Phufoilum

If you're bored with downtown Udon and looking for some nearby diversion, Phufoilum makes for a nice outing. 60-ish km from Udon, up in the mountains, superb view of the entire province of Udon, dinosaur park for the kids, and picnic areas and flower displays. No entry fee and you can get decent (actually quite good) food at the restaurant there for regular prices (2 plates basil pork on rice, on plate fried rice, 1 coke, 1 bottle water for 130 baht....try that at a park in the US!).
Camping sites also available.
If you're a bike rider and don't want to ride the entire distance from Udon, you can park your truck in Nongsaeng and ride the 20km up to the top. The ride down is a blast!

Camped overnight in Phufoilom Monday with wife and dog.

It's a nice park. The landscaping is beautiful.

Don't it bring a tear to your eye?
The thought of Tex with his lovely wife and faithful dog, cuddled up in a tent from his scouting days.
A man obviously at peace with himself and at home in the peaceful & pristine surroundings of rural Issarn.

Personally I thought it was a bit of sort of trashy, all those concrete Dinos, I know they don't have real one to study but I'm sure Dinosaurs were never made of of concrete.

I went camping there. Not been camping since i was a wee boy... Bloody hell was i uncomfortable. Never slept a wink. How come thai people can sleep just about anywhere

fatbas***d wrote:Personally I thought it was a bit of sort of trashy, all those concrete Dinos, I know they don't have real one to study but I'm sure Dinosaurs were never made of of concrete.

To meet one made of concrete or real living dino, I prefer to meet the concrete one.

Need recommendation for a nearby place to stay overninght, other than a campground.

On the way up to Phufoilum, I'm guessing about 8km from the top, there's an A-frame resort on the right hand side. Looks newish. Has a pretty nice view of the hills. Don't know about quality, price, features.

I noticed a nice Thai-style bungalow just as you enter the park....off to the left. Don't know if that's available for rent.

Don't know if these phone numbers are good...they should be park officials:
In addition, visitors can also camp at camp. For more details call.
0 4291 0935-6 or forest district office Thani Tel. 0 4222 1725. Here are a few more numbers I dredged up from Thai websites....should be good for Phufoilum info: 0-4225-0036 and 08-9711-1520

Thanks. I am hoping to head out tomorrow.

Phu Foilom is absolutely stunning and one of Thailand's hidden treasures as far as I'm concerned.

Another local destination to try out is the dinosaur park at Kalasin.

Sadly, Ban Chiang (which should be exciting!) remains an average experience. If only UNESCO would give the place some more cash so that they can finish off what they started doing.

parrot wrote:.... Phufoilum makes for a nice outing. 60-ish km from Udon,

Um, don't THINK quite that far. Having cycled there and back on one occasion, including pushing my bike up the serious hill in the park itself, I would surely have been in hospital! I must get one of those Km thingies fitted on the bike. Yes, nice place to visit, great view on a clear day and nice scenery en route.

"I must get one of those Km thingies fitted on the bike"

I recently rode up to the park......serious butt kicker of a ride up (and the weather was cool at the time). But the shocker is coming down. If you have one of those Km thingies, you might be terrified to find out how fast you're going. 57kph.....but I'll not do that again.