Top 10 Best Things to Do in Phrae

Kim An 54 0 Error

A sleepy northern province in the embrace of mountains, Phrae is literally and figuratively a hidden gem, a small town with really big charm. While you ... read more...

  1. If you are driving into Phrae from the South may it be from Chiang Mai or Bangkok, one of the first attractions you should visit is the Emperor's Cave (Tham Chakapat), which is a temple cave located on top of a sandstone mountain, tucked away in the rolling hills of Phrae? Located in the middle of nowhere, visiting Emperor's Cave will allow you to get the first glimpse of Phrae's countryside, not to mention, you will be able to see the stunning Phrae landscapes from above.


    In order to get to the Emperor's Cave, you will have to climb up the sandstone mountain on foot via the 700 steps to the top where you will find a place of worship inside a cave, a large Buddha image, and a million-dollar view. Now that, you can't get anywhere else but here. The hiking path up to the Emperor's Cave is located right at the center of the temple ground where you can park your car and start hiking. The path is well-paved, easy to navigate, and in general, a straightforward hike, but the steepness can be quite tiring if you are not used to hiking. Take it slow and you will get there in no time.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Hotels.com
    Hotels.com

  2. One of the most impressive temples in Phrae, Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkhon Khiri is a newly-built temple full of stunning architecture inspired by traditional style with a mix of Lanna and Burmese-style, teak wood usage, and delicate sculptures. Straight out of the gate, you will be welcomed by a large Burmese-style reclining Buddha image, where you will then have to proceed up the beautiful Naga staircase that will take you to the ordination hall.


    One of the most impressive architectures at Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkhon Khiri is this collection of small Mandalay-style gold pagodas that makes up a large impressive spiring pagoda that shines bright during the day. Inside the ordination hall, you will find a Buddha image that looks almost identical to the ancient and famous gold-covered Buddha image, the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat enshrined at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok, but a little bit smaller here.

    Tourism Authority of Thailand
    Tourism Authority of Thailand
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
  3. One of the most popular landmarks that people like to visit when they are in Phrae is the Pae Muang Pee Forest Park, a newly designated national park, home to beautiful red-brown rock columns created naturally through erosion, just like the Grand Canyon but way smaller. It's the Grand Canyon of Phrae. Due to the eroded sandstone, you will find plenty of weirdly-shaped cliffs and rocks to explore at Pae Muang Pee Forest Park. There are not a lot of trees around and so if you are there in the afternoon, be sure to stay hydrated.


    There are several small hiking trails that will take you around the forest park. The trail goes up the cliff allowing you to see Pae Muang Pee Forest Park from above and it goes down into the canyon where you can then appreciate these rock columns up close. Pae Muang Pee Forest Park's opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and there is no entrance fee whatsoever. When a popular tourist attraction doesn't have an entrance fee, you know you are now off the beaten path in Thailand.

    Chiang Mai Tour Agency
    Chiang Mai Tour Agency
    Chiang Mai Tour Agency
    Chiang Mai Tour Agency
  4. Phrae and some other Northern provinces of Thailand like Nan are known for their indigo-dyed psychedelic traditional garments called Mauhom which they turned into all kinds of products and clothes for sale in Phrae. There is a strip of shops that sells just Mauhom, the Thung Hong Market at the center of Phrae City. If you are looking to buy some of these traditional garments at home, there is no better place to shop in Phrae than at Thung Hong Market so be sure to check them out. The price of these garments ranged from 100 for the mass-produced ones to 1000 THB for the handmade ones.


    The shops at Thung Hong Market are often open from 8 AM to 6 PM. Each shop sells varying products and prices so be sure to stroll around the street for the best price. All in all, it is definitely cheaper than if you buy it somewhere else like Chiang Mai or Bangkok.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
  5. Khum Chao Luang is an impressive and grand 19th-Century residence of the last ruler of Phrae that has since been turned into a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Phrae as well as displaying the lifestyle of Phrae's ruler 120+ years ago for us to see. The content of Khum Chao Luang is both fascinating as well as troubling with the first 2 floors consisting of a collection of household items and furniture from the late 19th - 20th Century when the European influence was at its highest. You can clearly see the colonial influence simply just by looking at the exterior.


    Back in the day, the basement was where they put the slaves and misbehaving individuals in, locked them up while they were tortured in more ways than you can imagine, all hidden away under this beautiful piece of architecture. Very disturbing and quite fascinating at the same time, a visit to Khum Chao Luang is a great way for you to learn more about the history of Phrae. The museum opens from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and it is free to enter.

