Three Whale Rock, Bueng Kan: Thailand's Incredible Whale-Shaped Rocks

Three Whale Rock, or Hin Sam Wan (หินสามวาฬ), is one of those places in Thailand that looks almost too unusual to be real.

Hidden away in Bueng Kan Province in northeastern Thailand, the huge sandstone formations of Phu Sing look remarkably like three whales swimming through a sea of green forest.

It’s a spectacular place to visit - and naturally, I had to take the camera along.

Three Whale Rock, Bueng Kan

Hin Sam Wan translates roughly as Three Whale Rocks, and once you see the formation from the right angle, it’s not difficult to understand where the name came from.

The three enormous sandstone rocks resemble a family of whales - traditionally described as a father, mother and baby - appearing to swim together above the forest.

The rocks are part of the Phu Sing area of Bueng Kan, a region known for its unusual sandstone formations, cliffs, caves and viewpoints.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists Hin Sam Wan among the attractions of Bueng Kan and describes the rocks as one of the area’s standout natural features.

What makes the place particularly impressive isn’t just the rocks themselves. It’s the setting.

From the top, the sandstone formations rise above a huge expanse of forest, giving the impression that the whales really are swimming through a green ocean.

Visiting Phu Sing and Hin Sam Wan

Phu Sing is in Bueng Kan Province, in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region.

Bueng Kan is perhaps not one of the first places that comes to mind when people think about travelling around Thailand. The province sits along the Mekong River and borders Laos, and it’s considerably quieter than the country’s major tourist destinations.

That’s part of the attraction.

The area around Phu Sing contains a collection of unusual natural formations rather than just one viewpoint. Along with Hin Sam Wan, there are other rock formations, viewpoints, caves and interesting geological features to explore.

The Thailand Film Office describes Hin Sam Wan as three massive rocks resembling whales swimming together, with trails leading through Phu Sing Forest Park and views across the surrounding forests and mountains.

Why are they called Three Whale Rock?

It’s one of those attractions where the name makes sense immediately.

From above and from certain viewpoints, the three elongated sandstone formations look remarkably like whales.

The largest formations are commonly referred to as the father and mother whales, with the smaller formation representing the baby.

The rocks are estimated to be around 75 million years old, and their distinctive shapes are the result of the area’s geological history and erosion over a very long period of time. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has also highlighted the unusual sandstone landscape of Phu Sing and the whale-like appearance of Hin Sam Wan.

It’s a good reminder that some of Thailand’s most interesting sights aren’t temples or beaches.

Sometimes they’re just enormous lumps of ancient sandstone.

The views from Three Whale Rock

The main reason to make the trip to Hin Sam Wan is, of course, the view.

Standing on the sandstone formations gives you a completely different perspective of the surrounding countryside. Instead of looking at the rocks from ground level, you’re suddenly looking out across the forest from high above it.

On a clear day, the landscape stretches towards the Mekong and the mountains of neighbouring Laos.

Sunrise is particularly popular here, with the early morning light adding another dimension to the landscape. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has previously recommended visiting early in the morning for sunrise and the possibility of seeing mist across the surrounding forest.

And this is one of those places where photographs really don’t quite tell the whole story.

You need to see the scale of the landscape around the rocks to appreciate just how unusual the location is.

My visit to Three Whale Rock

This is the part of the trip that doesn’t really belong in a conventional travel guide.

Rather than simply listing opening times, prices and directions, I wanted to capture what the place actually looked and felt like.

So I took the camera along and filmed the visit.

I enjoy places like this because they’re slightly different from the obvious tourist stops.

There’s something satisfying about travelling somewhere because you’ve seen a photograph of it and then discovering that the real thing is even more impressive.

Three Whale Rock definitely falls into that category.

Three Whale Rock and the beauty of northeastern Thailand

One of the things I enjoy about travelling around Thailand is discovering places that don’t necessarily make it onto everyone’s itinerary.

Bueng Kan is a good example.

The province has mountains, forests, waterfalls, the Mekong and a collection of unusual geological formations. The official Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Bueng Kan as a province with a mixture of natural, historical, artistic and cultural attractions.

And then there’s Hin Sam Wan.

Three enormous rocks that look like a family of whales swimming through the forest.

It’s difficult to come up with a better example of the slightly surreal landscapes you can find around Thailand.

Is Three Whale Rock worth visiting?

If you’re travelling around northeastern Thailand and enjoy unusual landscapes, viewpoints and photography, I’d say yes.

It’s particularly interesting if you’re already visiting other attractions around Bueng Kan, such as Wat Phu Tok, the Mekong area or some of the other natural attractions in the province.

It’s also a great place to take a camera.

The combination of the sandstone formations, forest, distant mountains and changing light gives you plenty to photograph and film.

Just remember that you’re visiting a natural environment rather than a purpose-built tourist attraction. The rocks can be uneven and potentially slippery, so sensible footwear and a little care are worthwhile.

Three Whale Rock, Bueng Kan - my video

Rather than trying to describe the whole experience in words, here’s the video from my visit.

If you’ve never heard of Hin Sam Wan before, hopefully the video gives you a better idea of what this unusual corner of Thailand looks like.

And if you’re already planning a trip through Isan, perhaps it’s given you another place to add to the list.

Three Whale Rock - Quick Facts

Name: Hin Sam Wan (หินสามวาฬ) / Three Whale Rock Location: Phu Sing, Bueng Kan Province, Thailand Region: Isan / Northeastern Thailand Known for: Three whale-shaped sandstone formations Nearby: Mekong River and the Laos border Best known for: Sunrise, scenery, photography and the unusual rock formations