🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Khao Khitchakut, which many people call "Khao Phra Bat" (Footprint Mountain), sits inside Khao Khitchakut National Park in Khao Khitchakut District, Chanthaburi Province. The spot everyone climbs to pray is the footprint summit, about 1,000 metres above sea level. What makes it special is that it opens for just one stretch each year, roughly two months during the cool season. After that the mountain closes so the forest can recover, which is why so many people spend the whole year waiting for this trip.
When does it open in 2026, and what hours?
This year the park opens for footprint pilgrimage from January 19 to March 19, 2026, with the mountain-opening ceremony held on January 17. While it's open, shuttle trucks run up and down 24 hours a day. Most people prefer to go up overnight or before dawn because it's cooler and far easier to walk than in the daytime heat.
- Open dates: Jan 19–Mar 19, 2026 (changes every year — always check before you go)
- Hours: open 24/7, but it's busiest on Friday–Saturday nights and major Buddhist holy days
- Quietest times: midweek weekdays, late after 1am, or early February before the big festivals
When's the best time to climb?
To avoid hour-long truck queues, skip long-weekend nights and Buddhist holy days. Go on a weekday late at night and the queue is much shorter — plus you'll reach the summit right around dawn and catch the sunrise over a sea of mist.
Want more out of Chanthaburi? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
How do you get up, and where are the pickup points?
You can't drive your own car up the mountain. You park at the staging area below and switch to a local shuttle truck (a modified pickup built to climb the steep grade). There are two main pickup points: Wat Phluang (the main one, with the most trucks) and Wat Kathing. Both have parking, food stalls, toilets, and walking-stick rentals.
- Shuttle fare: 200 THB/person (round trip, up and down) · young children under 12 usually ride free
- Park entry fee: Thai adults 40 THB, children 3–14 years 20 THB, seniors 60+ free (foreign adults 200 THB, children 100 THB)
- Where the truck stops: it takes you to the upper parking area, and from there you walk on to the footprint terrace
- Truck queue: at peak times the wait to board can run 1–2 hours, so budget plenty of extra time
How far is the walk, and what's the trail like?
A lot of people assume the truck takes you all the way to the top. In reality it drops you at the upper parking area, and you still have a fair walk left on foot. The trail is an uphill climb with sections of steps, some steep, and stretches of rough, rocky ground. It's about 1 kilometre from the upper parking area to the footprint terrace — but it's a tiring kilometre because it's all uphill. Take it slow and rest in stages.
If you'd rather do the full merit-making walk and skip the truck, there's a dirt trail from the bottom up to the footprint terrace, about 3.2 kilometres. But it's only open in the morning from 6:00–9:00am, and it's really only for people in genuinely good physical shape.
Footwear matters a lot here
The trail is rock and steep steps. Flip-flops slip easily and hurt your feet. Wear sneakers or shoes with good grip and tread that isn't worn down — you'll walk much more safely and comfortably.
What's there to pay respects to at the top?
At the summit you'll find several shrines lined up along the path, each with its own belief. People typically walk and pay respects at each one in turn.
Phluang Buddha Footprint
The highlight of the whole trip — a Buddha footprint on a large slab of stone, about 2 metres long and 1 metre wide. Visitors line up to apply gold leaf and make a wish.
Balancing rock (Hin Luk Bat)
A huge boulder shaped like an upturned alms bowl, standing on the cliff edge and sheltering the footprint. People touch it and apply gold leaf for good fortune.
Sacred rocks / handprint
Along the path are several more sacred rocks, like the Buddha's handprint and various stone formations with their own legends. You can keep paying respects as you walk.
Red cloth ties / wish points
Many people tie red cloths at the wish points and hang bells — the spiritual atmosphere is in full swing. You can buy offerings from the stalls up top.
Before you go — a packing checklist
Going up overnight, the summit is genuinely cold — the temperature is well below what it is at the bottom — and you'll be walking uphill on top of that. Come prepared and the trip is a lot more fun.
- Warm layer / light jacket — the summit is cold, especially from late night to dawn
- Sneakers with good grip — no flip-flops; the rocky, steep trail is slippery
- Flashlight / headlamp — if you go overnight, some sections are dark and not fully lit
- Water + snacks — there are stalls up top, but prices are high and it's crowded, so bringing your own is reassuring
- Personal medication / inhaler — the trail is steep; anyone with a heart condition or high blood pressure should assess themselves first
- Small cash — fares, entry, offerings and donations are mostly cash only
- Red cloth / gold leaf — cheaper down below than up top, if you plan to apply gold leaf
Leave enough time
Between the truck queue, the climb, paying respects at every shrine, and the walk down, plan on roughly 4–6 hours or more. The busier the day, the longer it takes — don't schedule another stop too tightly on the same day.
Where to go next nearby
Once you're back down, there's plenty more to see in Chanthaburi to roll into one trip.
- Phlio Waterfall — a pretty waterfall full of soro brook carp, perfect for cooling off after the climb
- Chanthaboon Waterfront Community + Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — an old-town quarter for strolling, sampling sweets, and cafes
- Chanthaburi Gem Market — one of Thailand's liveliest gem-trading markets, open Saturday–Sunday
Plan a full Chanthaburi trip — temples, sea, and food all in one
See the Chanthaburi travel guide →