Pha Lom Sak

Pha Lom Sak is the signature viewpoint of Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei — a cliff on the southwest rim of the mountain’s plateau, famous for an overhanging slab of rock that juts out over the drop and is the single most photographed spot in the park. Thai hikers have a saying that you haven’t really been to Phu Kradueng until you’ve seen Lom Sak. It’s covered by the park’s 400 THB (foreign adult) entrance fee, and the park itself is open only 1 October to 31 May.

Reaching it is most of the challenge. From the park entrance, the main trail climbs 5.5 km of steep path before levelling out for a further 3.5 km to Wang Kwang, the ranger station and campsite where overnight visitors base themselves — a 3 to 5-hour hike depending on fitness, with porters available at the base to carry gear for a per-kilo fee. From Wang Kwang, Pha Lom Sak is a further walk of roughly 9 km across the plateau, passing several smaller viewpoints along the way, making the round trip from camp somewhere around 18 km and most of a day on foot. This is why almost everyone who makes it to Lom Sak stays overnight on the plateau rather than attempting it as a day trip from the base.

The reward is the view: a wide cliff-edge panorama over Loei’s forested valleys, best at sunset when the light turns the hills gold and the overhanging rock becomes a natural stage for photos. A drinks-and-snacks vendor is sometimes on site during busy periods, but don’t count on it — bring your own water for the walk back. If you’re hiking rather than cycling the plateau’s flat trails, allow time to return to camp in the dark; it’s roughly a two-hour walk back from the cliff to Wang Kwang after sunset.

Insider Tip: Cyclists on the plateau’s rental bikes can comfortably stay for the full sunset and ride back in fading light — walkers should leave earlier, since the return on foot takes a couple of hours and much of it is in the dark.

Watch out: The cliff edge and the famous overhanging rock have no barrier. Footing gets crowded right at sunset when everyone wants the same photo — take care near the drop, especially with children, and don’t push for the rock ledge shot if the crowd makes it unsafe.

Pha Lom Sak sits within Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei province, on the opposite side of the plateau from the sunrise cliff Pha Nok Ean. The park closes completely from June to September each year, so plan any visit for the cool or hot season between October and May.