Khao Khitchakut National Park

Khao Khitchakut National Park is a 59 sq km stretch of forested hills in Chanthaburi, best known for an annual pilgrimage to a rock formation on its summit, Khao Phra Bat, believed to bear one of Buddha’s footprints. The pilgrimage route opens only from around February to March each year, tied to the lunar Magha Puja period; the rest of the park — waterfalls, lower trails, campsites — stays open daily 08:00-16:30 year-round. Entry is 200 THB for foreign visitors, 40 THB for Thai nationals.

The Pilgrimage to Khao Phra Bat

For the two months the summit route is open, pilgrims travel by shuttle truck from Pluang village up a steep mountain road — private vehicles aren’t permitted on this stretch, only the converted pickup shuttles, which run 100 THB per person around the clock during the season. From the shuttle drop-off, it’s a walk of a little over a kilometre to the summit, where a stone pagoda stands over the rock said to carry the footprint. Over a million visitors make the trip in a typical season, drawn by the belief that worshipping here brings prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.

Beyond the Footprint

Outside the pilgrimage window, Khao Khitchakut is a quieter forest park. Krathing Waterfall drops in thirteen tiers along the Chanthaburi River near the park entrance, and Khlong Phaibun Waterfall lies about 7.5 km further north. Trails through the forest cover elephants, gaur and sambar deer habitat, along with roughly 120 recorded bird species and several endemic gecko species — this is genuine forest, not a manicured park.

Insider Tip: If the summit pilgrimage isn’t the draw, visit outside Feb-March — the waterfalls and lower trails are far less crowded and the entry queues at the gate disappear.

Watch out: Pets are banned throughout the park, no exceptions. Leeches are common on the forest trails after rain — long socks and closed shoes help.

Practical Information

Two campsites near park headquarters allow overnight stays at 30 THB per person, with tent rental around 225 THB a night. The headquarters sits off Highway 3 at the Khao Rai Ya intersection (Km. 324), then about 21 km further on. Contact the park office at 0 3945 2074 or khoakhitchakut-np@hotmail.com to confirm pilgrimage-season dates before planning a summit trip, since they move with the lunar calendar year to year.

Getting There

Khao Khitchakut National Park is in Chanthaburi province. View on Google Maps. Nearby, Namtok Phlio National Park and Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park offer more of the province’s forest and waterfall scenery.