Big Day Mountain Cycling
Here it is - a big day in the saddle with two distances and challenges to choose from. Setting off from SuanGlaNa, enjoy about 5km spinning before you hit the start of the climbs, where you’ll soon be enjoying peaceful bliss, lush rice fields, and inclines from 5-14 degrees.
SuanGlangNa
Golden Rock Mountain Top Temple
Wat Na Khu Ha
Na Khu Ha Coffee
View Point and Coffee - Mon Mae Tik - ม่อนแม่เติ๊ก
View Point - Mon Mae Thang
Restaurant on the Lake - ร้านอาหารแพโชควิชัย
Return to SuanGlangNa
SHORT ROUTE
Mon Low - จ่าอู ปูแจ -
Hom Cafe - หอมคาเฟ่ แพร่
EXTRAS
Wat Pu Jae
Phae Mueang Phii - Mushroom Rock Formations
Golden Rock Mountaintop Temple
Starting From SuanGlangNa proceed to route 1024, turn left at 1024 toward the mountains. You will gradually gain elevation as you proceed through the country side. You will reach the construction site a large damn. After you pass through the reservoir construction area you will start the route will climb through the mountain jungle area and steep karst terrian. A vista will open up to the mountains and in the distance you will see the figures of the Golden Rock Moutaintop Temple complex.
You will see signs with photos just before the entrance. You take a sharp right hand turn and after a 300 meter climb there is a parking area on your right. Park and follow the paths to your right to view the temple figures and take in the scenic mountain views.
After exploring the Golden Rock Temple complex return to the main road, 1024, and continue the climb to the East for 2 KM to the village of NaKhuHa. The temple complex is in the valley to right. Go past the "Out" sign and fork right at the "Entrance" sign. Be careful on the steep decline as sometimes the road is slippery down to the temple.
Wat NaKhuHa
The photos tell the story. The NaKhuHa valley is one of the most visited locations in rural Phrae province.
As you leave the valley floor you climb back to route 1024, turn right and proceed 400 meters, if you look hard you will see the sign for the first shop NaKhuHa Coffee.
NaKhuHa Coffee
The 2 Restaurant Coffee shops above the Temple complex are well worth the visit. NaKhuHa Coffee. This shop has the best view of the valley and we recommend it if you are only going to visit one of them. The second shop UNA Cafe has better signs and is worth a stop if you have time.
After the coffee shops the ride progresses up the climbing valley floor for about 6 KM, then there is a 1 KM sharp climb to the ridge opening up spectacular views in all directions. The road follows the ridge for the next 5 KM with open vistas all along the way. The next 5 KM includes another decline and climb before reaching the three-way intersection where you can decide how much more gas you have in the physical tank. If you want to ride 64km (1,300m vertical) then turn left onto Route 1343, or turn right onto Route 1024 for the full 80km ride (1,650m vertical).
If you opt for the longer route you come to a coffee shop with a great view. It is probably worth the extra kilometer even if you choose the shorter alternative, and you have earned a break. Remember to fill your water when you can as supplies are scarce on the first two-thirds of both the alternative rides.
View Point and Coffee -
Mon Mae Tik - ม่อนแม่เติ๊ก
If you chose the longer route you will leave Mon Mae Tik and proceed north along the ridge for 3.5 KM with views in both directions off the ridge. You then descend to the Mae Thang stream valley before again climbing to the long rolling route to the Mon Mae Thang Overlook reservoir. The shorter route follows the ridge above the Mae Took Luang stream valley to the Mon Low overlook.
The turn off to the Mon Mae Thang Overlook is easy to miss. There is a small blue sign with white lettering in Thai facing the opposite direction. Listen caefully to your GPS instructions.
Mon Mae Thang Overlook
The view is definitely worth the trouble of finding the turn off.
By this time you should have worked up a hunger. You are in luck there is an excellent fish restaurant right on the reservoir. After leaving the overlook turn left on 1342 proceed about 5 KM and take a very sharp left hand turn down to the reservoir and the restaurants.
Restaurant on the Lake -
ร้านอาหารแพโชควิชัย
We have spent a whole afternoon eating and exploring at this spot and have never been disappointerd by the food. They farm the fish from this location so guaranteed to be fresh. There 2 restaurants that share this parking area. Look for this sign at the entrance to the steps down to the restaurant on a raft.
If you took the longer route you will probably be ready to head back the gentle 23 KM to SuanGlangNa. If you still have energy there are 2 interesting attractions, the temple, Wat PuJae and the mushroom rock formations of Phae Mueang Phii on the way back. They are showcased below.
If you took the shorter route your next stop after Mon Mae Tik is the area of Mon Low
View Point and Food?
จ่าอู ปูแจ - Mon Low
The MonLow area has become a popular spot for the sunset and dinner; and the restaurant Sergeant PuJae - จ่าอู ปูแจ is the most popular. It opens at 4:30. At the time of this writing there are places in MonLow that sometimes open earlier but not dependably. It is worth the stop at Sergeant PuJae when ever you go by.
If you need food ... Just a little further on is a wonderful cafe with excellent views across the rice fields and up to the mountains you just descended.
Hom Cafe - หอมคาเฟ่ แพร่
Wat PuJae
As you descend into the valley there is an interesting temple complex that includes a massive Buddha that is well worth a visit.
Mon Mae Thang Overlook
Phae Mueang Phii -
Mushroom Rock Formations
Another well visited Phrae attraction are the interesting rock and landforms of Phae Mueang Phii. It is a short side trip as you wind your way back to SuanGlangNa along the Phrae valley floor.
