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Although geographically located in the northeast or I-San, Loei has many things in common with the northern region - namely its numerous high hills and mountains and its wintry as well as foggy climate. Literally speaking, the province deserves its name "Loei" which means 'beyond' or 'to the furthest extreme' as Loei lies in the northernmost part of the Northeastern region. Most notable is that Loei is the only province in Thailand where the temperature can drop to as low as zero Celsius in winter while it can become hotter than any province during summer. In short, Loei's geography and climate is unique when compared to other I-San provinces.
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Situated along the Phetchabun Mountain Range, Loei, a province that rises approximately 400 meters above sea level, is dubbed “the land of seas of mountains, the coolest in Siam”. Covering an area of 11,424 square kilometers (equivalent to 7.14 million rai of land), Loei Province, which is 520 kilometers from Bangkok shares a border with Laos to the north with the Khong and Heung Rivers forming the natural border, with Khon Kaen and Phetchabun Provinces to the south, with Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Khon Kaen Provinces to the east, and with Phitsanulok Province to the west. The province can be divided into three main areas: the high mountains in the west, the plains at the foot of the hills in the south and the east, and the lowlands in the basins of the Khong and the Loei Rivers. |
Loei Province has an abundance of precious resources such as forests and natural resources. Of equal importance, however, is its unusual mix of northern and northeastern culture which is treasured by both locals and visitors. This remarkable cultural blend has produced more than one local dialect but only one local identity.
Phra That Satcha, literally meaning the temple of truthful pledge, was constructed one year after the collapse on 11 August 1975 of Phra That Phanom in Nakorn Phanom, which was probably the most revered Buddhist sanctuary in the whole northeastern region. As an imitation of Phra That Phanom, Phra That Satcha was constructed with the objectives to symbolically continue the spirit of Phra That Phanom, to sooth the people's feeling of loss and despair from such tragic collapse, and finally to re-proclaim the pledge to preserved Buddhism in this region.
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Phu Kradung National Park is one of the leading National Parks in the country and houses the highest peak in Loei (1360 metres). The park is 359 square kilometres in size and extremely well organised. It offers numerous trails (around 50 kilometres worth in total) taking hikers past waterfalls, through pine, oak and beech forests, and past glorious fauna and flora. The park is home to countless species of wildlife - jackals, elephants, deer, gibbons, bears, and a small number of tigers. There is a good chance you will spot something along the way. |
Phu Ruea National Park resting in a plateau with an area of 75,525 square kilometres, Phu Reua National Park comprises a rugged mountain range with its highest peak (and source for a number of Loei's rivers) rising 1,365 metres above sea level. The view from the top of Phu Reua is quite dazzling and stretches as far as the Heuang and Khong Rivers. The unusually temperate climate means orchids grow in the area throughout the year. The cool weather is complemented by lush pine forest that covers a good proportion of the peak. There are numerous trials that take you past waterfalls, rock gardens, and caves, as well as a number of 'observation points' that make great places to stop, rest and have picnics (catered for by food stalls along the way). Uniquely, the Phu Ruea is home to the Chateau de Loei vineyards where Thailand's chief domestic wine is produced. The park is, of course, home to countless wildlife species including deer, bears, monkeys, squirrels, rabbits, turtles, and a large number of birds.
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