Phu Chi Fa Thailand – Viewpoint over the sea of ​​fog in Chiang Rai

Phu Chi Fa Thailand – Viewpoint over the sea of ​​fog in Chiang Rai

Phu Chi Fa Thailand is an incredible mountain viewpoint in the northeast corner of Thailand. The select few travelers who have made the long journey to Phu Chi Fa will probably tell you that this is the best sunrise viewing spot in all of Thailand!

The viewpoint runs along the border between Thailand and Laos and offers sweeping views over the rolling mountain slopes well into the Laos countryside. For many, Phu Chi Fa Thailand is an incredible opportunity to see the sea of ​​fog from above as you watch the clouds glow a golden hue from the rising sun.

Phu Chi Fa Thailand

Phu Chi Fa, also spelled as Phu Chee Fah, is arguably one of Thailand's best kept secrets. Normally you won't find many tourists at the viewpoint. Instead, it is mostly inhabited by Thai travelers wanting to see Phu Chi Fa's famous sea of ​​fog, and so can be quite busy at sunrise.

For free! There is no entrance fee for the Phu Chi Fa Viewpoint.
alt=“YOUNG GIRL IN TRADITIONAL MOUNTAIN CLOTHING NORTH THAILAND”>Young girl in traditional mountain clothing.
Although the peak of the mountain is at an altitude of 1442 meters, no major hike is required to reach the summit. In true Thai fashion, there is a road built almost to the summit, meaning most of the elevation is covered by car or motorbike.

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• alt=“NEBELMEER SONNENAUFGANGSSICHTSPUNKT IN PHU CHI FA THAILAND“>

Don't miss: Mae Sai Waterfall Chiang Rai or read the full Chiang Rai Waterfalls travel guide here.

Sea of ​​Fog viewpoint

Whether you're departing from Chiang Rai or staying in the nearby village, I recommend heading out early to get the best views. If you've never experienced the Sea of ​​Fog sunrise above the clouds, then this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Phu Chi Fa Viewpoint is a cliff in the Doi Pha Mon sub-area and slopes outward to the Mekong River in Laos. If you stay a little longer after sunrise or on a particularly clear day, you can see deep into the valleys, mountains and rivers of Laos.

The top of the cliff is long and flat, meaning there is plenty of room for everyone to spread out and find a spot to watch the sunrise. However, for some reason there are still people crowding the main area. Instead, we walked a little to the left and found a private spot with the same view.
alt=“PHU CHI FA SEA OF FOG VIEWPOINT OF CHIANG RAI”>PHU CHI FA VIEWPOINT – SEA OF FOG IN LAOS

Where is Phu Chi Fa?

Phu Chi Fa is located in northeastern Thailand, approximately 2 hours from Chiang Rai and lies on the border with Laos at the northeastern end of the Phu Pan Nam Range.

There is a long, winding, hilly road that runs from Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Fa. The entire road is paved and a moped will take you all the way. However, I would recommend getting one with some power to get you up the hills, especially if you have a passenger.

Arrival in Phu Chi Fa Thailand

It's really hard to beat this sunrise viewing spot in Thailand, and yet not many tourists seem to make the trip.

This is probably because the place is a little off the beaten track. To get to Phu Chi Fa, you will need to either arrange a private driver or rent your own motorbike or car.
alt=“PHU CHI FA SUNRISE PANORAMA”>Phi Chi Fa viewpoint

Phu Chi Fa from Chiang Rai

The best way to get to Phu Chi Fa is to organize your trip from the nearest town and tourist center. Chiang Rai. We decided to do the return trip in one day, leaving Chiang Rai at 3:00 a.m. to get to the viewpoint in time for sunrise. We then decided to drive all the way back in time to have a free breakfast at our hostel. The journey takes at least 2 hours each way and you need to be fairly confident on a motorbike to drive it yourself.

If you decide to do the ride in one day, I would suggest leaving at 3am or earlier and renting at least a 110cc moped as the hills in front of the viewpoint are steep and winding.

Motorbike rental price in Chiang Rai: 150 -200 baht per day. If you stay at Grace Hostel, the owner can arrange a motorbike for you.

Directions on the street

The best way to get here is to use Google Maps to direct you to the “Phu Chi Fa” pin above. Funnily enough, Google actually fixes the point of view within Laos!

From Chiang Rai, take the highway through flat country roads, past farms and rice fields, before turning onto forest roads. The last hour of the ride is very steep as you climb up and down the mountain ranges.

TIP: If you drive from Chiang Rai at sunrise, no gas stations or gas stations will be open. So I would suggest refilling the day before. If you use a lot of fuel on the way here, the last opportunity to fill up is at a self-consumption-style gas pump in Khun Tan, a small town, just before you turn onto the steep forest roads. Pay attention on the left side of the street.

Bus from Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Fa

Apparently there is a bus from Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Fa that leaves from Chiang Rai bus station at 1:30pm. However, I couldn't find any information about this online, so it's best to ask at your accommodation.

Phu Chi Fa tour from Chiang Rai

As already mentioned, Phu Chi Fa Thailand is a somewhat remote travel destination. Therefore, there are not many dedicated tours that depart from Chiang Rai. However, if you prefer not to drive yourself, you can book a private driver from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai here.
Klook.com

Phu Chi Fa accommodation

If you have a little more time, you can also stay overnight near Phu Chi Fa. There are a few resorts, hotels and homestays in close proximity to the mountain, most of which also offer sunrise viewpoint trips.

To save you some time, I've linked some of the top-rated options. If you prefer to compare prices yourself, you can find deals on both Booking.com and Agoda.

Host family

If you prefer a homestay, then Chill Chill Resort is one of the best options you will find online. This place has small, private, bungalow-style offerings for under $20 per night.

hotel

For those who want to spend a little more for comfort and convenience, Phu Dok Mok Dok Mai is a popular bungalow resort with great reviews and free breakfast. Staff will also drive you to the car park for sunrise.

More photos of Phu Chi Fa Thailand

Ready for a serious sunrise mission? Hopefully these photos will convince you to make the trip to Thailand's best sunrise spot from Chiang Rai! If you have any questions or updates, leave a comment or email me!
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alt=“SEA OF FOG SUNRISE VIEWPOINT IN PHU CHI FA THAILAND”>

• alt=“Phu Chi Fa Thailand – Aussichtspunkt auf das Nebelmeer von Chiang Rai“>
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