Kaeng Krachan National Park  

Wangwon-Phanoenthung Trail

The trail is a compact late rite road passable throughout the year. However, truck and 4-wheel drive are recommend during the rainy season. Motorcycle and bicycle are prohibited due to the road being steep and narrow. Beside, the park’s driving regulations must be strictly observed for safety of all parties.  

15^th-18^th Km. Trail

Visitors camp up at Ban Krang Campsite as there are toilets and a stream nearby for water.  No other services.  A good spot to see birds, butterflies and flora.  Across the steam behind the campsite, a trail takes you along the bank with some part cutting through the forest and detouring back to the water.  It takes half a day.  More information or tour-guide can be enquired for at Ban Krang’s service unit.

You would find Banded King-fisher, Raffles’s Makoha, some herons such as the Malayan Night-heron, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-breasted Broadbill, Black-breasted Broadbill,Black-naped Monark.  Butterflies are seen at salt lick by the brooks, wildflowers along the trail.  The butterflies found here are Paris Peacock, Common Blue Bottle, Green Dragon Tail, Clipper, Commander.  If lucky, you may find the rare and protected Banded Peacock.
 

27^th-36^th km. Trail

A very popular bird watching spot as the rare ratchet-tailed treepir was reportedly found here in 1993.  Other birds found are Common Flameback, Black-crested Bulbul, Blue-billed Leafbird, and Blue-throated Barbet.  In the rainy season, there are Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-breasted Broadbill and Long-tailed Broadbill.  At 23^rd Km. on the right, a big banyan tree when its fruits are ripen, is another spot to watch the birds that come to feed; gibbons and langurs may be seen sometimes.  
 

31^st and 33rt Km. Trail

This is the view point where visitors can watch the sea of mist between 5-7 am. all year round.

Thothip Waterfall

The road ends at 36.5^th Km., visitors then walk down a steep hill for 4 kilometers.  As it is a difficult trail with many leeches in the rainy season, it is suitable for keen trekkers traveling with an official guide.  Contact Phanoenthung’s service unit.  Visitors should stay overnight at the campsite near the waterfall so that they are strong enough to climb up the next day.  Visitors will find a dense forest rich with flora and fauna.  Gray Wagtail, Forktails, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Common Kingfisher and Woodpeckers are found by the creek.  Butterflies can be found by the stream near the campsite: Common Jay, the Great Orange Tip, the Great Mormon, the Green Awlet, Common Emigrant and Orange Goll.  In the obscure forest near the brook, there are more wild butterflies: Pan and Jungle King.  

On the Top of Phanoenthung

It is the highest peak of 1,207 meters From 27^th kilometers, trekkers walk through the forest for 6hrs.  A difficult trails that needs to camp up for one night en route.  Provisions must be prepared.  The beautiful dense forest and grassland along the way and on the peak will never disappoint the trekkers.  It is always cold up here.  The sea of mist will appear by the end of the rainy season approaching the beginning of winter.  

Recommendations For Bird Watching

1. Dress in colours that blend with the environment.

2. Try to keep quiet so as to disturb and scare birds away from you.

3. Going in a small group increases a chance to find more birds.

4. Being bird watching early in the morning or in the evening as birds take refuge from hot sun in dense forest during daytime.

5. Avoid going near any bird nests so not to disturb during birds.

6. Keep in mind that birds’ well-being always comes first.

Recommendations For Butterfly Watching

1. Avoid dressing in bight colours as butterfly’s eyes are very sentitive.

2. Being butterfly watching early in the morning when the sun is shining as it is the time when butterflies will come out to still on leaves and rocks to warm and strengthen themselves. If it is a cloudy or rainy day, look for them under the leaves or on the trees.

3. Moving very solely towards the butterfly will help you get closer to it.

4. Bring a binocular to see those who are flying high.

Recommendations For Trekking

To put up a tent to stay overnight in the forest is not as difficult or dangerous as one may think, especially as the Kaeng Krachan National Park. What you need to prepare in advance are the tent, its accessories, drinking water, dried food and a small gas or charcoal stove. The tent should be covered again with a fly-sheet or a plastic sheet. Another plastic sheet to cover the cooking area rains while cooking.

Pracaution aginst mosquitoes is a must as Malaria Still exists here. Apply the anti-mosquito solution or be in the tent before dusk and come out later in the night to admire the nature. Malariacarrying mosquitoes (genus Anopheles) mostly come out to feed at suck, there are not so many late in the night.

Strictly abide by the regulations and respect other people’s right, i.e. do not cause too loud noise, and do not take way anything from forest. Kaen Krachan Park provides 2 routes for visitors who enjoy nature-cum-adventure.

K.U.-Pong Luek: is the most popular route. The raft will skirt rocks and islets in strange forms and shapes on very fast currents that cut through the rich forest plentiful of wild birds. The trip takes 2 day with one staying overnight in the forest.

The most appropriate time for this adventure is in the rainy season to be beginning of winter, especially October-December. The expense is 1,750 baht per person inclusive of the raft, food and transportation to and back from the riding spot.

Pong Luek – Huai Taphap: is a short about 30 kilometers long and takes about 3 hours. This introductory option though not as exciting as the route reveals equally beautiful scenery on both banks of the stream. The expense is 350 baht per person.

Need a car/van transfer from/to Bangkok contact us: carrent@thai-tour.com.

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