"Phu Kradueng" with the Arrogant Backpacker Woman

My name is Nongnu.

I love to travel, backpacking into the forest, and exploring the mountains.

I am happy when I see the fog in the morning.

I love to eat fruit and ride my motorbike up the mountain, feeling the wind on my face.

I created this page to record my memories and share good stories. You can follow me at http://www.facebook.com/seasonjourney

Phukradueng National Park

Note: I have translated the Thai text "อุทยานแห่งชาติภูกระดึง" to English as "Phukradueng National Park". I have also removed the HTML tags and kept the translation simple and short, as instructed.

Operating Hours

Open Season: October 1st - May 31st Closed Season: June 1st - September 30th

Service Rates

Ticket Prices: Children, students: 20 baht; Adults: 40 baht

Tickets are available for purchase from 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM. (Climbing is allowed until 2:00 PM.) This is for your safety.

Accommodation Fees:

• Bring Your Own Tent: Pay the camping fee at the park office downstairs when purchasing your ticket. The fee is 30 baht per person per night.
• Book Accommodation / Book a Tent from the Park: No payment is required for this option. *Website for booking park accommodation: http://nps.dnp.go.th/ The Department of National Parks allows bookings up to 60 days in advance, with limited availability.
• Private Tents: Several private tent rental services are available on Phu Kradueng. If the park's tents are insufficient, park officials will recommend renting from private providers. The cost is relatively affordable, ranging from 200-250 baht per tent per night. For those who haven't booked accommodation with the park in advance, don't worry, there are options available upon arrival.

Equipment / Bedding Costs:

• Pillow: 10 Baht/pillow/night
• Sleeping mat: 20 Baht/night
• Sleeping bag: 30 Baht/night
• Blanket: 30 Baht/night

What should be considered?

Essential Gear for Hiking Mount Phu Kradueng

Footwear:

• Comfortable shoes and socks that provide good grip and support. The front of the shoe should be sturdy for scrambling down the mountain. Consider bringing sandals for relaxing at the campsite.

Medical Supplies:

• Medications for any pre-existing conditions, as well as common remedies like painkillers, balm, inhalants, and massage oil.

Insect Repellent:

• Mosquito repellent is essential year-round, while leech repellent is recommended from November to April.

Lighting:

• A flashlight is crucial for navigating the campsite and trails at night.

Headwear:

• A hat protects against the sun, fog, and dew.

Electronics:

• Pack a power bank, phone, and camera, as electricity is only available from 6 pm to 10 pm. Charging services are available at the park's visitor center for a fee.

Clothing:

• Bring a raincoat and warm clothes, preferably with a hood.

Hygiene:

• Pack both wet and dry tissues for personal hygiene.

More importantly, a prepared mind and passion are essential. "If the mind is willing, the body will follow."

Transportation

Bus: Depart from Mo Chit Bus Terminal. Choose from various companies based on your preference.

Train: Depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Plane: Fly from Don Mueang Airport to Loei Airport (recommended to take an early morning flight to avoid missing the park's opening hours).

Our Journey:

We started our journey from Khon Kaen, where we were coincidentally attending to some business at Khon Kaen University. However, reaching Khon Kaen was a tearful experience. Traveling during the New Year's period (December 30th) proved challenging, as all transportation options were fully booked. Planes, buses, and trains were unavailable. Just when we thought all hope was lost, we remembered the annual tradition of the railway offering additional trains during peak seasons. We quickly packed our belongings and rushed to Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

At Hua Lamphong Station, we rushed to inquire with the staff.

Me: "Are there any additional trains to Khon Kaen?"

Staff: "The additional third-class train is full. Only standing tickets are available."

Me: (Silent, thinking: What is a "standing ticket" for the third class?!)

Staff: "Do you want it?"

Me: "Yes, please." (Accepting it in confusion and walking away) Looking at the ticket, the train departs in 2 minutes! Aaaah, I want to scream!

