Phukhaofai Kradong Non-Hunting Area

Khao Kradong is an extinct volcano about 265 metres high on the edge of Buriram town, protected as a non-hunting area rather than a national park — which in practice means it’s free to enter and open daily, not permit-gated. The main draw is the climb to the crater rim: a Buddha statue, a footbridge over the water-filled crater, and a view back over the city.

The Nakkharat staircase does the work of getting you up there — 297 concrete steps built in 1969, running through mixed deciduous forest to the summit platform. At the top sits Phra Suphattharabophit, the hilltop Buddha image, with the crater itself just beyond it. After rain the crater basin fills with water; a suspension bridge crosses it, giving a different angle on the volcanic bowl than the summit view does. Red laterite soil shows through the forest floor along the lower trail sections, a visible reminder of the site’s volcanic origin even though the last eruption was millions of years ago.

Watch out: the staircase is shaded but the summit platform isn’t — arrive before mid-morning in the hot season (March-May) or the concrete gets uncomfortably warm underfoot and the haze dulls the city view.

Buriram runs two festivals here across the year: one in April and a dedicated Volcano Festival in December, when the site draws bigger local crowds than on an ordinary day. Outside those dates it’s quiet, mostly local families and the occasional day-tripper from Buriram town rather than a coach-tour stop. That also means facilities are basic — bring your own water, since there’s little for sale at the base.

Getting there from central Buriram takes 10-15 minutes by car or songthaew along the Buriram-Prakhonchai Road; there’s no public bus route directly to the base. Pair it with Kradong Reservoir nearby if you want a longer half-day out of town — the two sit close enough together to combine in one trip. Wear sturdy shoes for the staircase, bring water, and budget 45 minutes to an hour for the climb and the crater walk, more if you linger for photos at the summit.