Phu Phan Mountains | Adventures

Our Day Trip started in Phueng Daet off AH 16/Hwy 12. I planned to drive through the Phu Phan Mountains, drop into Ban Phon Prae Wa Silk Weaving Village and then visit Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum at Non Buri on the way back to Khon Kaen. This Road Trip could be done in reverse, returning to Khon Kaen from Phueng Daet along Asian Highway 16/Highway 12. This would make it a two day excursion.

: ROUTE OF PHU PHAN MOUNTAINS DAY TRIP

We made our way along Route 2292 before turning west at Ban Kuan Lueng Dong and heading along the Bang Sai river valley toward the Phu Phan Mountains. Much of the Phu Phan Mountains is National Park.

Phu is the word for mountain in Isaan (and Laos) whereas Khao is used in central and southern Thailand (cf Khao Kho, Khao Luang), and Doi in northern Thailand (Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep). So although probably pleonastic ‘phu’ is commonly used in co-location with ‘mountain’.

The Bang Sai river valley clearly provided access through the mountains as settlement expanded in days gone by. Today, for 3.5 km of its length, the river forms the border between Mukdahan Province and Sakhon Nakhon Province. It eventually flows into the Mekong River at Bang Sai, just north of the Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan.

Just before we turned onto Route 2339 we saw some signs for a coffee shop that were obviously new. Perfect timing.

: New coffee shop overlooking a valley in the Phu Phan Mountains.

: Bamboo construction gave the platform an interesting ‘spring’.

: Clean and spacious. Good coffee.

Route 2330 is an interesting drive through the mountains. Numerous tight bends, a good surface, and well signed.

We made a small diversion at Chan Phen.

: Earth wall dam at Chan Phen.

: Pipe across Chan Phen Dam spillway.

: We drove across the spillway at Chan Phen.

The way across the plain between the two blocks of mountains to Sang Kho is deep in the south of Sakhon Nakhon Province.

: Old style wooden houses at Baan Manao.

: Old house, modern technology on roof.

The fertile river valley supports a lot of agriculture.

: Rubber tree plantation.

: Sugar cane.

Sang Kho heralds another interesting mountain route – one that is characterised by 90 bends (one a full 180 degree switchback and seven tight turns through 180 degrees). Theenanon Road is a great drive.

: PORTION OF THEENANON ROAD THROUGH THE PHU PHAN MOUNTAINS

About half way along the drive through the mountains we crossed into Kalasin Province and not long after stopped at Sawoei Cliff Viewpoint.

: Sawoei Cliff Viewpoint

: Below Sawoei Viewpoint.

: Shaded area at Sawoei Viewpoint.

A food vendor/fruit seller is just about mandatory at any Thai POI. Merch at the larger places.

: Roasting Wild Almonds (Lvingia malayana).

: Wild Almonds from north-east thailand.

At this Viewpoint a family was selling wild almonds and various fruits, drinks and other food. There are numerous trees known as wild almond around the world. The one in Isaan is Livingia malayana, prized for its seeds (the ‘wild almonds’) and its wood which is used in construction and for charcoal. Given it was a tourist stop location the wild almonds were reasonably priced.

We left the mountains at Ban Kaeng Ka-Am and eventually headed north-west through farmland to Kham Muang.

: Cassava crop.

: Rice hay.

: Jujube crop.

Route 2253 took us south to Ban Phon Prae Wa Silk Weaving Village. We visited some of the private looms in the sois of the village.

: Traditional loom.

: The ‘weaving room’ is any spare covered space at the house.

: Double bobbin, boat-style shuttle. The image in the background is the design of the piece.

: Weaving rice steaming pots.

: Woven rice steaming pots.

This village enterprise operates on a cooperative basis with works from individual craftspeople being sold in a number of retail outlets in the main street.

: More intricate design

: Happily discussed her work.

Leaving the silk weaving village we headed south to the Sirindhorn Museuem, a previously visited, quality destination. Unlike our previous visit when there was little difference in the entry price for Thais and foreigners, admission for Farangs is now triple that for Thais.

: One of many quality exhibits at the Sirindhorn Museum.

The Dinosaur Museum is a rich blend of science, education and entertainment – a feast for the eyes and food for the brain. It has appeal for children as well as adults.

More images of this world-class interpretive center.

Instead of returning to Khon Kaen via Kalasin I decided to check out the huge Lam Pao Dam and the Thepsuda Bridge that crosses it. Well worth the detour.

: Restaurant precinct near Thepsuda Bridge.

: Restaurant precinct near Thepsuda Bridge.

Around Huai Yang roadworks caused a minor detour but, that apart, the drive back to Khon Kaen was uneventful with less of the arrogant, crazy drivers than usual.

Phu Phan Mountains Road Trip

Distance
334 kilometres.

Duration
One day.

Provinces
Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Khon Kaen

Download GPX File
11030-Phu Phan Mountains

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