Khao Kradong

Buriram province sits on a volcanic field - the last eruptions were around 900,000 years ago and several extinct cones remain, of which Khao Kradong is the most accessible. It rises about 265 metres above the plain with a crater at the top, now holding water, and a walkway around the rim. On the summit stands Phra Suphattharabophit, a large white seated Buddha, and beside it a footprint shrine and a stupa. The climb is by a stairway of 297 steps flanked by naga balustrades, or by road for those who prefer. The rock is basalt and the surrounding soils are volcanic, which is credited locally with Buriram's rice and its silk. From the top the view runs over the plain toward the Dangrek range and Cambodia. It is hot and unshaded on the steps, and the summit is exposed; early morning or late afternoon is the practical timing.

What you actually see

• The crater - water-filled, with a walkway around the rim.
• The 297 steps - the naga-flanked stairway to the summit.
• The Buddha - Phra Suphattharabophit, seated and white, on the rim.
• The plain view - toward the Dangrek range and the Cambodian border.

When to go

November to February, early or late in the day - the stairway is unshaded and the summit exposed. Two hours covers the climb, the rim walk and the shrines.

Honest expectations

297 unshaded steps in heat, or the road for those who cannot manage them. The summit is exposed with little shelter. It is a religious site as well as a natural one, so dress accordingly.

Nearby

Buriram town and its stadium are north; Phanom Rung is south-east.