Cover picture: Khao Daeng Viewpoint
Arrival at the parking lot with ranger station. The entrance fee is 200 baht per person.
There are little spectacled langurs in the trees - cute as sugar and not aggressive!
The first view up to the huge limestone mountains
Look at these sharp-edged structures - really fascinating!
Harmony of mountain & nature. We'll be up there somewhere soon!
Entrance and starting point of the "hike"
Map with further information about the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Already at the beginning of the ascent we see meter-high rocks!
"Slippery route" 🙂 This is exactly why flip-flops are not a good choice.
Stones upon stones ... especially the sharp stones and crevices were very treacherous.
In difficult places, the Thais have set up ropes to help you pull yourself up.
The first unobstructed view of the karst landscape. The terrain is changing!
Another 200 meters to the viewpoint. The yellow signs are a blessing, as the path is not really recognizable between all the stones.
The climbing continues, steeper and steeper upwards!
Beware of tripping hazards: if there are no stones in the way, there are bound to be a few tree roots.
Only 70 meters to the summit!
We pass cacti growing somewhere up in the mountains. Another 50 meters!
The last ascent! One last ascent through two huge rocks.
At last! After about 20 minutes over hill and dale, we reach the viewpoint!
To the northeast, we look out over the Gulf of Thailand with its shrimp farms and numerous salt pans, for which Hua Hin is famous.
Then we turn around and see this majestic landscape! Simply WOW!
Suddenly we feel like we're in Avatar! Is this really still Thailand?
from 157 meters we look down into the valley. The country road we came here on runs down there!
We were truly overwhelmed by this sight - a moment that can only be experienced live ...
... a moment that we will never forget. An absolute highlight of our trip to Thailand!
Costs
200 THB p.p.
(≈ 5,26 EUR)
Opening hours
Daily 08:00 - 15:00
Khao Daeng Viewpoint
The Khao Daeng Viewpoint was BY FAR the most spectacular place we have ever seen in Thailand! The reason for this fascination is probably that the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park and its unique karst landscape are completely overlooked in the usual travel guides. Of course, the southern islands are beautiful and the mountain landscape in the north is really impressive - but have you ever been to the province? Prachuap Khiri Khan in central Thailand? If not, then you should definitely put this place on your bucket list! Around an hour away is the coastal town of Hua Hinfrom where you can ideally go on a day trip to the national park. We discovered this place by chance on our road trip from Phuket to Chiang Mai.
Admission to the viewpoint is 200 baht per person, parking is free. In the parking lot you will encounter some cute monkeys. The small "southern spectacled langurs" hop around on the trees and chew on leaves, but are not aggressive towards tourists.
The path up to the viewpoint is short, but very challenging. It is a steep 800-metre climb over unpaved terrain and sharp rocks. Sturdy shoes are a must! Pay attention to every step you take, as you can easily twist your ankle on this rough terrain with its sharp, pointed limestones. It is therefore less of a "relaxed hike" and more of a climbing adventure. In between, signposts indicate how many meters it is to the summit. For us, the path actually felt longer than it actually is.
Once you reach the top, you will see a sign saying "Khao Daeng Viewpoint" and a view of the coastline off the Gulf of Thailand. You'll soon realize that this viewpoint was built in the middle of NOTHING - literally. There are no amenities or seating here, unless you manage to find a semi-pointed rock to rest on. We wondered who developed this viewpoint and the trail?
However, the brief disappointment was blown away when we looked at the opposite side. Gigantic limestone mountains tower up into the sky - a natural spectacle that you have certainly never seen before! All the effort and climbing was suddenly worth it when you stand at this point and enjoy this enormous natural backdrop. At that moment, Thailand showed us once again how diverse and unique this country is! It's best to see for yourself, because you have to experience this moment first-hand to really believe it.
NoteGuided tours to the Khao Daeng summit are unfortunately not currently available, but you can embark on this adventure in pairs or in a small group! A Rental carª gives you maximum flexibility and allows you to easily explore areas in Thailand that are not yet well developed for tourism.
Tip:: If you are planning a stay in Hua Hin, then you can visit Klookª a guided tour through the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park - although this does not include the climb to the viewpoint, it is a great opportunity to experience nature and fascinating caves in Prachuap Khiri Khan to explore!
Places of interest in the vicinity
- Dead End Road (Kamnan Dam Road)
- Sai Cave
- Phraya Nakhon Cave
Map
More Hua Hin highlights
