One Day, One Night… A Backpack, A Determined Heart, Embracing the Mist at the Land of Midday Fog: Phu Soi Dao

The trek to the summit of Phu Soi Dao took over six hours. It was slippery, I fell, and it rained. But to witness this… it was absolutely worth it. Was the trail tough? Let me tell you, it was extremely tough. We walked and walked, resting when we were tired. There are no amenities here. You need to bring your own food, water, and cook for yourselves. You even have to collect your own water from the stream and use the communal bathroom. But trust me, it's totally worth it.

The Pink Trumpet Vine flowers are in full bloom right now. The best time to see them is between August and September, but be prepared for rain during this period. But we're not afraid!

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This trip, we traveled by private car from Bangkok to Nam Pat, Uttaradit. Another route is via Chat Trakan, Phitsanulok. We drove excitedly without stopping to reach the mountain in the early morning. Before entering the park, we stopped at the market to buy fresh food, snacks, and drinks for dinner, breakfast, and lunch during our hike. We also prepared water and a foam box for fresh food. We arrived at Phu Soi Dao National Park around 7 am. After completing formalities, we prepared our belongings for the porters to carry up the mountain. We waited for the park officials to fill out the accommodation details. The porters charged 30 baht per kilogram to carry our belongings. We also paid a 200 baht garbage deposit (refundable upon returning the garbage to the bottom). We rented a tent from the park for 3 people for 900 baht, including a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and pillow. This was more economical than bringing our own tent, which would have cost around the same price. After arranging the items for the porters…

An army marches on its stomach. In the park, there is a canteen selling food and drinks. Arrange breakfast properly. As for lunch, you need to prepare it to eat along the way. Don't forget!!! There are no shops like Phu Kradueng... You should bring at least 2 bottles of drinking water with you while walking... When you are ready, there will be a park car, an E-Taek car, and a pickup truck waiting to take you to the top of the mountain.

The path leading to Phu Soi Dao Waterfall is right in front of us. We are ready to conquer it! The path starts to get a bit steep before reaching the first hill, which is the "Farewell Hill." Just the first hill and we are already out of breath... We continue walking, enjoying the waterfall, the birds, and the trees. We sit down to rest when we get tired, and sometimes we even lie down! The path is sometimes steep, sometimes not, and sometimes it's easy to walk on, especially when it's not raining. But if it rains, let me tell you, it gets really muddy... We walk slowly, no need to rush, we will get there eventually. Along the way, we meet porters walking past us, fellow travelers with the same destination. We greet each other, following the Thai custom.

We finally arrived! We were so excited that we almost fainted after a long and epic hike. As soon as we arrived, we took a commemorative photo with the sign. Now we can finally relax and enjoy the beautiful meadow. But let's not get too comfortable, it's getting late and we need to pick up our supplies so we can cook dinner. Our stomachs are growling! Upon arrival, we contacted the staff to collect our tents. If you rent a tent from the park, they will set it up for you and let you choose your spot. However, if you want a good view, it's best to arrive early. In conclusion, we hiked for 6 hours and arrived at 4 pm (we were very efficient, or were we?).

The most delicious food is the food on the mountain. Even canned fish, instant noodles, salted pork, and fried sausages are very delicious. Don't wait, hurry up and eat quickly because you have to take a shower. The water here must be fetched from the stream for bathing and personal needs. You should also rent a water bucket. The rule is that you are not allowed to bathe in the stream, otherwise you will be fined! But I still see young men bathing there.

The park's tents are great because they have a clear plastic tarpaulin roof that covers them, so you don't have to worry about heavy rain and the tent getting wet. You can sleep comfortably until morning....^^ And that night it rained all night. I recommend taking a large black bag with you to lay down before placing your sleeping mat so you don't get wet. That way you can sleep soundly until morning... Sweet dreams and good night. I hope to see some fog tomorrow. I want to see it... Come on!!!

The Enchanting Morning Mist and Photographic Delights

The morning here is breathtakingly beautiful, especially after the rain. The mist hangs low, creating a magical atmosphere. Be sure to bring plenty of memory cards, as you'll find yourself reaching for your camera constantly.

On the morning of your departure, prepare your belongings for the porters before 9 am. The porter who carried your luggage up will also carry it down. It's best to pack your things before heading out for your sunrise photography session.

The descent is a steady walk, no need to rush, as it will be faster than the ascent, but it will require more leg strength. It took us four hours to descend, with a little rain and heavy rain near the foot of the mountain, making the walk more difficult. We went down to wait for the pickup truck to take us to the park to collect our belongings and take a shower before heading back to Bangkok.

From the summit of Phu Soi Dao, we take away something almost everyone echoes: existing friendships forged with fellow travelers deepen, and new bonds form with strangers, leading to effortless conversations and unreserved greetings. This genuine connection is truly heartwarming. As someone once said, travel is a choice to embrace new experiences, a pursuit that working individuals continuously engage in throughout their lives.

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How to prepare for a trip to Phu Soi Dao....

<< Physical preparation is crucial, as returning to exercise may result in leg or knee injuries. (We ourselves were sidelined for a week.) >>

Kitchen utensils, fresh food, dry food, and drinking water should be brought in sufficient quantities, as there are no shops on the mountain. We ourselves had hoped to rely on rainwater, but it turned out to be completely gone. Fortunately, a kind porter offered to carry some up for us in the morning, so we had water with us on the way back (at a cost of 30 baht per kilogram).

<< Flashlight, Painkillers, Massage oil, Essential balm, Balm >>

"The strongest phone signal is True. AIS also has a signal, but we can't find it."

<< Shoes should have a sticky, firm tread, otherwise you might slip, just like we did. 555 >>

<< Raincoat, because it will definitely rain during this period. >>

<< Insect repellent cream, leech repellent. If you're lucky, you might encounter a snail. >>

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This trip was self-organized and self-funded. The total cost for four people was approximately 2,000 baht per person.

This review is for girls who want to travel alone.