Ascend the stairs to touch the sky at "Phu Bak Dai".

Hello everyone, today I will tell you about my experience traveling to "Phu Bak Dai". This album was taken on December 21, 2016, during the winter season, but the sun was strong and very hot. This trip was with many friends. We started by planning and traveling "Phu Bak Dai" is located in the area of ​​Ban Klang, Tambon Pla Ba, Mueang District, Loei Province. Traveling is not difficult. Just open GPS and go easily. When we arrive at Ban Klang, contact the village headman or the sub-district headman to contact the tractor to take us up to Phu Bak Dai. The tractor service fee is 1,200 baht for a round trip, 2,000 baht for an overnight stay. The tractor can accommodate no more than 6 people per car, excluding the driver (information when we went in 2016). And we can go every day. There are no holidays. For the trip, the tractor driver will guide and take care of us throughout the journey. This time we went back and forth. First of all, I would like to say that we are students who come to study at the university in Loei city. So we left the dormitory at 8:00 AM and arrived at Phu Ruea at around 9:10 AM. Then we drove to Ban Klang at around 9:40 AM. We made an appointment with our friends there. When we arrived at Ban Klang, we went to contact the house of a friend we knew. Then we started our journey by taking a tractor at around 10:00 AM. We took the tractor for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We will reach the point where there is a bathroom service. I recommend that you have to go in whether you are in pain or not. Because there is no water or bathroom on the top of Phu Bak Dai. We continued to take the tractor along the way. We will see the villagers' buffaloes that are being raised to eat grass in large herds. We took the tractor for another 30 minutes and we will reach the parking point. Then walk up the stairs a little. Walk up about 400 meters and then continue on a flat road for almost 2 km. It is not recommended for those who have underlying diseases or are not feeling well. Because the journey is quite difficult.

Initially, the tractor driver who was leading the tour told us, "It's not far." We asked him to point it out to us... and it turned out that (see image below) he pointed to the very end of the mountain in the middle of the picture.

Note: We particularly enjoyed this image, which depicts a grandfather and grandmother driving a tractor in the opposite direction, smiling and greeting us with the question, "Are you going to Phu Bak Dai (Dai meaning 'or')? Good luck!" We smiled back and thanked them.

Along the way, I saw many gardens belonging to local residents. The sun and shade alternated, creating a variety of moods. 555

This winding road leads us to our destination, the peak of the mountain.

Still going strong! ^^

Gazing down from the mountainside, I am struck by the passage of time and the ever-increasing elevation. The breathtaking panoramic vista reveals the majestic peak of Phu Ruea and its surrounding landscapes.

After driving for about an hour, the driver told me, "We're almost there, just a little further." He then pointed to the peak of the mountain in the distance. Seeing that we were indeed close, I couldn't help but smile with anticipation.

We have arrived at the parking lot, and we are the first car to arrive.

Take a picture with the other friend's car that just arrived. Wow! Everyone looks as handsome as a boy band.

As we ascended, we engaged in conversation with the father of our friend who had brought us. He was the organizer of this trip, but he was unable to climb himself. Nevertheless, he had kindly driven us and was waiting for us at the parking lot. After a brief chat, we began our ascent. As we set off, our friend's father shouted out to us, "Good luck!"

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The Journey to Phu Bak Dai: A Breathtaking Climb

This trip to Phu Bak Dai highlighted the importance of physical preparation. While my boyfriend and a friend's father couldn't manage the climb, everyone else offered encouragement and support. Despite their efforts, my boyfriend couldn't be persuaded. He spent five minutes teaching me how to take photos, and I ended up capturing the scenery along the way and at the summit.

Fortunately, I had my fellow adventurers, and importantly, we were all dressed appropriately. Covering up helped protect us from insects and leeches, and thankfully, we visited during the dry season, avoiding the abundance of leeches found during the rainy months.

The lack of amenities or shops on the mountain meant we had to bring our own food, water, and other necessities. As we ascended, the breathtaking panoramic views unfolded before us. However, we had to remain cautious as the path varied in width, sometimes bordering cliffs.

