2015 - North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Day 1, 2

North-Eastern (I-San) Thailand and Laos, 16 Nov to 10 Dec 2015 (25days) 

L-R: Chew Leng Soon, Chan Meng Fye, Chia Chai Ling, Ching Neng Bin @ Phu Kradueng National Park

Day 1 (16 Nov) AirAsia AK856 KUL.12.45pm to Chiang Mai (1,738km)

It was a 2 hours 45 minute flight from KLIA2 to Chiang Mai. If by road it is 2,194km in 25 hours. Arrived at Chiang Mai International Airport at 2.30pm. Took a taxi to Chiang Mai bus terminal 3. From here we took the 5.30pm night bus to Loei which was 479km away. Sleeping in the bus.


This was how Ching Neng Bin packed his backpack by arranging all the items from head-gear to feet. Don't forget your passport, money, personal medication and the first-aid box. 



From Chiangmai Bus Terminal-3, we took the 5.30pm night bus to Loei which was 479km away.


Wat Koo Kam beside the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal-3.


Monks folding red cloth at Wat Koo Kam beside the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal-3.



 
The route: KL- Chieng Mai - Loei - Phu Kradueng National Park - Khon Kaen - Kalasin - Sakon Nakhon - Nakhon Phanom - Tha Khaek (Laos) – Nakhon Phanom - Mukdahan – Phu Pha Thoet National Park – Ubon Ratchathani - Pakse - Si Phan Don (both in Laos) - Chong Mek – Ubon Ratchathani - Si Sa Ket - Buri Ram - Nakhon Rachasima – Phimai – Nakhon Rachasima - Bangkok - Prachuat KiriKhan - Hadyai – Butterworth - KL

Day 2 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)

Loei to Phu Kradueng National Park is 80km. We arrived at Loei bus station at 3am. From here we took the 3.45am bus to Pha Nok Khao village arriving at 5.20am for breakfast at 6.30am. At 7am we took a tuktuk to the Phu Kradueng National Park Office to get the park entrance ticket for trekking up the mountain. As all the mountain top chalets and camps were taken up, we had no choice but to trek up and down and moved on to Khon Kaen.

We started trekking at 7.30am for about 3 hours (5.5km) before getting to the mountain top at 10.25am. After a 20 minutes rest with a can of beer Chang, I trekked down at 10.45am arriving at the foothill at 1.10pm for lunch behind the park office. At 3pm we took a songteaw to Pha Nok Khao village to take the 3.16pm bus to Khon Kean arriving at 5.30pm. Sleeping at Roma Hotel, Khon Kaen


Arrived at Pha Nok Khao village at 5.20am. At 7am we took a tuktuk to Phu Kradueng National Park Office to get the park entrance ticket for trekking up the mountain plateau.


Scenic view of Phu Kradueng plateau from Pha Nok Khao village.


We had breakfast at 6:30am at this shop where the bus stopped at 5:20am.


We had breakfast at 6:30am at Pha Nok Khao village.


How to get here - From Khon Kaen or Loei take a local bus going to Phu Kradung district. Get off at Pha Nok Khao village where there is a 5 km road to the park headquarters. Normally there are pickup trucks running this stretch.


Phu Kradueng National Park Office to get the park entrance ticket (TB200 pp) for trekking up the mountain plateau.


Phu Kradueng National Park is largely covered with seasonal tropical rain forest and ever green forests.


Tents and porters can be arranged at the Phu Kraduen Park office at the base and top of the mountain.


A 5,450m trek to the summit of Phu Kradueng.


At this trail entrance check-point is 800m to Pang Kok Ka. It is a 9.5km distance from the base of the mountain to the camp ground and office at the top of the mountain. (5.5km to the summit of Phu Kradueng and the final 4km is a walk on the plateau to reach the park headquarters and the camping ground.


At trail entrance check-point is 800m to Pang Kok Ka on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The 200m staircase up to Sam Haek on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Sam Haek on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Ching Neng Bin at Sam Haek on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Villagers set up food and drink stalls at Sam Haek along Phu Kradueng Trail.


Met local trekkers, Mr. Top and Ms. Pond at Sam Bon on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The Sam Kok Kok on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The orderly ants trail on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Villagers have set up food and drink stalls at Sam Bon on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


This is how they carry a person up or down the mountain on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Sam Kok Sang on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The staircase up to Pran Pran Pae on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Pran Pran Pae on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Sam Kok Wa on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Food and drink stalls at Sam Kok Wa on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


Sam Kok Pai on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


This is the Park Rangers accommodation at Sam Kok Done on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


This is the Park Rangers accommodation at Sam Kok Done on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


This is the Park Rangers accommodation at Sam Kok Done on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


This is the last area where you can buy food and drinks at Sam Kok Done on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The wild flowers on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The wild flowers on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


From Sam Krae it was the toughest 1,300m trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top with many step ladders. 