Running, running, I reached the third-class carriage. I wanted to get on, but... how could I get on? Each entrance was occupied by people hanging on like they were on a local bus going to the end of the alley. Wait! Calm down. So, uncle, you want to go all the way to Khon Kaen like this, right? What are we going to do? If we don't get on, there's no other way except to fly. So we decided to flatten ourselves with an iron and squeeze our way in. Once I got on, I understood why the uncle chose to be there.

*Imagine with me: The back seat can seat 3 people/seat, next to the seat there are people sleeping, the aisle is full of people sitting, in front of the toilet there are people standing, the door that I thought was the air intake for the 3rd class train is closed, closed, all closed. At that moment, a sentence flashed through my mind, "Um, where can I put my body and luggage in this carriage?"
When I began to understand the meaning of "standing ticket, 3rd class!", I did my duty: stand! It was almost time to reach Ayutthaya, and it was already dark. My calf muscles couldn't take it anymore, so I tried to squeeze myself into a seat and sat down on the floor softly. I didn't want to get up again.
I dozed off and woke up until I reached Khon Kaen station in the early morning. I almost cried. I could barely walk. After that, I did various errands. When I was done, I thought to myself, "I've come all this way! I can't just go back easily. Let's go sightseeing!" So I searched and searched, and finally, "Phu Kradueng" popped up. I've never been there before. Let's go! I was so excited.

We started from Khon Kaen Bus Terminal, took a bus to Pha Long Kaew: the price was around 70 baht (not sure, but not more than 100).
Took a red songthaew to the park: parked next to Je Kim shop, in front of the police box (the same on the way back, the red songthaew will park in the park at the same place as the way there). Price 30 baht/person.

Upon arrival, we swiftly arranged everything and embarked on our journey to Phu Ra Dueng.

At the bottom of the mountain, there is a porter service available for 30 baht per kilogram. However, due to my pride, I thought that the contents of my backpack were not that heavy, approximately 4 kilograms. The camera on my neck, including the lens, weighed another 1 kilogram. If the path were flat, I could manage it. However, the path up the mountain is steep, and in some sections, you need to use your hands to grab onto trees and other objects. Therefore, I recommend walking empty-handed. Please leave the task to the strong porters.

Distance: Approximately 5 kilometers from the bottom to the summit of Phu Kradueng.

Duration: 4-5 hours total.

Route: From the base of the mountain, the trail passes through Pang Khok Ka, Sam Haek, Sam Bon, Sam Kok Kok, Sam Ko Sang, Phran Phran Pae, Sam Kok Wua, Sam Kok Phai, Sam Kok Don, Sam Krae, and ends at Lang Pae.

Sam Haek

The trail begins at the foot of the mountain and leads to "Sam Haek." It seems the signpost for this resting point is missing, but the spirit remains high. At this point, there is water, fruit, seating, and even restrooms available. The state of each person, panting and exhausted, truly lives up to the name "Sam Haek."

Sam Bon

We arrived at "Sam Bon" in no time.
My body is still holding up, just a little sweaty. 5555555

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Samkok

They clambered up to the next watering hole, "Sam Khok Khok".
They walked up with their backpacks full of supplies, wanting to ask if they could leave some of their things there.
Ugh, I want to throw it all away.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Samkosang

We arrived at "Sam Ko Sang" around noon. Our calves were starting to ache, so we decided to take a long break.

This location offers a variety of amenities, including restaurants, drinking water, a rest area, and restrooms. Food options include cooked-to-order dishes, traditional ice cream, and fruits such as watermelon.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

The prices of the goods are not expensive at all, considering the effort it takes to carry them up here.
There are also souvenirs available, which are probably best purchased on the way back down.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

This elderly man is descending from Phu Kradueng. He says he comes here every year and encourages us to do the same. He even hiked up and down the mountain in the same day! We are in awe of his strength and dedication.

Wandering

In just a few moments, we arrived at "Pran Pran Pae".
No matter how tired we were, we didn't forget to take pictures.

