Phu Kradueng: Chasing the Milky Way, Waterfalls, and Mist, Teasing the Leeches

Phu Kradueng, the mountain that makes you feel refreshed the fastest after climbing.

.............................................................................

Hiking is often associated with fatigue, and rightfully so. However, the rewards far outweigh the physical exertion. In Thailand, few mountains are accessible to both children and older individuals. Phu Kradueng is a notable exception, where I witnessed a diverse range of visitors, from friends and couples to families. The most heartwarming sight was a family with a baby estimated to be around 5 months old, complete with a stroller. The convenience of food and beverage options at every rest stop sets Phu Kradueng apart from other mountains. This makes it an ideal destination for people of all ages and fitness levels. If you're considering a hiking adventure, be sure to check out my review for further insights.

This time I stayed at the tent of the restaurant "Chuang", Nakhon Si Thammarat. I contacted P'Joe at 0872139273. I must say that the moo kratha is amazing.

Other Information

• Tickets are available for purchase from 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Visitors are permitted to enter Phu Raeng National Park until 2:00 PM daily.

• Children 20 baht, adults 40 baht.

• In case of bringing your own tent, the rental fee is 30 baht/person/night.

• Pillows: 10 baht/night

• Sleeping mat 20 baht/night

- Sleeping bag 30 baht/night

• Blanket 30 baht/night

Reservations for tents and houses can be made at

National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department

Accommodation reservations can only be made through the website.

.........................................................................

***Travel

For this trip, I drove myself, which was convenient. I was able to park my car at the park.

Traveling to Phu Kradueng by Bus

Passengers can board the bus at the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal. Several companies offer services, including Air Muang Loei, Phu Kradueng Tour, BKS, and Chum Phae Tour.

Suggested travel times: 9:10 PM, 9:30 PM, 10:10 PM. The journey takes approximately 7 hours, arriving around 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM the next morning.

Disembark at Pha Nok Khao and transfer to a red shared taxi (parked next to Je Kim's shop, opposite the police station) to reach Phu Kradueng National Park. The fare for the red shared taxi is 30 baht per person (full capacity of 10 people). If the taxi is not full, you can charter it for 300 baht per trip.

On the way back, I took a red songthaew and got off in front of Auntie Kim's shop to wait for the bus back to Bangkok.

The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.

Air travel

Don Mueang - Loei: It is recommended to take an early morning flight as the park allows entry only until 2 pm. After landing at Loei Airport, cross the road and wait for the Khon Kaen - Loei bus, which arrives every 30 minutes. The bus will stop in front of Phu Kradueng District Office. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then, take a three-wheeled vehicle or motorcycle to the park headquarters.

On the way back, descend from the mountain early in the morning to reach the bottom before noon (Nok Air flight at 15.50pm). Reach the bottom before 3pm (Air Asia flight at 6pm).

From the office, take a red songthaew (shared taxi) waiting in front to the Phu Kradueng Market. Then, take a Khon Kaen - Loei bus (with "Muang Loei" written on the front) that departs every 30 minutes. The journey to Loei Airport takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The last bus to the airport (Muang Loei) departs at 20:30.

It is not recommended to entrust your luggage to the porters, as they may descend slowly and you might miss your flight. It is better to carry your own luggage. However, if you do need to entrust your luggage to the porters, you should bring it to them early in the morning so that they can descend early.

Thank you for the travel information from Pantip member number 2545761.

**What to prepare**

• Comfortable sneakers/socks

• Citronella mosquito repellent spray for spraying on arms and legs to prevent leeches.

- Flashlight

• Windproof and cold-resistant long-sleeved jacket

• Personal care items such as shower gel and shampoo.

• Power bank

The skies have been clear lately, allowing us to see the Milky Way with the naked eye right in front of our tents. However, my photography skills are still lacking. I'll leave it at that for now. I just learned one more technique: focus on the stars first, haha.

And of course, I went during the opening days of the mountain. The waterfall was very beautiful.

A must-have on the mountaintop is the delicious menu, which is, of course, grilled pork. Haha!

A delicious hot pot on the mountaintop. If you go, you can't miss it because it's really amazing. 500 baht per set, I think it's super worth it. Because it's hard to get it up here, you have to hire porters to carry it up. So you have to try it.

Brother Joe, Fern, and Changwang

ร้าน ฉวาง นครศรีธรรมราชครับ ติดต่อไปที่ พี่โจ้ 0872139273

English:

Chuang Restaurant, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Contact P'Joe at 0872139273.

I really like this picture. As I mentioned before, Phu Kradueng is a mountain that anyone can climb. Many families come here, except for me, who came alone haha. I took this picture while I was following a father and son. Along the way, the father kept pointing out things and teaching his son. It was so cute! For those who are hesitant to come, know that children are practically running around up here.

This lush green forest will captivate anyone who visits. It was recently opened to the public, and everything is still stunningly green.

After a long walk, we finally arrived at the challenging stairs. As we got closer, our hearts started to race with anticipation and a bit of fear. We were all exhausted, and our legs were starting to feel weak.

And then we carried the body up to the back of the pickup truck. The distance from the accommodation was about 3 kilometers. Oh my god, it was so relieving! How could it not be? We were almost the last group, haha. Let's go, let's go, the barbecue is waiting for us.

Greetings from the Phukradueng tent site! I must confess that I arrived here without knowing the exact location of my tent. My friend had made the reservation, and by the time we arrived, it was already dark. I was worried that the tent owner, Joe, might have given it away to someone else.

