🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you've ever seen photos of a narrow wooden walkway clinging to a steep cliff and winding around the mountain in tiers, and wondered how on earth anyone built it, that's Phu Thok — full name Wat Chetiya Khiri Wihan. It sits in Ban Na Kham Khaen, Na Saeng subdistrict, Si Wilai district, Bueng Kan province. What makes it recognisable across the country is the wooden stairways and walkways that spiral around the cliff up through seven levels, built on pure faith without any heavy machinery.
Phu Thok works as both a light adventure outing and a place of meditation at the same time. Come because you want to test yourself on a walkway hugging a cliff, or come to make merit and pay respects — both are fine. But understand first that this is a genuine forest-tradition temple, not a theme park. You climb with restraint, dress modestly, and respect that this is a monks' space.
What Phu Thok is, and why go
Phu Thok means "the isolated mountain," because it's a single rocky peak that rises out of flat ground — from a distance it looks like an island in the fields. Luang Pu Juan Kulachettho, a vipassana monk among the disciples of Luang Pu Mun, chose this spot to practise meditation and gradually built wooden walkways winding up around the cliff, starting around 1969. It took several years to complete all seven levels, so that monks and lay people could climb up to meditate at the top.
The appeal of the place is that it's nothing like the usual mountain temple with straight concrete steps. Instead it's a wooden walkway that follows the natural shape of the cliff, with some stretches being narrow ledges jutting out into open air, where you look down on rice fields and forest below. It's a rare sight, and it makes Phu Thok a true landmark of Bueng Kan, alongside Three Whale Rock and Naga Cave.
Want more out of Bueng Kan? 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.
The 7-tier wooden walkway — what you pass through
The way up Phu Thok is divided into 7 levels, and each one has a different feel — starting from shady forest down low, climbing steadily up to the cliffside walkway near the top. Here's what you'll find at each level.
- Levels 1–2 — wooden stairs at the start, passing through cool, shady forest with all kinds of plants. This stretch is still easy, just warming up your legs.
- Level 3 — the wooden walkway begins to wind around the mountain, and this is where the view starts to open up, with the landscape below coming into clearer focus.
- Levels 4–5 — the wooden path is solid, and level 5 is where the monks' pavilion and huts sit. It's a good place to catch your breath, shady and quiet.
- Level 6 — the real highlight. A narrow wooden walkway hugging a steep cliff, around 400 metres long in total. You walk a full loop around the mountain and get a sweeping view of almost 360 degrees — the most beautiful viewpoint on Phu Thok.
- Level 7 — the path is fairly steep and the forest is dense. It's a quiet meditation area, and most people aren't advised to go further. Most visitors stop to take in the view at level 6 and then head back down.
Which level is the real goal
For most people the goal is level 6, not level 7 — because level 6 is the cliffside walkway with the best view and the best photos. Level 7 is a meditation zone where the path is steep and overgrown. Reaching level 6 already gives you the full experience.
The climb — how long does it take, is it tiring?
Going up and back down takes roughly 1–2 hours, depending on how much you stop to take photos and rest. Most of the way is wooden walkways and stairs that the temple keeps in solid shape; through levels 4–6 the wood is still firm and not rotted, so you can walk with peace of mind. The effort is at a level most people can handle — it's not as brutal as real mountain climbing — but it's not a flat path either, with some steep stretches and continuous stairs that can leave you puffing if you don't exercise much.
The part many people worry about is the cliffside walkway on level 6, where the path is narrow and you can see the drop below. If you're very afraid of heights, this stretch may feel a little hair-raising — but the walkway has a handrail and is wide enough for people to pass each other. Walk slowly, hold the rail, don't rush, and most people get through fine. Older children and fit elderly visitors can manage it too; you just need to gauge your own physical condition first.
- Wear sneakers or shoes that fit snugly and grip well. Don't wear flip-flops, because there are stairs and wooden surfaces that can get slippery.
- Carry drinking water, because there are no shops at the top and Bueng Kan can get fairly hot in the middle of the day.
- Climb in the morning — it's cooler and the sun is gentler. If you come in the late afternoon, leave enough time to get back down before closing.
- Going solo or in a small group is fine, but if you bring young children or elderly people, you should have someone to steady them along the cliffside walkway.
Opening hours, entry fee, and dress code
Phu Thok is open for the climb every day from 06:30–17:00, and there's no entry fee because it's a temple — if you feel moved to, drop a donation in the box as you're able. The important thing is the dress code, because this is a forest-tradition temple. You should dress modestly and neatly — no spaghetti-strap tops, no shorts above the knee, and nothing so tight it's inappropriate. Pick an outfit that's comfortable to walk in and can cover your shoulders and knees.
Etiquette on Phu Thok
This is a meditation zone where monks genuinely live, so avoid loud talking and playing music, don't write on the walkways or the cliff, and absolutely don't leave litter on the mountain — carry it back down to throw away below. If you pass a monk on the path, step aside and keep a respectful manner.
Which part of the year is most beautiful
The most ideal window is cool season through early hot season, roughly November to February — the air is cool and pleasant, the skies are clear, and the view from level 6 stretches far and sharp, so you can climb without being drenched in sweat. In the rainy season the rice fields below turn a beautiful green, a different kind of picture, but the wooden walkways can get slippery and some days fog hides the view, so you have to be especially careful of wet surfaces.
If you can choose, we'd suggest climbing in the morning, right when the temple opens — the sun isn't harsh yet, the air is cool, there are fewer people, and you have plenty of time to go up and down at an easy pace, without racing to get down before the 5pm closing.
How to get to Phu Thok from Bueng Kan town
Phu Thok is in Si Wilai district, about 40 km from Bueng Kan town — roughly an hour's drive. The last stretch of the access road is Route Bk.5019, which has been improved so it's easy to reach; you don't need a 4WD, and an ordinary sedan can make it. There's a car park down below before you start the climb.
- Private car / rental car — the most convenient, since Phu Thok is outside town and there's no public transport that goes directly there. You can rent a car in Bueng Kan town or drive over from Udon Thani.
- Chartered car / local taxi — if you're not driving yourself, you can charter a van or car from the Udon Thani–Bueng Kan route and combine Phu Thok with Three Whale Rock and Naga Cave in a single trip.
- "Three Dharma" tour — several operators run trips bundling Phu Thok, Naga Cave, and Three Whale Rock into one package, which suits people who'd rather not plan the route themselves.
Where to go next from Phu Thok
Three Whale Rock
Rock formations shaped like three whales on the cliff of Phu Sing — the most talked-about viewpoint and sunrise spot in Bueng Kan. It's in a different zone from Phu Thok but you can combine them in one trip.
SpiritualNaga Cave
A rock cave whose surface looks scaled like the body of a Naga serpent, in the Phu Langka area — one for the spiritually inclined not to miss. You have to book a slot to walk up in advance.
City guideThe complete Bueng Kan trip
See the attractions, food, places to stay, and travel routes for the whole province in one place. Plan from the very start.
Plan a complete Bueng Kan trip — Phu Thok, Three Whale Rock, Naga Cave, and Mekong-side eats
See the Bueng Kan travel guide →