Chalong Dam to Big Buddha Loop

The Chalong Dam to Big Buddha Loop is a long, demanding jungle hike that climbs from Chalong Dam up into the forested hills toward the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, in southern Phuket. It is a real, GPS-recorded 12.9 km loop from the same trailhead as the shorter Chalong Dam West Side Loop, but longer, higher and harder, with around 497 m of total climbing and a notoriously steep first hill. If you want a proper big Buddha hike through shady forest rather than the tourist road, this is the serious option.

This is the tough sibling of the West Side Loop. They start at the same spot on Chalong Dam, but this route is roughly twice the distance with a lot more climbing. If 12.9 km and 497 m of ascent sounds like too much, take the shorter West Side Loop from the same trailhead instead.

Who the trail suits

The loop is graded hard, mostly for its length and the steep opening climb.

• Fit, experienced hikers who want a half-day workout in the forest will love it: it is shady almost the whole way, quiet, and climbs to real hilltop terrain toward Big Buddha.
• It is not a casual walk. The first hill is very steep, and at nearly 13 km it is a genuine commitment. Beginners should start with the shorter West Side Loop.

The recorder suggests going with friends the first time, which is good advice on a long forest loop like this. You can log your own time by category and compare on the leaderboard further down the page.

The route and terrain

The circuit starts at Chalong Dam (Khlong Katha) and heads straight up. In brief:

• A steep start. The first hill out of the dam is the crux: a very steep climb that gets the ascent out of the way early. Pace yourself.
• Mostly forest, some concrete. The recorder puts it at roughly 70 percent trail and forest and 30 percent concrete road, so you get shady single-track and old fire road broken up by paved sections.
• Toward Big Buddha. The loop works up into the hills below the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill before curving back down to the dam. It reaches the hillside near the monument rather than the temple entrance itself, so treat it as a forest route with Big Buddha as its high-country backdrop, and visit the monument itself by road on another trip.

The canopy keeps it shady almost the whole way, which is a real bonus in the Phuket heat, but you still climb nearly 500 m, so it is hard work.

Best time to hike the loop

• November to June (drier months): the best window. The steep first hill and the forest trail grip far better when dry.
• The green season: the climb turns slippery and the humidity makes the long loop harder going.

Whenever you go, start early for cooler air and full daylight, carry plenty of water because there is nothing to buy on the loop, and check the live rain radar and forecast further down this page before you set out.

What to bring and safety

• Footwear: trail or approach shoes with grip. The steep sections are slick when damp.
• Water and food: carry more than you think for a near-13 km loop. There are no shops on the trail.
• Navigation: download the GPS track or an offline map, because the forest canopy kills phone signal and the junctions are unmarked.
• Company: as the recorder suggests, this long forest loop is better shared with a friend.

How to get to the trailhead

The loop starts at Chalong Dam, near Ban Wat Mai in Chalong, southern Phuket, a short way inland from Chalong Circle.

• From Chalong or Rawai: about 10 to 15 minutes by car or scooter.
• From Phuket Town: roughly 20 minutes.
• From Kata or Karon: around 20 to 25 minutes over the hill.

There is informal roadside parking near the dam. Follow the GPS track from the start point on the map, because the trail junctions are not signposted.

Nearby

The Big Buddha monument and viewpoint, which this loop climbs toward, are an easy drive up Nakkerd Hill, and Wat Chalong, Phuket's most important temple, is close by too. Back at the dam, Tank & Throttle Co. is a good coffee stop, and Phuket Spa Chalong has a sauna and ice-bath day pass to recover afterwards. For a shorter day, the Chalong Dam West Side Loop leaves from the same trailhead.

Riding it: enduro and off-road

For riders this is the big Chalong Dam enduro loop: a long forest ride toward Big Buddha with a very steep opening climb and a mix of dirt trail, fire road and concrete. Expect hike-a-bike on the steepest pitches, carry plenty of water for the near-13 km, and ride it in the drier months when the climb grips.

Route from a GPS track recorded by Borja F1 (originally from Phukettraillover) and shared on Wikiloc. Trail photos are representative Phuket forest.