The Most Beautiful View in Thailand: Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint in Krabi

WOW, this is a view like you’ve never seen before! From the Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint you can enjoy a 360 degree view of the green, hilly landscape and idyllic islands – for which the Krabi province is so famous. Join us on the climb to the top of Ngon Nak Mountain and be amazed!

Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail

Just over a year ago, we stumbled upon a picture on Instagram of a woman sitting on the edge of an abyss…

WOW!

“Where is this? In Krabi?”

We quickly put a plan together: the next time we are in Krabi, we have to climb this mountain!

And we stuck to it. A few weeks ago we were back in Krabi, and finally made the insane climb to the top of the Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail.

Race to the top

After a big breakfast and a shopping spree at the 7-Eleven, we parked our motorbike at the entrance of Hat Noppharat Thara National Park, which is a half-hour drive from Ao Nang Beach.

To our (pleasant) surprise, we had to register at the entrance of the park, where we got a clear explanation of the trip that lay ahead of us.

“The record time is 25 minutes to the top. Easy; for you too!” said the park ranger in his best English with a big smile on his face.

Believe it or not, but they annually organize competitions here for fanatical, Thai mountain sprinters; who reach the summit (498 meters) within half an hour! For the ordinary hiker the hike takes roughly 2 hours, so we decided to take it easy and to just enjoy the hike.

Ngon Nak Mountain

So… you might be wondering what it was like.

Well, it was really tough to be honest! The first section – which is about an hour or so into the hike – was fairly steep and quite challenging because of the mud and roots that often blocked the pathway.

But we persisted and kept climbing (sometimes on all fours), until we reached a viewpoint where we could catch our breath. That concluded the hardest part of the climb.

Big, dark clouds were rolling in, and we silently prayed that it would not rain on the way back…

It’s worth it!

We climbed higher and higher. After about an hour the path leveled out and the hike became much more pleasant. We reached the viewpoint sign after 2 hours, and we were rewarded with one viewpoint after another. You’ll also come across a waterfall, which is only worth seeing during the rainy season from June to October.

Keep going left, and eventually you’ll arrive at a large rock. Climb the rickety, bamboo steps and enjoy the most panoramic view of Krabi! In the distance you can see Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay Beach, Koh Yao Yai and Noi and even the Hong Islands.

Amazing!

What about the viewpoint from the picture?

After taking in the view we looked for the overhanging rock – which would sure make an amazing profile picture on Facebook.

Unfortunately, large signs that read “Dangerous! Do not climb!”, prevented us from taking the picture.

A bit of a bummer, but it was probably for the best. To reach the viewpoint, you have to climb a fence and cross a very narrow path with a sheer drop to your right. One wrong step and it’s game over. Not worth risking your life over!

So please, don’t do anything stupid.

Pouring rain

Only 10 minutes into our descent, the inevitable happened: rain came pouring down like crazy!

Of course we weren’t prepared and didn’t bring raincoats. We ended up taking shelter under a ridge of an overhanging rock for about half an hour, hoping that the storm would blow over.

Which it didn’t. We slipped and slid down the steep path, latching onto roots and jumping over rocks.

Exhausted and completely soaked, we were welcomed back by the park ranger 90 minutes later. Total time: 5,5 hours.

“Not good, not bad!”, he smiled.

Good to know:

The Tab Kak Hang Nak Nature Trail is located in the Hat Noppharat Thara National Park, within walking distance of Tub Taek Beach. Click here for the exact location of the starting point. You must register at the entrance of the park. Entrance is free, although a small donation is highly appreciated.

The park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 3-4 PM. Start your hike early, because latecomers have to pay a fine.

The total length of the trail to the Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint (also called Dragon Crest Mountain) is 2 miles (3.7 kilometers) and the peak is 1.634 feet (498 meters) above sea level.

Bring plenty of water (two liters per person) and be sure to stock up on snacks. Good hiking boots are a must, as well as a raincoat!

Best Hotels Pai

Medio de Pai - $$

Excellent rooms equipped with aircon and a nice swimming pool. But the best part about Medio de Pai is its location: right in the center, on a street parallel to the Walking Street. It also has some spacious, and affordable, family rooms.

Puri Pai Villa - $$

Puri Pai is a luxury resort with rooms with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and Pai’s rice fields. Stay in your own villa with a swimming pool and hammock. You won’t regret this - it is one of the highlights of your trip!

Good luck with the climb to the top!