Krabi Thailand is famous for its beautiful beaches and its uniquely shaped limestone mountains. If you love hiking and stunning viewpoints, then hiking Khao Ngon Nak, also known as Dragon Crest Mountain in English, should definitely be on your to-do list!
The Khao Ngon Nak Nature Trail is a long, but beautiful 4 km (2.4 mile) hike with lots of stunning viewpoints along the way to keep you well entertained throughout the journey. This trek is most well known for its jaw-dropping, Instagram-worthy, photo opportunities making this tough 3-hour trek worth it! Now, I know that 4 km doesn’t seem very far, but the steep incline is what makes this hike tough.
In this article, we’ll cover what you can expect when hiking Khao Ngon Nak and what you should bring, so you can make this trek safely and comfortably when you come to Krabi.
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Khao Ngon Nak National Park Information
The Khao Ngon Nak National Park is located about 26 minutes from Ao Nang, Krabi, and is easy to find with Google Maps. You can get there by renting a motorbike, renting a car, or hiring a taxi or Grab to take you there. You can find affordable Krabi car rentals here.
The park is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we recommend starting the hike at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. to avoid climbing during the heat of the day.
Entry into this national park is FREE! You just need to sign in at the ranger station before you start climbing.
What to Bring
The most important thing to bring on this hike is water. Many hikers make the mistake of not bringing enough water and are therefore unable to complete the climb. We recommend bringing at least 1.5 liters of water per person. We found this to be the perfect amount.
We also recommend wearing comfortable sneakers or athletic shoes. The path is rocky and uneven, so you definitely want to avoid sandals and flip-flops on this one.
Lastly, be sure to bring snacks and a lunch. Hiking Khao Ngon Nak is quite tough, so bringing nuts, fruit, and energy bars is essential to recharge your batteries as you go up. Plus, it’s nice to have a picnic lunch at the top of Dragon Crest Mountain. The views with a light lunch are a delicious reward for your hard work.
How Long Does It Take
For the average person, it will take 3 hours to reach the top of Khao Ngon Nak. We do know avid hikers who can make the climb up Dragon Crest Mountain in only 2 hours, but to go this fast requires a quick pace with no breaks.
We suggest allowing three hours to hike up, one hour to take in all the beautiful views at the top, and two hours to climb down. So, allowing a total of six hours for this activity would be best.
Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoints
The best part of hiking the Khao Ngon Nak Nature Trail is that there are so many beautiful viewpoints along the way! It’s quite an entertaining journey.
At the start of the trail, there is a watercourse with a small running creek that is nice to see. Halfway through the journey, you will see such amazing sea views that it will give you the energy to continue the other half of the climb.
One of our favorite viewpoints had a rock that was shaped like a chair. This was a great place to rest, recharge, and take in the lovely views here.
One viewpoint even had a placard detailing the surrounding mountain range names. It was nice to stop and learn about the surrounding nature and wildlife from the placards along the way.
Once you reach the top of Dragon Crest Mountain, there are 5-6 different viewpoints with stunning views. Take your time at the top and explore the view from each boulder and each ledge. Don’t forget to take loads of pictures so you will not want to forget this moment!
Want to see what the climb is like for yourself? Check out our full video guide below!
Warning: Danger of Falling
The view from the top of Dragon Crest Mountain is amazing, but the gradient is quite steep in places. Falling to your death is possible, so please be careful! The national park trusts each hiker to use their best judgment and not to go too close to the edge. Literally, one small slip could end your life so please be careful up there!
For Those with Knee Concerns
This journey is indeed tough on the knees, especially during the descent. If you have mild knee issues, we recommend bringing a knee brace because the compression from the knee brace is very helpful on the high-impact descent. However, if you have significant knee issues, we would not recommend this hike as it can be quite hard on the joints.
Recovery
After this hike, we were quite tired and rested for the remainder of the day. After a full 5 hours of hiking, you will not have the energy for much else, so we suggest allowing the rest of the day to rest, hydrate, and recover.
Luckily, we felt like our normal selves by the next morning and could resume our regular activities easily.
Final Thoughts about Hiking Khao Ngon Nak
Although hiking Khao Ngon Nak is tough for the novice hiker, it is still worth it! The views were stunning and knowing that you are mentally and physically strong enough to reach the top is empowering.
While you are in Krabi, check out these other fun activities.
- 20 Fun Things to Do in Krabi
- The Best Krabi Beaches
- 4 Island Boat Tour
- Phi Phi Island Hopping Tour
- Kayak Lot Cave
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