pm) so it is wise to give advance notice if you intend to have dinner there after sunset. If the stalls are closed, you will need to head down to the nearest village 1.8 km away for food. Alternatively, pack some food in your bag or make preparations to cook your dinner.