🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Nakhon Thai is a mountain district in the east of Phitsanulok, bordering Phetchabun and Loei. Most of it is forested highland inside Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park. The busiest time by far is winter, from late December to mid-January, because that's when the wild Himalayan cherry blossoms bloom across the whole mountain at once, the air turns properly cold, and you'll see a sea of fog almost every morning. Plan it well and you can fit the flower fields, the viewpoints and the area's history into a single trip.
Phu Lom Lo — Thailand's largest wild cherry blossom field
The big draw of Nakhon Thai in winter is Phu Lom Lo, the largest wild Himalayan cherry blossom field in Thailand. Spread across more than 1,200 rai, it holds tens of thousands of trees planted in rows that run down the mountainside. When they all bloom together the whole slope turns pink, set against the morning fog. Phu Lom Lo sits inside Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, right on the Phitsanulok–Loei border. The flowers start to open from late December and look their best from early to mid-January — a short window of only about two to three weeks.
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3 blossom-viewing spots on Phu Lom Lo
Khok Wua (Cattle Pen) point
The most popular spot, named after the cattle pens local farmers keep nearby. The view opens out over hills blanketed in a continuous wash of pink blossom — a wide-open angle that crowds favour for morning photos.
Big Boulder point
A large rock sits as a foreground against the pink blossom field, ideal if you like photos with some composition — you get both the boulder and the flowers in one frame.
Phu Khi Thao point
Three to four blossom plots run one into the next, so you can stroll for a good while. It's one of the spots where you really see how densely the trees are planted.
Know the transport costs first
Private cars aren't allowed up onto the flower fields at Phu Lom Lo — you have to charter a community tour vehicle. On the Ban Rong Kla side (Phitsanulok) it's around 1,000 THB per vehicle, seating up to 10 people. On the Ban Kok Sathon side (Loei) a round-trip charter runs roughly 1,500–2,000 THB per vehicle depending on group size. The vehicles start running from 5am so you can catch the sunrise and the sea of fog.
Other viewpoints and flower fields in Nakhon Thai
Nakhon Chum
A village set in a misty valley within Nakhon Thai. Quiet, with community homestays — good if you want to stay over and soak up the cool air without the crowds.
Phu Phaeng Ma
A high peak inside Phu Hin Rong Kla, and a spot for wide-reaching sunrise, sunset and sea-of-fog views.
Paper Flower Field
Part of the Phu Hin Rong Kla royal-initiative forest project. The paper daisies bloom through winter until the end of January.
Ban Rong Kla
A Hmong village inside the park. In winter the whole village is dotted with wild cherry blossoms among the houses and the fields.
The route on up to Phu Hin Rong Kla
Part of what makes Nakhon Thai work is that you can see the flower fields and then carry on to Phu Hin Rong Kla in the same trip. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park is both a natural site and a place marked by the armed conflict of its past, with strange rock fields, viewpoints and nature trails. Park entry is 40 THB for Thai adults, 20 THB for children and 30 THB per car, and it's open daily from roughly 06:00 to 18:00.
- Lan Hin Pum — a natural rock field covered in rounded, knob-like stones rising from the ground. There's a loop trail linking Lan Hin Pum and Pha Chu Thong, about 3.7 kilometres long.
- Lan Hin Taek — a broad rock field split into deep crevices, as if the ground had cracked apart; you can explore it close to Lan Hin Pum.
- Pha Chu Thong — a clifftop for sunset and sea-of-fog views, and a historic spot where a flag was once raised.
- The Political-Military School — remnants of buildings and the history of the fighting here in years past; walk through to understand how the area came to be.
- Romklao–Pharadon and Mandaeng waterfalls — waterfalls inside the park, good for a cool break along the way.
Getting here from Phitsanulok town, take Highway 12 (Phitsanulok–Lom Sak) to the Ban Yaeng junction, then turn onto Highway 2013 towards Nakhon Thai district. From there, turn at Ban Nong Kathao into the park — about 130 kilometres in total. The climb up the mountain is winding and steep in places, so use a car in good condition and check the brakes before you set off.
If you want to stay overnight in the cool air
Inside the park there's a pine meadow where you can pitch a tent under the trees — camping is around 30 THB per person, free for children — and there are park bungalows you can book too. Winter gets very busy, so if you want to stay over during the bloom, book several weeks ahead, or choose a community homestay around Ban Rong Kla or Nakhon Chum instead.
When to visit Nakhon Thai, and how to prepare
- Bloom season — late December to mid-January is when the wild cherry blossoms look their best. It shifts year to year, so check the park's page before you head out.
- Weather — it gets seriously cold up on the mountain, dropping below 10°C in the morning, so pack a thick jacket, a hat and gloves.
- Early start — the sea of fog and sunrise are fleeting, so you need to be there before first light. The Phu Lom Lo tour vehicles start running from 5am.
- Cash — signal and shops are scarce up the mountain, so carry cash for the transport, entry fees and snacks.
Plan a full Phitsanulok trip, both the town and the mountains
See the Phitsanulok travel guide →