Suan Hin Pha Ngam

Suan Hin Pha Ngam is a field of weathered limestone pinnacles in Nong Hin district - sharp grey towers and blades several metres high standing close together with narrow passages between them, the same karst process that produced the Stone Forest at Kunming in Yunnan, which is where the local comparison comes from. Visitors are taken through by local jeep and then walk the narrow paths between the rocks, with named formations and viewpoints, and the site is run by the community with local guides. The rock is sharp - genuinely sharp, cutting hands and clothing on contact - so the paths matter, and closed shoes are sensible. There is very little shade among the towers and the stone radiates heat by mid-morning. The area also has a herbal garden and a nature trail. It is not on the main northern circuits and gets almost no foreign visitors.

What you actually see

• The pinnacle field - grey limestone towers and blades in close ranks.
• The jeep and walking tour - the community-run way through the maze.
• The narrow passages - paths threading between the rock.
• The Kunming comparison - the same karst process as the Yunnan stone forest.

When to go

November to February and early in the day - the rock radiates heat and there is almost no shade among the towers. Jeep tours run through the day from the entrance.

Honest expectations

The limestone is razor-sharp and cuts on contact - wear closed shoes and keep hands off. Almost no shade. Very hot after mid-morning. Little English spoken and few foreign visitors.

Nearby

Phu Ruea is north-west; Chiang Khan and the Mekong are north.