Pha Taem National ParkAbout Pha Taem National Park
Pha Taem National Park is a protected area in Ubon Ratchathani province in northeastern Thailand, noted for its prehistoric rock paintings and dramatic sandstone cliffs. The site is set on a high escarpment that overlooks the Mekong River and the Lao border.
The park’s main highlight is a series of ancient pictographs painted on a cliff face, showing humans, animals and boats; panels extend along the rock and are accessible by a short walk from the parking area. The cliff-top viewpoint offers wide panoramas across the Mekong and is a popular spot for sunrise and sunset.
Archaeological surveys have shown the pictographs date back several thousand years and are among the most significant prehistoric rock-art sites in Thailand. The area has been managed as a national park to protect the paintings, the cliff environment and surrounding forested plateau.
Pha Taem sits on the Mekong frontier in easternmost Ubon Ratchathani province, on a sandstone plateau that drops steeply to the river and the Laos bank. The park is accessed by road from the provincial network and sits close to the Thailand-Laos border.
- Age of paintings: The cliff-face pictographs include stylised human and animal figures and boats and have been dated to several thousand years old by archaeologists.
- Best time to visit: Early morning and late afternoon light give the best viewing conditions for the cliff panels and river views; the dry season offers clearer visibility.
What to See#
- Cliff paintings: Rock-art cliff panels on sandstone escarpments with painted figures of humans, animals and boats; panels are visible on a prominent cliff that overlooks the Mekong.
- Pha Taem viewpoint: A cliff-top viewpoint that provides wide views across the Mekong River to Laos and is prized for sunrise and sunset photography.
Best Time to Visit Pha Taem National Park
Pha Taem National Park is best visited in the cool, dry season (November-February) when temperatures are pleasant and the skies are clear for cliff-top panoramas and viewing rock art.
Weather & Climate near Pha Taem National Park
Pha Taem National Park's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with very hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 18°C to 35°C. Abundant rainfall (1904 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 18° - 31° | 25° | 2 mm | mostly sunny | 61% | 1.6 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.2h |
| February | Ideal | 20° - 33° | 27° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 53% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.5h |
| March | Excellent | 23° - 35° | 30° | 28 mm | some cloud | 52% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 25° - 35° | 32° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 57% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.4h |
| May | Acceptable | 25° - 34° | 34° | 216 mm | overcast | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.7h |
| June | Acceptable | 24° - 32° | 32° | 273 mm | overcast | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 12.9h |
| July | Acceptable | 24° - 31° | 33° | 411 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.0 very high | 12.8h |
| August | Acceptable | 24° - 31° | 32° | 414 mm | overcast | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 very high | 12.5h |
| September | Acceptable | 24° - 31° | 32° | 346 mm | overcast | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.9 very high | 12.1h |
| October | Good | 22° - 31° | 27° | 99 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.7h |
| November | Ideal | 20° - 30° | 25° | 23 mm | some cloud | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.3h |
| December | Ideal | 19° - 30° | 24° | 3 mm | mostly sunny | 68% | 1.8 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.1h |
How to Get to Pha Taem National Park
Pha Taem National Park is in Ubon Ratchathani Province near the Lao border. From Ubon Ratchathani city, drive east along Route 232 to the park - the trip is several hours by car. Local buses and organized tours run from the city during high season.
Tips for Visiting Pha Taem National Park
- Arrive before dawn to watch the Mekong plain and Laos across the river light up - the park's cliff-top viewpoints are dramatic at sunrise
- Bring insect repellent and a hat-the trails along the cliff edge are exposed and summer mosquitoes can be persistent
- Hire a local boat to see the Mekong and the prehistoric rock art from river level if water levels allow