Finally, we reached our destination: the deceptive cliff, or Phu Bak Dai. Its name originates from its resemblance to a staircase when viewed from below. "Bักได" in the local dialect means "staircase," hence the name "Phu Bak Dai."

Reaching the summit washed away all the fatigue. The effort was well worth it. Despite the scorching sun, the atmosphere at the top was incredible. The strong wind brought a refreshing coolness. We spent two hours enjoying our meal, taking photos, and soaking in the stunning views.

The spot where we took photos wasn't at the edge of the cliff as we initially thought. It wasn't as frightening as we imagined. Below the rocks was a flat area, not very wide, with a mix of grass and small and large rocks. However, we remained cautious, knowing that accidents can happen anytime.

After immersing ourselves in nature, we began our descent. The following photos will showcase the beauty of the journey. Please excuse my amateur photography skills!

As we made our way, each friend enjoyed taking photos and chatting with one another. Those who were feeling energetic would run ahead to capture the next scene, while those who preferred a more leisurely pace took their time, soaking in the atmosphere (although, to be honest, everyone was a little tired!).

As I walked, I stumbled upon this peculiar tree. It seemed to have been significantly affected by strong winds. "If you haven't seen this tree, it's as if you haven't been here at all," the tractor driver remarked with a chuckle.

My eyes were drawn to a tree just now. As I glanced to the left, I gasped, "Oh my God, it's so tall and beautiful! I've never seen anything like it before."

Oh... here we are, friends! We're almost there, just like the tractor driver said. Haha! (Wait for us!)

After walking for a while, everyone started to say in unison, "We're hungry!"

Without further ado, everyone was well-prepared and quickly brought out their dishes. Everyone shared what they had brought and talked about their university life, as they all studied at different places. Time flew by, and it was time to move on. Oh! After lunch, we packed everything back into our bags and didn't leave anything behind. ^^

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The friends continued their journey, posing like the stars of a music video.

Arriving at Phu Bak Dai, posing for a photo like a passport picture. Haha!

This is a picture of me. A friend took it for me earlier, so there are some pictures with him in them. Haha.

This image is the origin of the review title. Because looking at it, it feels like we can reach out and touch the horizon.

Everyone is excited to see if it will break. 555

The Conqueror's Corner at Phu Bak Dai

This is me, you can barely recognize me, haha! My friend took the photo, as usual.

Everywhere I look, I see my friends filming music videos. It's hilarious!

If you didn't tell me you were here on vacation, I would have thought you were here to cover the news (everyone looks so serious, haha).

Selfie

While many were busy taking pictures, some friends sat and talked, creating a moment to connect without the distractions of social media, as there was no phone signal.

And it was a moment that led some people to confess their love to each other. Haha, bam! Boom!

Two fingers, snap!

Just putting on a shirt, do you have to be so cool? Haha

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It's time to go home.

We descended from Phu Bak Dai around 3:30 PM. This timing is ideal, and we recommend not exceeding 4:00 PM, as it will be dark if you descend later, increasing the risk of travel. We reached the tractor pick-up point below around 5:30 PM and returned safely. On this trip, we had a total of 12 people, and no one was injured. Everyone is safe. The tractor driver took excellent care of us, providing instructions on how to travel, engaging in pleasant conversation, and ensuring our safe return.

And then we came to the downhill section. (There it is... the tractor is waiting for us.)

The Ultimate Challenge: A Journey to Phu Bak Dai

This journey to Phu Bak Dai was the most challenging, tiring, and rewarding experience of our lives. From the breathtaking views at the summit to the camaraderie of our fellow travelers, every moment was etched into our memories. We embraced the opportunity to push our physical and mental limits, testing our endurance and fostering a deep appreciation for the natural world. This adventure was a testament to the power of friendship, transforming fatigue into pure joy. We hope this account inspires you to step away from the screen, pack your bags, and embark on your own adventure. See you at Phu Bak Dai!