Be careful of elephants on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


The many step ladders on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


The many step ladders on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


The many step ladders on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


Ching Neng Bin and Ms Pond at the elephant rock on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


The many step ladders on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


The many step ladders on the trek up Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


Very strong porters, both female & male on the step ladders on the Phu Kradueng Trail.


After 3 hours of trekking Ching Neng Bin arrived at Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


Trails showing temple & waterfalls on the plateau of Phu Kradueng. You actually need to stay 2 nights up here to cover it. Booking has to been done with Thailand National Park office.


The signage trek down from Phu Kradueng Mountain Top.


After 3 hours of trekking Ching Neng Bin arrived at Phu Kradueng Mountain Top 1,288m as a conqueror. On the plateau visitors have 50km of marked trails to cliffs, waterfalls and meadows. Expedition into the deep forest where large animals exist should be accompanied by a guide provided by the park office.


Ms. Pond and Mr. Top. Many couples use this trail to prove their love if they could conquer Phu Kradueng. Will have a steady married life.


The region receives heaviest rain in October and there is almost no rain during December to February. The Phu Kradueng park is closed from June to August because of intense pressure on the environment by the visitors. Most popular months are October to January when the park can be crowded on weekends.


The 60 square kilometers mountain top Phu Kradueng plateau is a savanna of pines, oak, beech, etc.


View from the Phu Kradueng mountain top.


Located in the north eastern province of Loei, the park is one of Thailand's most romantic spots. The 1288 meters high mountain might have received its name Phu Kradung from its bell like shape (kradung means bell in Thai). 



After a 20-minute break at Phu Kradueng mountain top with a large can of Beer Chang and a Nestle Crunch waffle, Ching Neng Bin hiked down at 10:45am and reached the foot of the hill at 1:10pm. After showering and changing into dry clothes, we had lunch behind the park office.


All the way down Phu Kradueng mountain to the foot-hill.


A photo for the album after the Phu Kradueng mountain climb.


Immediately after descending Phu Kradueng we had lunch at the park office food stall and then took a bus to Khon Kaen.


Sleeping at Roma Hotel, Khon Kaen


Sleeping at Roma Hotel, Khon Kaen


Sleeping at Roma Hotel, Khon Kaen


Sleeping at Roma Hotel, Khon Kaen








Day 1  Cost Item in Thai Baht Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax
16.11.2015 AirAsia ticket to Chiang Mai 13,825


13,825 3,456
Chiang Mai Airport taxi to bus terminal 3 250


250 63
Bus Chiang Mai bus to Loei  1,796


1,796 449

Drinks
166

166 42

Bus to Phu Kradeang town 200


200 50








Day 2






17.11.2015 Breakfast
210

210 53
Khon Kaen Song taew to National Park 240


240 60
Roma Hotel Entrance to Phu Kradeang 


800 800 200

Lunch at PhuKradeang Park
300

300 75

Song taew to bus stop 180


180 45

Bus to Khon Kaen 340


340 85

Taxi to Roma Hotel 80


80 20

Hotel Roma room1

600
600 300

Hotel Roma room2

650
650 325

Dinner
220

220 55

Tong Shui
56

56 14

Click below to view:
North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Introduction
Day 01 (16.11.15) AirAsia AK 856 KUL. 12.45pm to Chiang Mai, (1738km)
Day 02 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)

Day 03 (18 Nov) Khon Kaen City walk around
Day 04 (19 Nov) Khon Kaen City to Kalasin (80km)
Day 05 (20 Nov) Kalasin to Sakon Nakhon (129km)

Day 06 (21 Nov) Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (92km)
Day 07 (22 Nov) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek, Laos (62km)
Day 08 (23 Nov) Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan (125km)
Day 09 (24 Nov) Mukdahan - trip to Phu Pha Thoet National Park (108km)
Day 10 (25 Nov) Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (194km)

Day 11 (26 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don, Laos (291km)
Day 12 (27 Nov) Si Phan Don - a long walk to Somphamit Waterfall
Day 13 (28 Nov) Si Phan Don to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (291km)
Day 14 (29 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Si Sa Ket by van (67km)
Day 15 (30 Nov) Si Sa Ket to Buri Ram by train (148km)

Day 16 (01 Dec) Buri Ram - day visit to 3 places (219km)
Day 17 (02 Dec) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)
Day 18 (03 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima - day trip to Phimai (120km)
Day 19 (04 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok by train (264km)
Day 20 (05 Dec) Bangkok - Chao Phraya River boat ride to Khaosan Road

Day 21 (06 Dec) Bangkok - rest day and dinner at Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Day 22 (07 Dec) Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan by train (320km)
Day 23 (08 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan
Day 24 (09 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)
Day 25 (10 Dec) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)
 

L-R: Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin on the road in Thailand. 
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