# Three Whale Rock (DD-703)

> Hin Sam Wan ('Three Whale Rock') is a group of sandstone outcrops on a cliff edge in the Phu Sing National Reserved Forest, Bueng Kan province, near the Mekong River and the border with Laos. Seen from above, the three elongated rocks look like a whale family: father, mother and calf. Tourism sources and Wikipedia call the formation 75 million years old. A geology write-up identifies the rock as quartz-rich sandstone of the Phu Phan Formation, laid down by rivers in the Early Cretaceous, about 125 to 113 million years ago. It suggests the 75-million figure more likely reflects later uplift and exposure. Only two of the 'whales' can be reached on foot, and the 'baby' can't. The Tourism Authority of Thailand singles out early-winter sunrises, especially in November.

- Department: Locations (also Nature)
- First published: 2026-03-02
- Last updated: 2026-03-02
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/three-whale-rock/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-703-F01**: Only two of the three 'whales' can be reached on foot. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (A whale family))_
- **DD-703-F02**: The rock belongs to the Early Cretaceous Phu Phan Formation, according to a geology write-up. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (How old?))_

## Write-up

Whales in a sea of forest. Three sandstone boulders in Thailand's Bueng Kan province.

1. **Where**: Hin Sam Wan is in the Phu Sing National Reserved Forest in Bueng Kan, Thailand's northeasternmost province, near the Mekong and the Lao border.
2. **A whale family**: From above, the three elongated outcrops look like father, mother and baby whales emerging from a 'sea' of forest. Only the father and mother can be reached on foot.
3. **How old?**: Tourism sources and Wikipedia say 75 million years. A geology write-up places the sandstone in the Early Cretaceous Phu Phan Formation (about 125-113 million years) and suggests the 75-million figure reflects uplift and exposure.
4. **Shaped by weathering**: The resistant quartz sandstone was exposed by the gradual uplift of the Khorat Plateau and then rounded by weathering and erosion.
5. **The view**: On clear early-winter mornings, especially in November, sunrise lights up the forest toward Phu Wua, the Mekong and the mountains of Laos.

## Related case files

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## Reel vs. record

- **Age**: sources disagree. Tourism sources cite 75 million years, while a geology write-up dates the sandstone to the Early Cretaceous (about 125-113 million years) and ties 75 Ma to later uplift.
- **Access**: visitors can't walk across all three rocks. The 'baby whale' can't be reached.
- **Location**: it's officially the Phu Sing National Reserved Forest, in Bueng Kan province.
- **Missing context**: the views reach across the Mekong to the mountains of Laos, which the TAT highlights at sunrise in November.
- **Precision**: the rocks are outcrops on a cliff edge, not separate boulders sitting on top.

## Video: Three Whale Rock: Whales in a Sea of Forest

- Duration: 31.8 s · Published: 2026-03-02
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DVZhQo1krT1.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? Three Whale Rock is a striking natural rock formation located in Phu Sing Forest Park in northeastern Thailand, near the border with Laos. The site consists of three enormous sandstone boulders aligned along a ridge, resembling a family of whales swimming side by side when viewed from above. Formed through millions of years of erosion and geological uplift, the rocks sit atop a forested mountain, offering panoramic views of misty hills and the Mekong River basin. Visitors can hike up to walk across the broad, smooth surfaces of the rocks, especially popular at sunrise when the landscape is bathed in golden light.

## Questions & answers

**Q: What is Three Whale Rock called in Thai?**  
A: Hin Sam Wan means 'three whales rock'. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Where) · Wikipedia: Hin Sam Wan; TAT Newsroom (2018): The Seasons Episode 2, The End of the Cliff)_

**Q: Which province is it in?**  
A: Bueng Kan. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Where) · Wikipedia: Hin Sam Wan; TAT Newsroom (2018): The Seasons Episode 2, The End of the Cliff)_

**Q: Which 'whale' can't be reached on foot?**  
A: The baby whale. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (A whale family) · Wikipedia: Hin Sam Wan; Geology In (2025): Three Whale Rock (Hin Sam Wan))_

**Q: What rock are the 'whales' made of?**  
A: Quartz-rich sandstone. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (How old?) · Wikipedia: Hin Sam Wan; Geology In (2025): Three Whale Rock (Hin Sam Wan); Wikipedia: Phu Phan Formation)_

**Q: Which river is visible from the site?**  
A: The Mekong. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The view) · TAT Newsroom (2018): The Seasons Episode 2, The End of the Cliff)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Hin Sam Wan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hin_Sam_Wan)
- [TAT Newsroom (2018): The Seasons Episode 2, The End of the Cliff](https://www.tatnews.org/2018/12/the-seasons-episode-2-the-end-of-the-cliff/)
- [Geology In (2025): Three Whale Rock (Hin Sam Wan)](https://www.geologyin.com/2025/09/three-whale-rock-hin-sam-wan.html)
- [Wikipedia: Phu Phan Formation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phu_Phan_Formation)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Three Whale Rock." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-703, last updated Mar 2, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/three-whale-rock/