One day, I walked into the forest.



The text describes the speaker's spontaneous decision to go hiking in the rainy season, motivated by the desire to see the purple "Hongon Naka" flowers in bloom at Phu Soi Dao National Park. The speaker's excitement is evident in their eagerness to join the trip and their anticipation of capturing beautiful photos amidst the flowers. The text ends with a humorous note, inviting the reader to witness the actual outcome of the trip.



We gathered a group of 12 strangers at the new Phitsanulok Bus Terminal. The journey from Chonburi to Phitsanulok took almost 4 hours by Nakhonchai Air bus. Upon arrival, we freshened up and prepared for the next leg of our journey in a shared taxi arranged by our trip leader, Minmin.



The journey continues to the national park, approximately 200 kilometers from here. The scenery along the way consists of rice fields, cornfields, and mountain ranges, offering a pleasant view. However, the dust can be excessive. If you plan to travel by songthaew, we recommend bringing a face mask. Our group stopped at a market to prepare provisions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is advisable to bring drinking water, sweets, and energy-giving snacks, as there are no shops on the mountain. Everything must be brought by yourself. Rainwater is available for drinking on the mountain, and if it is not enough, you can drink rainwater.



Upon arriving at Phu Soi Dao National Park around 9 am, we separated the items we would hire porters to carry from those we would carry ourselves. We only carried three 1-liter bottles of drinking water (we initially planned to bring only two, but the park rangers advised us that it wouldn't be enough, so we heeded their advice). We ended up drinking only two bottles on the way up and down (perhaps because we don't drink much). The other items we carried were our camera, lunch, and, of course, snacks. After arranging the porter service, we took a park vehicle to the starting point of our hike, which was Phu Soi Dao Waterfall.



The scene is now ready, with abundant props and a very full face.

Phu Soi Dao National Park begins at the "Phu Soi Dao Waterfall" and ends at the "Phu Soi Dao Conqueror's Point" or "Pine Field," which is 1,633 meters above sea level. (It is actually possible to climb to the summit, but it is currently closed.) The hiking distance is approximately 6.8 kilometers. (Why did it feel like 10 kilometers when I was walking?)

The path is divided into five sections, named: Farewell Hill, Defeating the Master Hill, Pa Ko Hill, Tiger Hill, and Death Hill.



Before setting off, the 12 strangers (one person is missing from the photo) took a quick picture together.

The first part was still relaxing, carrying cameras, clicking shutters, and walking to listen to the sound of the waterfall.

The initial trails we encountered included stairs, flat paths, muddy sections, and bridges that required balance and agility.

Nature is always beautiful. Lately, I've been taking pictures of everything I see. I still have a lot of energy left. (Walking leisurely, taking pictures as I go, I really like this moment.)

Unknown flower. Credit: Minmin.



The mushroom grew from loneliness, so it came to find him. (Oops, that's not it, haha)

Credit: Tongtong


I want to walk like this, I like to walk like this, walk all the way, rest when I'm tired.

Credit: Minmin

Reaching the top of the mountain, my friend Tal was struck by cramps. Tal, who is known as "Tal 5 Steps", is famous throughout the mountain for getting cramps every 5 steps. No matter where the cramps hit, she would lie down right there. The porters who passed by stopped to help, giving her medicine and massaging, stretching, and dragging her along. (On the way back, I thought she could open a massage parlor.) She almost didn't make it. 555

She finally reached the hill of death, crawling and stumbling. It was unclear whether to laugh or pity her. They could only talk to each other, wondering what they were doing here. They would rather stay at home than suffer hardship.

We are almost there, just a little more (really?). But this slope is so steep. Standing here looking at it, I can't help but sigh. It's aptly named Death Hill.

Credit: Minmin



As we reached Death Slope, a light drizzle began to fall. When the rain stopped, we were greeted by a thick fog. Oh my goodness, it was breathtakingly beautiful! At that moment, we knew that all the hardships we had endured were worth it. The stunning natural scenery made it all worthwhile. We couldn't resist capturing the breathtaking atmosphere with our cameras.



It looks even better in person than in the pictures, you guys...

Credit: Tongtong



The reward for the slow walker is arriving at the viewpoint just as the sun is setting, resulting in a breathtaking view. The actual scenery is far more stunning than what can be captured in a photograph. If you want to witness this spectacle, you must visit Phu Soi Dao.

How wonderful it would be to have someone sitting next to me right now, sharing this feeling. (I know I'm daydreaming, but please be gentle with your criticism.)



Finally arrived at the pine forest at almost 6 pm. Everyone else is about to go to sleep, but the world doesn't care. Others walk for 5-6 hours, but I take 8 hours. Where are the dreamlike rhododendrons? Haha.

As we were walking, we were very worried that it would be dark soon and we still hadn't reached our campsite. We were on the verge of tears. When we finally arrived at the campsite, our friends who had been waiting for us for a long time had already set up the tent and prepared food for us. Thank you very much.

The talented photographer and the selfless chef reportedly missed the sunset photoshoot because they were worried about the latecomers being hungry. They prepared a meal for them, and the cauliflower dish was said to be incredibly delicious. Thank you for the food! (P.S. We didn't take any pictures of the food because we were so hungry.)

Today, I had lunch with the rain. We were caught in a storm, so we had to accept it. We lost a day without getting the pictures we had planned. It felt like changing our sleeping place and eating place. It was super cool, haha.

Let's continue on the 2nd day (September 9, 2018).



Good morning. It's still raining this morning (it rained all night, isn't that enough?). Take a shower and brush your teeth. There are bathrooms on Phu Soi Dao, but you have to fetch water from the stream yourself. The water will be a bit cloudy because there are so many people on this trip. It's like a market. After showering, eating, and packing up the tent, prepare your belongings and get ready to walk down.



This is a must-visit photo spot that everyone should check out. As for me, 555, I didn't go. I couldn't make it. I'm just posting pictures that I stole from my friends.

Credit: Oat and Ying

Let's go see the Na Hong flowers that we boasted about. Standing confused in the flower field, there's… there's not a single picture of me. Sigh.



Credit: Jojo



Even though we don't have a picture of ourselves, having a picture of our friend is still good.



On the way back, we set off before our seniors because we were afraid of being late. Three new friends.

The descent takes approximately 4 hours. The walk down is quite relaxing, except for the pain in my feet from my shoes rubbing. The anti-slip soles on my shoes worked well, but I should have worn thicker socks. I was warned about this (but I was stubborn), and now my toes are bruised.

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The hiking trail at Phu Soi Dao is quite challenging, in my opinion. It's advisable to be physically fit before embarking on this trek. Fortunately, I regularly engage in squats and running, which helped me avoid muscle cramps during the hike.

This hike has captivated us with the allure of mountain exploration. Its charm lies in the challenges it presents, fostering resilience, introspection, and an intimate connection with nature. It also fosters new friendships with strangers who become companions, mentors, and fellow adventurers on future journeys. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the twelve strangers who made our first hiking experience an unforgettable adventure filled with joy, laughter, and smiles. We eagerly anticipate future adventures together.



Summary of expenses

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Nakhonnayok Tour Bus, Chonburi-Phitsanulok 405+405 = 810 Baht

The cost of a chartered car from the bus terminal to the park is 4000/12 = 333 baht.

Entrance fee: 40 baht

Entrance fee 30 baht

The total cost of the central hawker is 120+120 = 240.

The average cost of communal meals is approximately 70 baht.

Personal food expenses are approximately 300 baht.

The personal cost of carrying a pole is 150+150= 300 baht.



*** Total approximately 2123 baht ***

#phu soi dao national park
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