Samkokhwua

I trudged along until I reached "Sam Kok Wa" and decided to take a break. I watched as porters carried their loads up the mountain, one after another. In my mind, I questioned why I was there, why I had come. Was standing on the third tier not enough? I muttered to myself for a while, then stood up and continued walking, because turning back would be crazy. Onward!

Bamboo Grove

Next is "Sam Kok Pai", probably because both sides of the road are surrounded by bamboo trees. It is a very beautiful path.

Sam Kok Doe

Crawling up, not walking and climbing, until reaching the last resting place, "Sam Khok Don".

The higher we climbed, the thicker the fog became.

The following describes the experience:

• Climbing
• Climbing
• Climbing
• Continuing to climb, the initial excitement fades. The face begins to feel numb, and sweat pours down the body.
• "Haha, this is truly brutal. No more words, just exhaustion!"

Samkrae

Dragging their weary bodies to the final resting place, "Sam Krae," the path from here on will be a test of one's willpower.

Beyond exhaustion, we still commanded our arms to raise the camera and capture the moment.

The elderly couple walking past kept saying, "Just a little further, kids, you're almost there." At first, I believed them, but when I got here, please don't lie to me! The path is steep, to the point of being very steep. The final gasp is a staircase that I want to measure with something. It's almost 90 degrees, and this is (probably 70 degrees).

Post-transformation

Finally, after reaching the back of the waterfall, we continued on a flat path for about 3 kilometers. It was a breeze compared to the previous climb. Uncle switched from carrying luggage and wood to pushing a cart. He's so strong! The path was surrounded by lush vegetation, and the fog grew thicker as we walked. Onward we go!

Tourist Information Center

We soon arrived at our accommodation. We quickly went to claim our sleeping mats and pillows. By then, it was almost 5 pm. We hurried to the tent to organize our belongings and sat down to rest for a while. At 6 pm, we will go find something to eat.

Full belly, heavy eyelids.

Before the eyes can feast, the stomach must be full, right?

Let's go out and find something to eat, not far from our accommodation.

There is a variety of food available, but the most popular choice is probably grilled pork, especially in the cold weather. Oh, to have hot grilled pork!

There are also grilled eggs and toasted bread.

In addition, there are general food options such as cooked-to-order dishes, rice porridge, noodle soup, and Chinese crullers. Choose whatever you like!

休息一下

And finally, the moment we've all been waiting for: sleep!
Let me tell you, I slept soundly, incredibly soundly.
Oh, I forgot to mention that there are separate male and female restrooms upstairs, but be prepared to wait in line for a bit. It won't be too long.

We set the alarm for 6:30 AM, so we can quickly wash our faces, brush our teeth, and have breakfast before heading out to explore the mountain before our return trip. Don't worry about not having anything to eat, as food is available for purchase from early morning.

SURVEY

After we were fully energized, we spread out our map. We chose a place that wasn't too far away, as we had to factor in the time it would take to walk down from the mountain to get back home. We learned that the place was called "Pha Nok Aen." There were many paths to choose from, but some paths had signs warning against going there before or after certain times. For safety reasons, we followed the signs.

The Emerald Buddha Temple Plaza

On the way to Phanoen Aen Cliff, we will pass by the "Lan Wat Phra Kaew," a spacious courtyard with a Buddha statue in the center. Don't forget to stop by and pay your respects for good luck.

Swallow's Nest

"We have finally arrived at the breathtaking 'Ngok Aen Cliff'! The panoramic view is simply stunning, offering a clear vista of the city below. We spent a considerable amount of time here, enjoying the scenery, taking pictures, and even having a delightful picnic."

Go home

The fun is over. It's time to pack up and head back down the mountain. If we had more time, we would stay another night.

If you have the opportunity, take the time to test your limits at "Phu Kradueng".
Coming here, you will gain many things: smiles, words of encouragement from strangers you pass by, and the kindness of those around you.

While descending from Phu Kradueng, the person walking ahead of us suffered a leg injury that prevented them from continuing. They required assistance from a medical stretcher. Please exercise caution during your hike.

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