    Tourism Authority of Thailand
    Tourism Authority of Thailand
    Wikimedia Commons
    Wikimedia Commons
  6. The Golden Rock Temple or as it is locally known as Wat Phra That Intr Kwaen is a replicated mountain/forest temple that shared the same name as it was originally found in Myanmar. That temple found in Myanmar is known for its large golden rock on a cliff, and so is this one in Phrae but way smaller. The Golden Rock Temple in Phrae doesn't just consist of the Golden Rock, it also replicated the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangoon but on a miniature scale and they built a forest park around it for us travelers to hike around.


    It is a great place to stop first thing in the morning as you start to explore the mountainous 1024 - 1342 highway loop and spend some time walking around the forest park before you continue the loop. The Golden Rock Temple's opening hours are between 8 AM and 5 PM and, like most places of worship, it is free to enter.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
  7. After visiting the Golden Rock Temple, continue along the 1024 highway for a bit and you will arrive at another tourist attraction, Wat Na Khu Ha, known for its Buddha image surrounded by lush green rice paddies and a bamboo bridge. Wat Na Khu Ha is in fact an ancient monastery built almost a hundred years ago as a spiritual center of the agricultural community of Baan Na Khu Ha. At the temple, you will find a large golden Buddha in the middle of rice fields, and there is a bamboo bridge you can walk which will take you to the towering sandstone mountain behind it.


    At the end of the bamboo bridge, there is a path that will lead you to 2 caves as well as up the mountain where you can climb around 300m to the top of the mountain for an incredible view of the rice paddies and the temple. Plenty of adventures to be had here or if you just want to relax, you can simply sit at the small hut by the bamboo bridge and enjoy the view of the rice fields at your leisure.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
  8. Pha Nang Khoi Cave is only about 1.6 km long and it leads you around stunning stalactites and stalagmites which is the source of much local folklore. The cave is colorfully-lit with lights and consists of several stops where you can read up on the folklore on a description panel, although it could use a bit of maintenance.


    At the last cavern, you will find a Buddhist shrine next to 2 ancient Buddha images built out of rocks, wrapped in colorful cloth where you can pay respect and walk back the same way. Pha Nang Khoi Cave is located on a 50 m high cliff so you will have to hike up for about 150 m from the parking lot to get to the cave. It isn't very steep so anyone can easily reach it. The cave's opening hours are between 8:30 AM to 5 PM and the entrance fee is FREE.

    Chiang Mai Travel Agency
    Chiang Mai Travel Agency
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
  9. If you are looking to spend a night with nature in Phrae, located in the northern part of the province, you will find Mae Yom National Park, a mountainous area with teak forest where the Yom River runs through. Mae Yom National Park is a well-preserved nature area that not a lot of tourists know about, even the locals do not visit the place much, making it a great place to go camping in solitude.


    There are 2 campgrounds inside Mae Yom National Park. One is the Kaeng Sua Ten Campsite which is located by the Yuam river and you can tent around the open area right near the river. They also provide cabins as well as a service area such as toilets and a restaurant. It is the better-equipped campsite of the two and it is quite popular among the locals. The Lom Dong Campsite is located under a pine forest right by the Lom Dong Swamp and since it is not as well-serviced as the first campsite with only a toilet (newly-built and clean), not many Thais camps are here. Mae Yom National Park's entrance fee is 100 THB for foreigners (20 THB for Thais), 30 THB for car access, 20 THB for a motorcycle, and 30 THB for a campsite if you brought your own tent. If not, you can rent it for around 350 THB for a 3-persons tent with pillows and sleeping bags.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Thailand Magazine
    Thailand Magazine
  10. Pha Ing Mok is located up in the mountain within the Mae Yom National Park and if you decided to camp in the national park, you should be able to get to Pha Ing Mok in only 5 - 10 minutes. Pha Ing Mok used to be an old mine and ever since the operation stopped, the national park took over the area and converted it into a viewpoint that happens to have an unobstructed view of the beautiful mountains around Mae Yom National Park.


    There are several paths and viewpoints at Pha Ing Mok, but the best one, which is also can get crowded, is just off to the left when you walk up Pha Ing Mok. The trail hugs the right side of the mountain and you should have an unobstructed view of the sunrise over the mountainous landscape. You can also walk to the right up bald hill for another great view of the opposite side of the mountain.

    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog
    Bucketlistly.blog



Toplist Joint Stock Company
Address: 3rd floor, Viet Tower Building, No. 01 Thai Ha Street, Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi City, Vietnam
Phone: +84369132468 - Tax code: 0108747679
Social network license number 370/GP-BTTTT issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on September 9, 2019
Privacy Policy