Phu Chi Fa National Park

Phu Chi Fa National Park is a protected mountain area in Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province, near the Thailand-Laos border. Centered on the 1,628-meter Phu Chi Fa peak, it is famous for its sharp cliff pointing skyward and seasonal sea of mist at sunrise. The park features evergreen forest, grasslands and viewpoints overlooking the Mekong valley. It is a popular cool-season destination for hiking and photography.

Visitors can expect a mountain ridge with a distinctive cliff that points toward the sky, offering panoramic sunrise views over a sea of mist covering valleys in Thailand and Laos. The area includes forested slopes, grassy hilltops, and a well-marked walking trail from the parking area to the main viewpoint. Facilities are basic and focused on nature viewing, photography and short hikes. Early morning visits are common to see the mist and sunrise.

Phu Chi Fa was established as a Forest Park in 1998 under the Royal Forest Department and later designated as a National Park to protect highland watershed forest along the Thailand-Laos border. The area was formerly remote border forest and has been developed as a conservation and nature tourism site.

The park lies in an area inhabited by Hmong and other highland communities and is culturally known for its mountain landscape that features in northern Thai tourism. The viewpoint is a well-known seasonal gathering place for Thai visitors to observe the sea of mist, reflecting local appreciation of mountain nature.