How to Get to Phu Chi Fa from Chiang Rai, Thailand
My epic journey and details on how to get to Phu Chi Fa near Chiang Rai, Thailand!
My trip to Phu Chi Fa for the sunrise ranks as perhaps my favorite experience while in Thailand and probably among those of my entire life. Upon arrival at my hotel The Nak Nakara, I learned about this incredible spot from the friendly concierge when I asked about important photography experiences nearby. I needed to act quickly due to my limited time in Chiang Rai, the complexity of getting to this spot, and in order to coincide with the best sunrise conditions. I scheduled my trip immediately for the day after the next which gave me some time to plan a bit further.
2:45 AM Wakeup!
On the day of my trip, I awoke sluggishly at 2:45 AM, pressed snooze and laid back down. Anticipating this bad act, I had set an additional alarm for 5 minutes later. When it sounded, I jumped out of bed a bit shocked but composed myself quickly. I had 10 minutes to dress, grab my gear and make my way to the lobby to meet my personal driver. The hotel scheduled my pickup time for approximately 3 to 3:30 AM. My driver arrived at 3:30 AM, we packed the car and headed off towards Phu Chi Fa in total silence.
Where is Phu Chi Fa?
Phu Chi Fa is located approximately 100km due east of Chiang Rai along the border of Thailand and Laos within the northeastern end of the Phi Pan Nam Mountain Range. Phu Chi Fa rises 1,628m above sea level, slopes downward into Laos and into The Mekong River. I learned the Doi Pha Mon ridge offers the best viewing spot. Phu Chi Fa represents one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of Thailand for three main reasons: (i) its incredible views; (ii) colorful sunrises and sunsets; and (iii) the opportunity to catch the early morning sea of mist hovering over the valley floor below. I experienced all of those and more!
The Drive & Trail Start
The drive to Phu Chi Fa was wild despite the roads being mostly empty at this time. Due to its distance from Phu Chi Fa, approximately 2 hours to the east, to reach Phu Chi Fa in time for the sunrise is a mad dash. My driver arrived at the visitor parking lot in almost exactly two hours with plenty of time for me to make the additional 30 minute hike up the ridge to the best viewing spot. I grabbed my gear, adorned warmer clothes and my headlamp, said goodbye for now, and began the trek in the pitch black. Many other tourists had arrived at the same time and followed me up the ridge. We scrambled over uneven ground in the dark, not completely certain of the way and stumbling at times but with no real incidents. If it were raining, this would be significantly more challenging if not a bit dangerous. I was in luck.
The Summit
I reached the summit in approximately 25 minutes, which gave me time to assess the location. I realized I had passed the most famous spot on the way up. I decided to make my way back down to that location to capture some photos from there. I relocated quickly, set up and began shooting test shots. As the sunrise began, and light crept over the horizon, I realized the height of this location and could finally see the valley floor. My luck continued as a magical fog, the famed sea of mist, blessed the scene and blanketed the valley floor. I took many shots from this location, but as sunrise continued, the sky erupted with even more color and an intense orange glow covered everything. I scrambled back to the summit to capture images from there as well. I enjoyed the summit with many others, talking, taking pictures of each other and laughing about the entire experience. I spent about two hours in total atop Phu Chi Fa and with a full agenda ahead, I decided to make my way back down the mountain.
On the way back down, I happened upon children, young girls dressed in traditional Hmong and Northern Thailand clothing positioned along the trail greeting tourists and looking for donations. In my opinion, this location is high up, fairly difficult to reach early in the morning and cold for children. For them, it is routine and each of them was absolutely adorable! As I walked closer to them, they would smile, wave, dance and even sing. I smiled and donated as much as I could. They made this trip even more incredible. Happier than before, I continued down the trail and shared goodbye waves.
Phu Chi Fa rewarded me with an epic sunrise and an experience of a lifetime. I highly recommend to anyone that travels to Chiang Rai to make this journey.
Thailand: Travel Photography Book
My first journey to Thailand began with planning while living in Sydney, Australia in the Aussie’s late Fall to Winter of 2018. For many years, my friends had told me their stories about their travels to Thailand, and I had seen many amazing photographs depicting the country’s depth of history and culture as well as its beautiful architecture and landscapes. I had to go asap! This blog post features stories from just Doi Inthanon, but if you are interested in more about my journeys in Thailand, and seeing more images from those trips, please check out my book at the following links:
“Thailand” is a travel photography book depicting the beauty of Thailand, focused on the northern parts of the country from Bangkok, to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and surrounding areas, through images and stories also focused on its history, culture, architecture and landscapes, and offering travel tips and picture taking insights for journeys to these locations.
