Khao Luang Peak

1,780 m (5,840 ft)

A hike up and down Khao Luang Peak takes 3 days and two nights.

The terrain up Khao Luang Peak consists of thick tropical jungle, ferns, mossy trees, streams and waterfalls. The jungle is filled with a variety of plants and animals such as orchids, azaleas, interesting caterpillars, spiders and other flowers. 

The trail usually starts in Kiriwong Village, a sparse village interspersed with tall palms and greenery. The beginning is a well-groomed path which is tarred for roughly the first 1.5 hours of walking. The first section takes you up a reasonably gentle incline.

After about 3 hours you’ll reach a stream and a hut where you can stop and take a rest for lunch. After this point, the trail starts to get steeper. The terrain will require you to grab onto roots, rocks and branches to climb up the path. 

You’ll enter the thick jungle about an hour after the lunch rest spot, near the end of the ‘fruit garden’, a milestone on the trail. 

After about 7 hours of trekking, you should come to a juncture of streams. This is a good place to camp for the night.

The second day brings steeper slopes and thicker jungle than the previous day. it can be slippery and requires more grabbing onto whatever is around you to help you climb. There are some nice viewpoints along the way. 

The summit assault is, of course, the steepest part. You’ll pass a shorter peak on the way to the main peak and reach the summit of Khao Luang towards the end of the second day.

The second night is spent camping at the summit and the third day is spent descending the same way you came up.

At the summit, you’ll get verdant views of the surrounding hills and the tops of the jungle canopy.

This region experiences rain year-round and monsoon seasons as well. The rainy season is between late April/May and January, with the monsoon season being between late September and November. The drier period of the year is late January to mid-April.

Temperatures range between 22°C and 33°C (72°F and 91°F) during the year. The average temperature is 27°C (81°F), but the perceived temperature can get as high as 34°C (93°F) due to the humidity. The temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year with a hotter period between March and June.

The weather up the mountain can be cold, humid, wet, and windy at the top. The best time to plan a climb is between late December and June as it is drier with clearer skies at this time of year.

You’ll need camping gear, however, most tour operators provide food, small tents and sleeping bags. Since a guide is required, booking your trip through a tour operator is advised to minimise the amount of things you’ll need to pack. 

Poles and gloves would be helpful for the portions of the trail where you need to grab onto things to help you climb. Take insect repellent and leech socks in case of leeches and other insects, a small first aid kit, a flashlight, decent hiking boots and a warm set of clothes.

Streams are available along the trail where you can fill up your water bottle, though a water bottle filter is recommended. There is no food along the trail except that provided by your guides.

A guide is required and necessary. Porters are usually a part of the tour package, but make sure to confirm what your tour package includes. Many of them provide extras like transport.

Khao Luang National Park is located in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand about 4-5 hours from Phuket by car. The two closest airports are Krabi International Airport, which is 2 hours away by car and Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport which is 40-50 minutes away by car (40 km/35 mi). 

Most tour companies meet hikers at Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport and provide transport to Kiriwong village, the starting point.

There are leeches along the trail, so beware of these and wear leech socks. 

The area is not known to be particularly dangerous. Take usual precautions as you would anywhere.