Sao Din Na Noi

Sao Din Na Noi is a badlands area in Na Noi district where soft sediments have been cut by rain into columns, ridges and narrow gullies - sao din means earth pillars - with some columns several metres tall standing on a floor of bare orange and grey soil. The formation is geologically the same phenomenon as Pha Chor near Chiang Mai and is actively eroding, so the shapes change and older photographs no longer match. Stone tools and fossil material have been recovered from the surrounding deposits, and the area was used as a filming location for a well-known Thai film, which brought most of its current visitors. A nearby site, Khok Suea, is part of the same formation. There is almost no shade, the ground is loose, and after rain the clay becomes slick and paths can be closed. Climbing the pillars accelerates their collapse and is discouraged.

What you actually see

• The earth pillars - columns several metres high in soft orange sediment.
• The gullies - narrow channels cut through the deposits.
• The changing shapes - active erosion, so the formation differs year to year.
• Khok Suea - the related formation nearby.

When to go

November to February and in the morning - there is no shade and midday is severe. After rain the clay is slippery and access may be closed.

Honest expectations

No shade and very hot after mid-morning. Loose ground, slick when wet. Do not climb the pillars. Remote southern Nan, a long drive with little else immediately nearby.

Nearby

Na Noi town is close; Nan city and Doi Phu Kha are north.