The speaker asks if they should go into the tent, to which they reply no with laughter. They then inquire about the location of the barbecue, expressing their desire to go there and order a large set for three people.

The image we commonly see above is the classic and unique experience of tourists enjoying a barbecue on the top of Phu Kradueng. Some people might say that you can have barbecue anywhere, but I challenge you to try it on the peak of Phu Kradueng and you will see how amazing it is.

The day we went, the sky was clear, and we could even see the Milky Way. However, by the time we managed to recall the camera settings, the elephants had already run away. Oh well, at least we were able to take pictures of the tent with the stars, which were absolutely stunning.

An early morning hike of 3 kilometers to witness the sunrise and the sea of mist at Pha Nok Aen is an unforgettable experience. However, the appearance of the sun is not guaranteed, as it can be quite shy.

After showering, getting dressed, and eating breakfast, we were ready to start our mission: hunting for waterfalls. The distance was short, and I don't remember how many kilometers we walked at the time. But when I read the information later, I realized I had made a mistake in the video.

Wuang Kwang Waterfall, a waterfall located near the tourist service center, is currently at its most beautiful. The trail to the waterfall is approximately 700 meters long. The waterfall has a thin curtain of water, but it is still beautiful. The rocks covered in green moss perfectly complement the waterfall.

Moving on to the newly discovered Phaen Phop Waterfall, I believe this waterfall offers stunning views and numerous photo opportunities. The towering curtain of water cascades over protruding rocks, and during the winter season, the surrounding maple leaves turn a vibrant red.

And the view from that rock, it was quite a thrill to get that picture, haha.

Beneath the rock, we can sneak through to capture another angle of the cascading waterfall. I find it incredibly beautiful. Every time I visit, I never miss this spot.

This angle is stunning. If you visit, don't miss it! Lush green trees, layered rocks, flowing water, and a cascading waterfall in the background. I'm completely enamored with this spot.

Let's move on to Phom Pha Phun Waterfall. It's another stunning waterfall. Honestly, almost every waterfall is beautiful right now because the water level is just right, not too high. Plus, the trees and lush vegetation create the perfect combination. Phom Pha Phun Waterfall also has a lot of maple leaves during the winter season. I'll leave a comment below.

Hello, little brother. You can't sleep here, haha. Let me tell you, it's really beautiful from every angle. If you go, the only thing you need to prepare besides water is a camera memory card. The photos will definitely be full.

The next stop was Pen Phob Waterfall, located below the rocky clearing. Many people might overlook it, just like I did initially. However, it ended up being the waterfall where I spent the most time. The first glimpse took my breath away; it was stunning, with perfectly cascading tiers. I couldn't resist snapping the most photos here.

The Tham Yai Waterfall is another waterfall with an abundance of rocks, currently covered in green moss. In contrast, during the winter season, this area is blanketed in maple leaves, creating a stunning visual spectacle that attracts large crowds.

And so, we had to carry our hungry bodies on the journey. On the way, before reaching the Anotad pool, we realized that none of us had brought any water. Oh, how could we make people around us feel sorry for us? The distance was almost 6 kilometers, and we didn't have any water to drink. To make matters worse, as we passed the Anotad pool, we had to look at the people who were relaxing with bottles of water by their side. I hurried on, as Cloud-Treading Cliff was my last hope at this point.

However, the distance was not on our side. To reach Pha Hiab Mek, I had to walk on a road covered with water and mud. It was very easy to walk, like walking on Mittraphap Road. Hmm, everyone's shoes were soaked. The 3-kilometer distance immediately turned into 6 kilometers when we encountered this path.

After a long and arduous journey through the heat, water, and mud, we finally arrived at the landmark of Phu Kradueng National Park: Pha Lom Sak Cliff. Not much has changed, except for the significantly fewer people. This was fortunate for us, as we visited on a Sunday when most people had already descended. However, one noticeable change was the low-hanging pine branch, which seemed to have drooped significantly since my last visit.

Let's go! Since we're already here, we have to stand in line to take a picture of this view. While I was standing there, I thought to myself, "The sun is beautiful right now. I'm sure I'll get a great picture." But, as soon as it was my turn, the sun shyly disappeared behind the clouds. Oh well, let's go back.

The clear skies were a stroke of luck on this trip. The highlight was undoubtedly the stars, which were breathtakingly beautiful. The Milky Way was particularly vibrant, visible to the naked eye. The top picture shows Pha Hiab Mek, while the bottom one depicts Pha Mak Duk, the closest cliff to our accommodation and a popular spot for stargazing.

It is truly beautiful.

A Fresh Morning with a Lighter Load

On the way back down, I wasn't carrying any luggage myself, so I had some time to take in the sights. For those who think the prices above are expensive, take a look at this picture. The porters only get paid 15 baht per kilogram from the shop, while tourists pay 30 baht per kilogram. So it's no wonder why the water is expensive up there, since everything has to be carried up from below.

To quench your thirst and revitalize yourself during your hike, besides plain water, I highly recommend trying these refreshing options: shaved ice with a variety of toppings, pickled fruits, seasoned eggs, grilled bananas, grilled sweet potatoes, and grilled sticky rice. Trust me, missing out on these local delicacies would be a missed opportunity to experience the true essence of Phu Kradueng.

This concludes my journey. Thank you to my fellow travelers for making this trip so enjoyable. I now believe that traveling with someone special can significantly enhance the experience. If you've read this far, I appreciate your time and encourage you to share this review with others. Hiking in Phu Kradueng is relatively easy, and I highly recommend giving it a try. Thank you!