Noen Maprang

Noen Maprang district south-east of Phitsanulok holds a set of isolated limestone hills rising abruptly out of flat rice country, and the walk that has made it known is along the top of one of them - a narrow ridge with the ground dropping away on both sides and the paddy fields spread out below, which local promotion calls the dragon's spine. The climb from Ban Mung takes about an hour on a rough path with sections of rock scrambling and fixed ropes in places, and most people start before dawn to be on the ridge for sunrise and to avoid the heat, which becomes serious quickly. Local guides are available and are worth taking, since the route is not obvious. The same karst holds caves in the area. The ridge is genuinely exposed with unfenced drops, the rock is sharp limestone that cuts, and it is not a walk for anyone unsteady or afraid of heights.

What you actually see

• The ridge walk - a narrow limestone spine above the rice plain.
• The karst hills - isolated towers rising straight from flat farmland.
• The dawn - the reason most people climb before first light.
• The caves - other limestone features in the same district.

When to go

November to February, and before dawn - the heat later in the morning is punishing and the light is worse. Take a local guide; the route is unmarked in places.

Honest expectations

Steep and rough with rope-assisted sections and unfenced drops on both sides of the ridge. Sharp limestone cuts hands. Not suitable for anyone uneasy with exposure. Little shade once the sun is up.

Nearby

Phitsanulok is north-west; Thung Salaeng Luang is east.