Kata-Karon Hiking Trail

1 Charlie Bruzzese - a month ago

I am not rating the trail but I want to take your attention. I took it today and almost stepped on a monocled Cobra. One of the most deadly you can encounter. Wear long pants and / or snake proof gaiters. AND WATCH CAREFULLY YOUR STEPS. They usually rise and hiss before biting. But still, gather information on what to do if bitten. It can save a life.

5 Sam Bell - 4 months ago

Steep climb up with monkeys and cool frogs. View was really cool and the Buddha well worth the hike.

3 Oscar Wahlman - 3 years ago

We walked from Big Buddah Temple to Karon. We didn't regret it. Such a nice walk in the jungle, This is a must. Enjoy

5 Sandra Ko - 3 years ago

Trail is incredibly steep at some portions, where using a make shift cable out of rope is necessary. The jungle is beautiful though, and you’ll see a lot of different types of bugs and incredible viewpoints of Kata and the beaches. There’s another trail next to a Elephant enclosure that’s more gradual and also a nice walk among the forest, but the path is not well marked and good navigational instinct is advised to not get lost. Both trails lead to the same point in Kata.

4 Diana G - 2 years ago

We're 35 and 44 years old, the only exercise we do is walking our dog. That said, it was at times exhausting walking up, but with quite a few stops and a slow pace we made it up feeling great and really sweaty :) The jungle path itself took less than 35 minutes (including walking from main road in Karon and walking up to big buddha it took 55 minutes). Some segments were really steep but with the help of ropes it made it easier. The path is clear to see, no problem at all.
Walking down you really have to watch your step where the path is steepest, the biggest concern being rolling small gravel on the path which can cause sliding (just take it slow and hold on to the ropes). Descending the jungle path took less than 25 minutes (including all the way from big buddha down to main road in Karon it took less than 35 minutes).
We tried finding a cab once we were ready to go down, but either they were already taken or the drivers were nowhere to be found. We're actually glad we walked down, because it saved us money, and it was fun walking down :)
We would recommend taking Patak Soi 12 up from the main road Patak Rd (just opposite Baan Karon Resort). Patak Soi 10 is way too steep a long strech of the road and Patak Soi 14 is a bit longer.
If you want to get those gorgeous sunrise pictures from the top at big buddha you have to get a cab early in the morning, because walking up the jungle path in darkness would be too dangerous. In the morning the sun shines really bright from a lower point and it might be difficult getting nice pictures of the view, just get there mid day when the sun is high up in the sky if you're keen on nice landscape pictures.

3 Travis Miller - 3 years ago

Cool hike but not really any great views. Also it's not clear whether you start at the top or bottom or where it goes. Google shows the point at the top of the mountain. I believe the intention is to hike down to the Karon beach.

3 Tommy E - 9 months ago

Badly maintained, steeper than you think.
Bring water