Khao No in Nakon Sawan province

The twin mountains of Khao No-Khao Kaeo เขาหน่อ-เขาแก้ว rise majestically off the plain in northern Nakon Sawan province. 

Picture by a Farang friend's drone (Khao No from hwy 1 side):

Entrance from hwy 1 = Phahonyothin (Khao Gaew in background):


Visitor center, temple, restaurants, monkey statue between the two mountains:


What I think about monkeys in an urban environment (this is a natural environment, but I still object feeding wild animals) here: 
http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/06/big-bad-wolf-childrens-book-sale-in.html

Monkey-proof parking (behind the gate) and monkey-proof lanterns:


Staff from nearby Wat showed us the start of the stairway, then we were alone for the entire ascent and crossed a group of Thai youth who returned less than half-way.


After several hundred meters flat at the beginning, a total 727 steps (counting from gravel fiel of above picture) of concrete (left, view up), and 218 steps of rock (estimated) and metal (right, view down). My flip-flops got slippery from sweat, and the metal hand rail was hot.


After the ascent (10:36-11:27, with stops to wait for FF), we were rewarded with a view of Khao Gaew and the surrounding countryside:



Drone pictures of the summit 
(about 250 m elevation from gravel field by GPS by drone): 



There is a shrine with Buddha footprint on top, and 39 bells:


After getting down, I was thoroughly drenched in sweat, I had to change into fresh clothes. This is the most exhausting mountain climb I have done in Thailand so far.


Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC