Hin Sam Wan

Hin Sam Wan means three whale rock, and the name is accurate: three sandstone outcrops on the edge of a cliff in Phu Sing forest, weathered into rounded shapes that from the right angle look precisely like a family of whales breaking the surface, with forest and the Mekong basin spread out below. The rocks are estimated at around 75 million years old. It went from obscure to nationally famous through social media within a few years, and access is now managed: visitors register at the village and are taken up by local four-wheel drive with a guide, since the track is unsuitable for ordinary cars and numbers need controlling. Sunrise is the sought-after time. The clifftop has no barrier or railing of any kind and people sit and photograph on the edge of a substantial drop, which has caused deaths at comparable Thai viewpoints. Bueng Kan is a remote province with limited services.

What you actually see

• The three rocks - sandstone outcrops shaped like surfacing whales.
• The cliff view - forest and the Mekong basin below.
• The managed access - registration and a local four-wheel drive transfer.
• The scale - the rocks are much larger than photographs suggest.

When to go

November to February; sunrise is when most people go, which means an early registration at the village. Access is closed in bad weather and the track is impassable after heavy rain.

Honest expectations

No barriers on the cliff edge, and people photograph on the drop - falls at similar Thai viewpoints have killed people. Access requires the local vehicle and guide; you cannot drive up yourself. Bueng Kan is remote with few services.

Nearby

Naka Cave is in the same forest area; the Mekong and Bueng Kan town are north.