🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Mae Wong National Park covers around 894 square kilometres (558,750 rai), spanning Pang Sila Thong district in Kamphaeng Phet and the Mae Wong and Mae Poen districts of Nakhon Sawan. It's part of the Western Forest Complex, connected to Huai Kha Khaeng and Khlong Lan. The side that most visitors reach, and the one people actually go to, is the road up to Chong Yen, entered via Khlong Lan district in Kamphaeng Phet.
Park entry for Thai visitors is 40 THB per person, 30 THB per car and 20 THB per motorbike. It's open year-round, but the season when the weather is genuinely good and the mist really shows up is late rainy season into early winter, roughly late October through February.
Chong Yen — the main draw at Mae Wong
Chong Yen sits at the 93-kilometre marker on the Khlong Lan–Umphang road, the highest point vehicles can reach, about 1,888 metres above sea level and roughly 28 kilometres from the park headquarters. The name (which means "cold gap") comes from the simple fact that this is a mountain pass: wind blows through it all day and the air stays cool year-round. The average temperature is around 20°C, and in winter it drops to 15–17°C without much trouble.
Chong Yen has a campground, toilets, and a small shop selling drinks and dry food. There's no proper restaurant, so anyone staying overnight should bring at least some of their own food. The whole point here is to camp out in the cool wind and wake up early to wait for the mist; it isn't a place packed with activities.
Always book ahead
The campground and bungalows at Chong Yen must be reserved in advance through the Department of National Parks' accommodation booking system (nps.dnp.go.th), especially on long weekends and during winter, when it fills up fast. Just driving up and hoping for a spot is a good way to waste the trip.
Want more out of Kamphaeng Phet? 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.
Viewpoints on the way up to Chong Yen
The charm of the drive up to Chong Yen is the string of viewpoints along the way, so you can stop and shoot photos in stages before reaching the campground.
- Kiew Krathing viewpoint (km 81) — about 16 kilometres from the headquarters, a popular spot for sunset and the morning sea of mist, with layered ridgelines stretching into the distance.
- Mokoju Noi viewpoint — partway up, with a view of the real Mokoju ridge off in the distance; a lot of people stop here for a photo before reaching Khun Nam Yen.
- Khun Nam Yen viewpoint — a viewpoint where you can camp; windy and cold, ideal for waiting out sunrise and the morning sea of mist.
- Phu Sawan — close to Chong Yen, about a 400-metre walk uphill, a 360-degree viewpoint that catches both sunrise and sunset.
Late rains into early winter: why it's the best window
From late rainy season into early winter, roughly November to early January, leftover moisture from the rains combines with the first cool air moving in, filling the valley with mist in the mornings. Looking out from Kiew Krathing or Khun Nam Yen, you see a white sea of mist draped over the treetops; once the sun climbs, it slowly burns off. That's the picture people come to Mae Wong for.
The trade-off is that the nights are genuinely cold, especially up at Chong Yen where the wind blows all night long. A cold-rated sleeping bag, a windbreaker, and a wool hat are not luxuries here. If you're camping in winter, come prepared.
Narrow road, timed entry and exit
The final stretch up to Chong Yen is a narrow road hugging a cliff edge where vehicles can't pass each other, so the park runs it on a schedule with separate uphill and downhill slots. Check the timing with the checkpoint or the park's page before you set out, leave enough time to reach the checkpoint for your slot, and don't speed on the winding road.
Trekking to the summit of Mokoju
Mokoju is the highest peak in Mae Wong at 1,964 metres, and it's a long-distance trek known as one of the toughest in Thailand. The standard programme is 5 days and 4 nights, a round trip of about 64 kilometres, passing through several kinds of forest, crossing streams, and climbing ridges all the way to the "sailboat rock" that's the signature image of this summit.
- Open season — open only from November to February each year; it closes the rest of the year to let the forest recover and to avoid the rains.
- Signing up — registration runs in advance batches, usually opening in early October through an online form on the Facebook page "Mae Wong National Park." Spots are limited and fill quickly.
- Porters — porters are available to carry shared gear, generally with a per-porter load limit of around 20 kilograms, for a fee paid in advance.
- Fitness — this is not a one-day hike; you need to train beforehand, carry a heavy pack, and walk for several days straight. It suits people who have done overnight treks before.
If you're not ready for Mokoju, you can still enjoy Mae Wong the easy way by staying at Chong Yen and walking the short viewpoints. You don't have to reach the summit to experience the forest and the sea of mist.
Waterfalls deep in the forest
Mae Wong has several big waterfalls, but most of them sit deep in the forest and take several days of walking to reach. These aren't the kind of falls you can drive up to and jump straight in.
Mae Krasa Waterfall
A large, multi-tiered, very tall waterfall deep in the forest; the round trip on foot takes about 3–4 days, suited to serious trekkers.
Mae Ki / Mae Rewa Waterfall
In the same zone as Mae Krasa, fed by the Thanon Thong Chai mountain range and also reached on foot.
Getting there and where to stay nearby
From Kamphaeng Phet town, drive out toward Khlong Lan district to reach the park headquarters, then continue up to Chong Yen for another 28 kilometres or so. The final stretch is steep and winding; a sedan in good condition can make it, but you'll need to drive carefully. If you're not confident in your car or your mountain driving, it's fine to stay in Kamphaeng Phet town or Khlong Lan and head up in the morning.
If you'd rather sleep somewhere comfortable with air conditioning and hot water before or after going into the forest, Kamphaeng Phet town has hotels and guesthouses across a range of prices. Bank the energy for tackling Chong Yen the next day.
See places to stay in Kamphaeng Phet town before heading up to Mae Wong
See Kamphaeng Phet hotels →