Tat Luang Waterfall

Phufa Waterfall

Doi Phuwae peak

Viewpoint 1715

Central Namwa Rafting

Ton Tong Waterfall

Pha Daeng Cave

Yodwiman Cave

Tham Ruay Sai Thai

Pha Kong Cave

Phukha pink tree

          It is a steep fold mountain (complex mountain) area with plainsin the immediate vicinity. This highest point is at 1,980 meters above sea level, which is the Doi Dong Ya Wai summit. Mountains made of sedimentary and igneous rocks featured, with this forest area serving as the Class 1 A watershed area .
1. Natural Features
1.1 Natural Resources
       The mountains are mainly tower karsts and complex, folded mountains with Doi Phu Kha at 1,980 meters above sea level (Royal Thai Survey Department, 1988), which makes it Nan's highest summit but now Doi Phu Kha summit  is measured to be at 1,910 meters above sea level (Royal Thai Survey Department, 1999). The rocky and sandy mountains dominate the landscape, with approximately 90% of this forest area being the Class 1 A watershed area, the source of the Nan River, and some of itstributaries.
 

         The rainy season lasts from May to October, with winter from November to February. Temperatures can be cold in winter, with a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius in December and January. Summer: The average temperature between March and April at around 25 degrees Celsius. Summers are brief, lasting only from March to April, and the weather is most pleasant.

       Located in the Luang Phrabang Mountain range is the Doi Phu Kha National Park. It is regarded as part of the Himalayas' apex and as such it functions as a transition zone between tropical and temperate forests making it a biodiverse and ecosystem-rich area. It has ecosystems that are home to rare, scarce, and endangered plant species. It is the only location in Thailand's where Chomphu Phu Kha trees (Bretschneidera Sinensis Hemsl) are found for example.

       This tree was discovered in 1989 in Thailand and is now almost extinct. It is named "Chomphu Phu Kha (Bretschneidera sinensis) after the color of the flower (chompoo is Thai for pink) and the location where it was discovered. Chomphu Phu Kha was given its name by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn when she made it a symbol of the plant genetics conservation project.

       Due to the royal initiative, plants such as Tao Rang Yak (Scientific name: Caryota gigas Hahn ex Hodel) Kha (Scientific name: Acer wilsonii Render)  and Champi Chang (Scientific name: Magnolia citrata Noot. & Chalermglin) are found in the Doi Phu Kha mountain range . which is the same now as when primary forest were on earth. As well as Tao Rang Yak (Caryota gigas Hahn ex Hodel) there are ancient ferns, such as Alsophila podophylla, which is classified as Cyatheaceae. The forest in Doi Phu Kha National Park is classified into five distinct types:

        1. Hill evergreen forest is a dense forest that exists in valleys, areas across the park. They covers approximately 21% of the park’s area and among the more significant plants are Indochinese Ko nok (Lithocarpus echinops Bl.),  Catechu (Quercus Brandisiana Kurz.), Ko Paen (Castanopsis diversifolia Kurz.), Ko Mon (Lithocarpus elegans Hutus. ex Soep.),  Phu Kha (Acer wilsonii Rehder.) Birch (Betula alnoides Hax. Ex D. Don.), Champi Pa (Michelia baillonii Finet & Gaynep), and Mak Iak (Areca triandra Becc.).
         2. Dry evergreen forest of the valley is a fertile forest that covers approximately 36% of the land area. Significant plant species include Irvingia malayana Oliv. Ex Benn, Black Rosewood (Afzelia xylocarpa Kurz), Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl., and Pterocymbium tinctorium Blanco.
        3. Mixed deciduous forests are scattered across the Doi Phu Kha on flatter areas. The essential plant species include Black Rosewood (Afzelia xylocarp Kurz.), Pradu (Pterocarpus marcrocarpus Kurz.), Xylia kerrii Craib & Hutch., Tabaek (Lagerstroemia cochinchinensis Pierre.), and others.
        4. Deciduous dipterocarp forest is a type of forest that occurs on mountain slopes and there are very few of this forest type in the area, accounting for approximately 3%. The significant plant species are Teng (Shorea obtuse Wall. ex Bl.), Dark Red Meranti (Shorea siamensis Miq.), Hairy Keruing (Dipterocarpus obtusifolius Teijsm. Ex Miq.), and Phluang (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb.).
        5. Grasslands and Savana forests occur in small clusters and account for less than 2% of the total area
 

Wildlife:
        The wild animals that live in the park include: Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak Zimmermann.), Wild Deer (Sambar deer Kerr.), Wild Boar (Sus sorofa Linnaeus.), Chamois (Capricornis sumatraensis Bechstein.), Common Gibbons (Hylobates lar Linnaeus), Common palm civet, (Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus Pallas.) Asiatic black bear (Selenatos thibetanus G. Cuvier.).

Rare and Endangered animals:
        1. Beautiful Nathatch Scientific name Sitta formosa, Family: Sittddae
The Beautiful Nathatch (Sitta formosa) is found in Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan Province, at 1,900 meters above sea level. First discovered in 2003, in the Doi Phu Kha National Park it waspreviously recorded at Doi Pha Hom Pok, Chiang Mai province in 1986, but has not been seen at that site since. Recently it has been found near the summit of Doi Dong Ya Wai, Doi Phu Kha National Park on December 4th, 2010, by Dr. Saat Yu Yen.
        2. The Big-Headed Turtle
Scientific name: Platysternon megacephalum
The creek area is home to large-headed turtles, as it has a year-round water flow and excellent water quality. This turtle is not found throughout the tropical evergreen forest , only in a few areas, and they are few in numberas it requires a delicate ecosystem. The natural forest's habitat is threatened and balanced so the habitats' water quality deteriorates, which decreases the number of food sources such as shellfish. This makes it impossible for the big-headed turtle of survive.
Status: endangered and rare.