Buriram Volcano Trail
Khao Kradong–Khao Angkhan–Phanom Rung

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Most people know Buriram for football and the racetrack, but ask a local and the story that never ends is the volcanoes. The province has several old volcanic cones, hundreds of thousands of years old or more, all of them cold and harmless now. What's left are low hills, craters that have filled into ponds, and volcanic soil that makes the land around here good for growing things. The fun part is that the ancient Khmer quarried that volcanic rock and sandstone to build temples on the summits, so you get geology and history in the same trip.

The three stops add up to roughly 110–120 km of driving from the city centre. It's an easy day if you start early. You'll want your own car or a rental, because Khao Angkhan and Phanom Rung are far from town and awkward to reach by public transport.

Stop 1 — Khao Kradong, the volcano closest to town

Khao Kradong Forest Park is only about 6 km from Buriram city centre. It's an extinct volcano roughly 300,000–900,000 years old, around 265 m above sea level. The old crater is now a basin you can walk around, with a suspension bridge across it so you can look down and see the crater shape clearly from above.

At the summit stands Phra Suphat Bophit, Buriram's landmark Buddha image, a large figure facing north. There are two ways up: climb the 297-step Naga staircase, or just drive up and park at the top. If you want the photos and a bit of a workout, take the stairs; if you're bringing older relatives, driving up is easier. The top doubles as a viewpoint over Buriram, and on a clear day you can pick out the reservoir and Chang Arena.

• Hours — roughly 08:00–18:00 daily
• Entry — free (there's a donation box for upkeep)
• Time needed — about 1–1.5 hours, including the suspension bridge and paying respects
• Good as your first stop — it's close to town, so head here straight after leaving your accommodation in the morning

Driving south — from the city to the Chaloem Phra Kiat area

From Khao Kradong we head south to Chaloem Phra Kiat district, home to Khao Angkhan and Phanom Rung. The main route is Highway 218 (Buriram–Nang Rong), then Highway 24, turning onto 2117 through Ban Ta Pek. It's about 60–65 km from the city to this zone, a little over an hour of driving. The bonus is that Khao Angkhan and Phanom Rung are only about 15 km apart, so you can do them back to back in one loop.

Nang Rong is a convenient halfway food stop, with several roadside places along Highway 24. If you're hungry before heading up, fill up here, because food is scarce up on Khao Angkhan and Phanom Rung.

Stop 2 — Wat Khao Phra Angkhan, the colourful temple on the crater rim

Wat Khao Phra Angkhan sits in Charoen Suk subdistrict, on top of Khao Angkhan, another of Buriram's extinct volcanoes. The part people remember is the large temple hall in an eclectic style, ringed by rows of brightly coloured Buddha images. The overall look is loud and eye-catching, and it photographs well. But the real historical value is the Dvaravati-era sandstone boundary stones (sema) found here, which show the site was sacred even before the Khmer period.

To be straight with you, the temple's architecture is a later work built over an old site, not a thousand-year-old monument like Phanom Rung. Anyone expecting a stone temple may feel it's a different thing altogether. But seen as a temple with a good view on a volcano where you can pay respects and take photos, it's worth a stop, and it sits right on the way to Phanom Rung.

• Hours — open daily, daytime roughly 08:00–17:00
• Entry — no entry fee, donate as you wish
• Time needed — about 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Highlight — the hall of multicoloured Buddha images and the viewpoint over the surrounding fields

Stop 3 — Phanom Rung, the stone temple on a volcano summit

The highlight of the trip is Phanom Rung, set on the summit of Khao Phanom Rung, also an extinct volcano. It's one of the most complete and beautiful sandstone-and-laterite Khmer temples in Thailand. The ancient builders chose the crater rim for spiritual reasons, as a dwelling place for the gods. The approach to the temple runs along one long axis, with naga bridges, staircases and rows of stone pillars; walk it slowly and you'll understand the deliberate layout.

What it's famous for is the sun shining straight through all 15 doorways, which only happens a few times a year. Sunrise alignments fall on 2–4 April and 8–10 September, sunsets on 5–7 March and 5–7 October. Those days draw big crowds and you have to claim a spot before dawn. On an ordinary day you can still enjoy the place fully, you just won't catch the light through the doorways.

• Hours — daily 07:00–18:00
• Entry — Thais 20 THB, foreigners 100 THB, seniors aged 60 and over free
• Time needed — about 1.5–2 hours, including the walk up and exploring the temple
• Contact — tel 044-666251 (Phanom Rung Historical Park)

Timeline for all three stops in one day

Here's a plan that works well if you have a car. Start a bit early so you're not rushing in the afternoon, and leave room for a meal.

Want one more stop — Prasat Muang Tam

If you still have energy and time, Prasat Muang Tam sits at the foot of Khao Phanom Rung, just a few kilometres from Phanom Rung itself. It's a flat, elegant Khmer temple of a different kind, surrounded by L-shaped ponds. The ticket is separate from Phanom Rung. If you finish Phanom Rung early and still feel up to it, you can add it on the same day; but if you're already tired, save it for the next day and you'll enjoy the walk more.

Before you go — how to prep for a good day