Pha Taem National Park of Thailand

The rocky parking lot of Pha Taem.

Looking over the cliff to the Thai and Laos border.

Watch your steps around the cliff. There are no fences or barriers on the cliff face. Make sure you hang on to your children.

The only cafe in Pha Taem, grab yourself a water bottle before your hike.

There are about 300 prehistoric paintings, dating back to 3,000 years ago. The above image is the first set of paintings (Group 1), there are a combine total of four set of prehistoric paintings along the 4,000 meters trail.

The entire walking trail around the cliff is about 4,000 meters long.

The climate of Pha Taem is variable – the average lowest temperature is 22^C or 70^f and the average highest reaches 33^C or 90^f.

The rainy season, from June to September is monsoonal. The cold winter from October to February is a beautiful flowering season. The whole valley will be covered with small, wild flora.

The weather will turn to be hot in March until May which is the season of the colorful forest.

The formation of mushroom-like sandstone outcroppings known in Thai as Sao Chaliang which translates to monolithic-rock pillar in English, located at the roadside on the way to the Visitor Center.

The lower part or stalk is a rock in the Jurassic age of about 180 million years, the mushroom shape on top is a sandstone of Cretaceous age of about 130 million years.

Sao Chaliang caused by the erosion and corrosion of water and wind, especially from corrosion by rivers or creeks eroded over the years.

There are small rock pillars scattered throughout Pha Taem protected forests. If you are visiting Dong Na Tham area, there are double rock pillars Dong Na Tham, smaller rock pillars with perfectly beautiful located in the middle of Dong Na Tham forest.

1. Rock Pillar
   An eroded sandstone column. It has been subject to various age old and severe eroding forces of nature from water, wind and sunlight.
2. Pha Taem
   Over the cliff face there les the ancient colored painting dated back about 3,000 to 4,000 years. It covers the long strip of cliff face of around 180 meters containing the figures of man, hands, animals, objects and geometric patterns.
3. Dry Dipterocarp Forest
   Forests in the environs are deciduous type. Dominant amount the collections are Tend and Rand species. Major characteristics are hard barks, fire resistant, turning yellowish red in the dry season and dropping leaves to prevent the watery loss.
4. Mekong River
   Riparian waterway ariginated in China and Tibet, flows and forms the Thai – Laos borders. It shows the sign of soil erosion with its reddish color. It is also the source of renowned fresh water fish – Pla Buek or the Meknong Giant catfish.
5. Wild Flower Field
   wild Flower Field above the Soi Sawan waterfall with an area about 42 acres. Most of the Carnivorous flower such as Soi Sawan, Dusita, Manee Dhawa, Thip Kesorn, Sarassa Chandhorn. Wild Flower Field are large and beautiful flower bloom in late winter rain about October to January of each year.
6. Waterfall
   Pha Taem are numerous important waterfall such as Soi Sawan waterfall, Thung Na Mueang waterfall and Sand Chan waterfall.