Khao Kitcha Kut

Khao Kitcha Kut in Thailand

 Mountain climbing is an exciting adventure. But if the ascent is made on the holy mountain... then even more so! We offer you a unique ritual tour from Pattaya to Khao Kitcha Kut. Which can only be organized in a strictly defined period of the year!

 Only two months throughout the year, anyone has the opportunity to make a fascinating and unusual ascent to the top of famous holy mountain among the inhabitants of Thailand: Khao Kitcha Kut. This place of worship is located not very far from Pattaya, about 180-kilometers to the south-east, in Chantaburi province. Khao Kitcha Kut mountain is surrounded by wild jungle.

 There is a belief that those lucky ones who climb Khao Kitcha Kut and touch the huge oblong stone with their palm - will be lucky throughout the whole year! And whatever business the person who has been here will begin - this year it will always be successful. All those who climb Khao Kitcha Kut for three years - Luck will never leave! According to the Thais, this stone that rises on top of the mountain originates from Space and is a very large meteorite. Is it the truth or only legend - you can check it yourself. Interesting? Then we will tell you further.

Where is Khao Kitcha Kut located

 The sacred mountain Khao Kitcha Kut is located on the territory of local national park (reserve), which is also called Khao Kitcha Kut. Here, besides the mountains themselves, there are magnificent waterfalls. People can swim in falls, so the locals come to rest in Khao Kitcha Kut national park with pleasure. The water of falls and brooks is unusually clean and cool. Khao Kitcha Kut mountain is vigilantly guarded by monks and those who wish are not allowed to climb it for most of the year. But for about a month and a half, the monks make an exception. And taking this opportunity for hundreds of thousands, or even millions of pilgrims, rush here, wanting to make an ascent.

 Many years the local touristic agency "Seven Countries Adventure Club" proposed only night tours to Khao Kitcha Kut. But in 2022-2023 season the company also started to do day tours. With meeting the sunset on the top of Khao Kitcha Kut.

 This tour has nothing to do with mountaineering or any similar extreme occupation. In this case the ascent to the top of Khao Kitcha Kut holy mountain is a ritual. With regard to the conditions and event place, which is often long. It can sometimes take from local residents from twelve hours to two days.

 It is not allowed to drive up to the foot of the mountain by own vehicles. Pilgrims to the impressive transit stations are located in pick-ups. Drivers come here in advance from all over the country to serve the congregation. In each of these pick-ups up to eight people fit.

Religious tour to Khao Kitcha Kut

 In its beginning, the ascent is a crazy rally on a rolling, steeply uphill road, in a dense column of other pickups. And on the "oncoming" the same sequence of pickups is racing and they warm up with each other at maximum speed, in violation of all the usual rules: now to the left, then to the right. But the drivers here are very experienced. There has not been a single serious accident for the entire month and a half, while access to the top of Khao Kitcha Kut is open.

 It can be considered a kind of safari rather than lifting. We thus pass about seven kilometers and the first stage of our ascent ends. We get to the high-mountain station, equipped for the rest of the pilgrims and for boarding to other cars. After all, whatever one may say, climbing to the top is always stressful and sometimes even acclimatization is needed. Here you can take a breath. Drink coffee, order a massage and after it we continue our journey.

 The second stage is even steeper climbs with more drive! The road here is worse, and the cars are more powerful. As for drivers, these are real pilots of the Paris - Dakar rally! They demonstrate the true wonders of driving. Dashing overcoming these five kilometers, we find ourselves at the second high-altitude rest station. Similarly, cafes and massage parlors are equipped here, as well as special retail outlets where parishioners purchase large packages filled with yellow flower petals. You can see porters who help those people who cannot independently overcome this path. They are carried to the top on palanquins.

 The final stage of our route will have to be overcome on foot. Here it is not so far away. About a kilometer. Go ahead on a conveniently equipped track with a railing. It's okay if you choose the ascent in night time. Here, the illumination is specially organized. And it is so bright that during the period of ritual ascents the shining peak of Khao Kitsch Kut is visible at night for many kilometers. And the passage of this site is very interesting! Parishioners ascend the top with yellow flower petals strewn their way, there are so many petals that real yellow heaps lie along the sides! Trees are decorated with garlands of banknotes of different denominations and probably from all the countries of the World!

 That from above, then below under drumming sneak bright long dragons. Very often come across palanquins. Like we got into a time machine and traveled to the past, finding ourselves somewhere in the Middle Ages.

 At the top we can see a true miracle of nature! A huge oval-shaped stone, which found itself here in a completely incomprehensible way! The stone from the bottom is almost completely covered with a layer of gold. The pilgrims attach pieces of gold foil for good luck and it accumulates on the surface of the stone covering it layer by layer. The monks here will bless the congregation, read the mantra. People take turns to touch the holy stone with their palms and receiving a blessing.

 From the top of Khao Kitcha Kut mountain, an amazing panorama of the surroundings opens up. You can drink hot tea and have a snack. Here the air is clean, although it is quite fresh (you need to take long-sleeved clothes or a light jacket with you on a trip).

 If you have chosen night tour, then you will meet the dawn on the top of Khao Kitcha Kut mount. If it is a daytime tour, then you will see the sunset from Khao Kitcha Kut top. These are unique spectacles in their own way, if you have already been on a night climb to the top of Khao Kitcha Kut, feel free to go on a day trip here from Pattaya!

 The way down is already much easier. Of course, we go down the hill!

Khao Kitcha Kut excursion timing

• 01:30 Pick up from hotels in Pattaya. The group starts from Pattaya;
• 04:00 The beginning of ascent to Khao Kitcha Kut;
• 06:00 See the sunrise at Khao Kitcha Kut mount top. Take part in rituals;
• 11:00 Breakfast;
• 14:00 The group come back to Pattaya.

Excursion to Khao Kitcha Kut - FAQs

Khao Kitcha Kut excursion from Pattaya Thai-Online