Northern Thailand Hiking and Camping Part 3 (1st post: Sunrise and Sunset)

A nice experience hiking and camping in northern Thailand in this time of the year from 17 to 25 Jan 2026. Weather is dry and cold after the sun sets; it was so predictable that it would not rain, and we have the colourful sunrise and sunset daily. Night time temperature was around 10°C; hence, one needs to bring thermal and fleece jacket, and even down jacket.

Do CLICK HERE to view 232 photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong. 

Moon Shadow Resort, Doi Pha Tang

This posting covers the following areas (Chiang Rai and Chiangmai):

1. Doi Pha Tang, Moon Shadow Resort;

2. Pha Tang Hill hiking: Viewpoint 102, 103, 104, 107;

3. Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise;

4. Phu Chi Dao Viewpoint hiking for sunset;

5. Shrimp Pond Restaurant for lunch (Best Tom Yum Goong and grill prawns in Chiangrai);

6. Singha Park lakeside walk;

7. Khun Chae National Park Registration Office.

Moon Shadow Resort, Doi Pha Tang

Team Members (18 pax):

KC Leong (Team Lead); 

Cheng Lai, Jadrien Kum, Nelson Lim, Patrick Soh, Tong San Hee;

Amy Thew, Christine Bong, Catherine Cheong, Cheng Li, Edance Tong, Fong Kwee Moy, Ivy Chin, Josephine Lee, Joanne Low, Shu-Lin, Swee Yong, Vandy Yap.

Pha Tang Hill hiking: Viewpoint 103

Best Time:

Best months to go for hiking and camping in northern Thailand are December and January. Other than the dry season, it is cold; and Sakura flowers are blooming.

Feb, March, April, May, June = dry but hot (mountains could be closed because of forest fire);

July, August, Sept = raining season (mountains could be closed because of wet weather);

Oct and Nov = weather improves; with unpredictable rain and mist in the morning that may affect viewing of sunrise.

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise (TongSH)

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park for sunrise

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park - the Sakura full bloom was two weeks earlier

Phu Chi Dao Viewpoint hiking for sunset (Ivy Chin, Christine, Moy, Shu-Lin)

Phu Chi Dao Viewpoint hiking for sunset (Christine and Ivy Chin)

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunrise: Viewpoint 104 (Ivy Chin)

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunrise: Viewpoint 104

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunrise: Viewpoint 107

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunset: Viewpoint 102 (TongSH, Edance, Shu-Lin, ChengLi, Ivy Chin)

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunset: Viewpoint 102 (Ivy Chin, Edance, ChengLi, Shu-Lin)

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunset: Viewpoint 107 (Christine)

Pha Tang Hill hiking for sunset: Viewpoint 107 (Shu-Lin)

Shrimp Pond Restaurant for lunch, best Tom Yum Goong and grill prawns in Chiangrai (TongSH and Nelson)

Shrimp Pond Restaurant for lunch 

Singha Park lakeside walk

Singha Park lakeside walk (ChengLi, Christine, Ivy Chin, Shu-Lin)

Dinner in Chiang Rai

Khun Chae National Park Registration Office

This time, we have a better system. Renting of camping tents, sleeping bags and pads, because they are of constant weight, do not need to individually weigh again.

We only need to weigh the personal items kept in various big bags due to variable weight. An assistant would take the "mug shot" of each team member showing the weight and person, pay after returning from the hike.

Renting camping gear is better as compare to brining them from Kuala Lumpur as they take up space in our luggage bags. If one brings own camping tent, one needs to set up by himself/herself. 

Do click here to view the 2nd posting of this trip. 

Do click here to view Part 2 (Wawajo) or Part 1 (Phu Kradueng) of Northern Thailand Hiking and Camping trips.

Posted by KC Leong

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival

Sri Bintang Hiking group celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival at the hilltop on Sunday, 5 Oct 2025, at 7pm ... it was a night filled with warmth and joy; everyone enjoyed the camaraderie, shared delicious food, and beautiful memories of being together amidst laughter and lights.

Do CLICK HERE to view 113 photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.

Gotong-royong in preparing the site

Gotong-royong in preparing the site

Creative idea - lanterns made from aluminum cans

Shared delicious food, and a big pot of chicken curry and fried bee hoon (not in photo)

At Sri Bintang hilltop

A collaborative effort to create the heart-shape light pattern

Enchanting night view from Sri Bintang hilltop

A mega group photo

Tanglung night walk 

Tanglung night walk

Lots of fun with the light-painting photography

Writing letters require more practice and N.G. (repeat shots) 

Light-painting photography

This location is chosen because of the background city lights

Posted by KC Leong.

Endau Rompin National Park Johor Adventure (Part 3)

4D3N Endau Rompin Adventure (Peta Entrance) from 20-23 Sept 2025 ... a fun and memorable adventure with water tubing activity, night walk, serious-stuff hiking, camping, river crossing, swimming at the cascades of Upeh Guling, taking boat ride and 4WD. Team members: KC Leong (organizer), Alice Siew, Ally Chong, Anita Mak, Iris Lee, Moon De Cerine, Gillian Ong, Sandra, Wey Tyng; Chan How Nean, Ernest Tang, Keong Wong, Ng Lay Keong, Tong San Hee. Chief Mountain Guide - Adil; Assistant Johor Mountain Guides - Syaiful and Ms Sue. Trip arranged by: Green Trekkers Sdn Bhd (details in the last image). Pejabat Pendaftaran Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin (Peta), Kahang; For registration and also park your cars here overnight; click here for location. When the access road is ready, then one can drive all the way to the Visitors' Centre of the national park.

Do CLICK HERE for photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.

The registration office in Kahang (after Kluang) is just a shoplot and we parked our cars for 4 days just in front of the shop. Anyway, it was a safe parking.

The chalets for overnight are just behind this sign post.

All meals are included in the package - Ally and Wey Tyng

Visitors' Centre chalets where we spent one night here before the hiking

Water tubing activity for one hour

This is how we transfer the camping stuff to campsite. The 4WD service is vital in the national park to ferry people from/to the various places for activities. Most of us hop on at the truck bed (back of 4WD) - Iris Lee

The Chief Mountain Guide, Adil, and the assistant guide, Syaiful (with spectacles), heard conflicting warning sound created by birds and monkeys from far and near. They suspected impending danger with the presence of tiger as this is their territory; so they set up fire and smoke to scare away any predators or spirit, if any. They are not using firecrackers method as they believe that the spirit would harm certain members of the orang asli community.

Another lesson learn: bring along a lighter when hiking big mountains.

Full Trans trails: tough triple ascent - Gillian Ong

Endau fan palm - uniquely and abundantly found only in this region. You have to be here to see this unique landscape - Iris Lee, Wey Tyng, Ally and Keong Wong.

Time to enjoy our packed lunch cooked by the Cooking Team

Janing Barat (543m) junction - an important junction where the Full Trans (a new and longer trail starts from Visitors' Centre) and the normal trail that starts from NERC (Nature Education and Research Centre) meet.

Ms Sue (left of photo frame) - another Johor Mountain Guide. She was leading the Full Trans team (longer route, tougher terrain).

Due to heavy rain in the late afternoon – on special consideration for safety – we were allowed to set up tents here for one night.

Kuala Jasin Campsite and Chalets area

All meals in the trek are provided - Ally, Anita, Wey Tyng, Gillian, Alice.

Tents rental is available at an affordable price (the two 3-man grey tents at the far end); You need to bring own sleeping bag, inflatable mattress and pillow. 

Start of journey (from Kuala Jasin Campsite) to Upeh Guling Waterfall

Passing by Kuala Marong Campsite - Iris Lee

The Chief Mountain Guide, Adil, was sharing his knowledge and experience with us while flanked by two leng lui - Gillian Ong and Ally Chong. The Endau Fan Palm, other than an icon or logo, can be used as a fan.

Strewn logs mess - swept along during a massive flood in March 2023 (journey to Upeh Guling Waterfall). It needs another flood to clear these logs away.

Upeh Guling cascades and waterfall, and the famed stone bathtubs

Upeh Guling cascades and waterfall, and the famed stone bathtubs

Upeh Guling cascades and waterfall, and the famed stone bathtubs - Ally and Iris

Upeh Guling cascades and waterfall - Sandra

A group photo before leaving Upeh Guling cascades and waterfall

Nice to complete the adventure with a sumptuous Chinese food.

新客栈Xin Ke Zhan Restaurant, Kluang (recommended by Felicia Hew whose hometown is in Kluang).

This photo is from Keong Wong.

Feel free to form hiker groups to enjoy this adventure. In my opinion, best group size is around 14 hikers as there is the economy of scale.

And before taking up the Endau Rompin challenge, one must train 'kaw kaw' at Mini Tahan (of Bukit Dinding, Kuala Lumpur).

At Kuala Jasin Campsite - the cooking crew are from Kampong Peta (Visitors' Centre). Distance apart = 8km. I think during normal days when there are no visitors, Kuala Jasin Campsite is devoid of people.

There are chalets at Kuala Jasin Campsite; one can consider not camping (thus reduce the amount of stuff to bring).

Posted by KC Leong