Doi Nok-Doi Luang, Phayao

Having missed the opportunity last year, we still hope to visit this mountain this year...

…a notification sound in the Facebook inbox.

Would you like to go to Doi Nok with us? We're going with a group of friends, and you'd just be joining us.

...Oh wow.. this time we won't miss it for sure...

---

Before the trip, it rained almost every day. I kept checking the weather forecast, not wanting to hike in the rain.

However, we were fortunate that the rain stopped for a day or two before we left, giving us a brief respite.

...In the morning of the 27th, my brother picked me up at the Phayao Transportation Station (I had spent the previous night waiting at the station).

To meet with the group coming from Bangkok, they arranged to meet at Ban Pong Tham in Wang Nua District, Lampang Province.

Before heading to Doi Nok, let's get to know Ban Pong Tham a little.

Ban Pong Tham, Wang Nua District, Lampang Province, is a cultural tourism village.

Nestled amidst pristine nature, this village is surrounded by majestic mountains and lush forests, offering a year-round haven of cool, refreshing air.

The villagers here practice a self-sufficient agricultural lifestyle.

Among them was village headman Sanoe Songdee, who has received the "Golden Tambon Headman" award five times.

Notes:

• "ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน" is translated as "village headman" to reflect the local context.
• "แหนบทองคำ" is translated as "Golden Tambon Headman" based on the provided information.
• The sentence is rephrased for clarity and conciseness.

With a vision, he managed and developed this village until it became famous...

This area also offers homestays for tourists at 150 baht per night.

With a little time to spare, we took a stroll around the village.

This short clip aims to showcase the charm of this small village.

...Around 9 am, it's time to travel by "e-taek" car, or should we call it an open-top Mercedes-Benz?

Equipped with a sound system for your listening pleasure.

This vehicle will transport our group of six, along with two porters, to the starting point of our trek.

It takes about an hour to reach the starting point.

The trail we will embark on is approximately 6 kilometers long and will take about 3 hours to hike.

The e-taek truck almost couldn't make it up the hill because the rain before had made the road slippery.

Backpack on our backs, we're ready to go!

We have reached the third point, but where are the first and second points?

This is a rest stop with restrooms available. The water supply here is good, and the restrooms are functional.

Here we take a break to eat the fried pork we prepared... At this point, we encountered slugs.

Everyone was affected, and we were hit so hard that it went right through our pants. It was burning and stinging.

I realized it had sucked my blood until it was full. When I checked, something was in my pants. It was soft and I pulled it out.

A leech has bitten my behind.

Full, let's continue our journey...

We finally arrived at the tent site in front of the temple on Doi Nok.

The hike took approximately 3 hours, a short and efficient route.

Gazing at the peak of Doi Nok... We'll go up there to enjoy the view this evening.

Looking at it, I immediately wondered how we would climb it. Would it be difficult? It was certainly a challenge.

Each person prepared their own tent... and then prepared to walk to the top of Doi Nok.

The steep ascent is entirely composed of rocky terrain, but we found it to be a straightforward climb with good traction.

A rope was provided for climbing. Initially, I wore winter gloves, but they were slippery, so I took them off and used my bare hands.

For optimal protection, consider using half-finger gloves designed for sports activities to prevent hand injuries.

We really like this point. It's like watching a movie about climbing hell or something. It's so cool. 5555

In the evening, the Mae Phuang Reservoir offers a clear view.

After descending from the peak, we eagerly awaited dinner. Our guide, Ting, a renowned trekking expert, had already prepared a delicious meal for us.

No matter where you eat, it's never as delicious as eating on top of a mountain.

Simple food, but with a million-dollar atmosphere.

As the evening approached, another group of tourists arrived and occupied the space next to us, transforming the previously tranquil atmosphere into a lively scene.

This is the face of our hilarious food vendor. He is from Pong Tham village... but he cooks delicious food.

On the way back, we had the chance to try "larb frog," a dish with a rich and intense flavor. Everyone eagerly devoured it, and even the broth was completely consumed.

This time, I was able to see the Milky Way. It was even more beautiful when I looked at it with my naked eye.

Image credit: Coach [Name]

A new day dawns, the sun begins to rise. This morning, we will climb Doi Nok again to witness the sea of mist.

It was time to head back, but we took a quick detour to enjoy the view from Doi Luang.

Here it is, our bamboo frog. We put everything in a bamboo tube and burned it.

The food was very fragrant, and we ate sticky rice until we were full.

Thank you, P'Sak, for inviting me to join this trip with P'Ting, the traveler with a fierce face but a kind heart.

Thank you, Sak, for giving me this shirt. I love it!

On the way back, he had to drop me off at the Phayao Bus Terminal, so we stopped by the waterfall to relax for a bit.

All good things must come to an end, but hopefully we will have the opportunity to journey together again.

A video clip of the hike up Doi Nok... seeing the moving images evokes more emotion.