How long and how hard is the Durian Chum Viewpoint loop?

It is a 7.3 km loop with about 473 m of sharp climbing, graded difficult, and takes most people around three hours on foot. The first hill is a steep push, so on a bike expect hike-a-bike on the steepest pitches.

Is the trail easy to follow?

Not entirely. This line is a fix of an older AllTrails route that had become impassable through overgrown vegetation. Carry the GPS track and go in the dry season when the path is clearer, and watch for spiders strung across the trail.

Is there anything at the viewpoint?

Yes. Walkers report a cool cafe near the end of the route and rewarding views from the top, which makes the sharp climb worthwhile. Bring water regardless, because there is nothing along the climb itself.

When is the best time to go?

The dry season from December to April is best. It is not recommended in the rainy season from May to November, when heavy rain washes the trail out and the vegetation grows over it.

It starts near Ban Thung Thong in the central Phuket hills, with street parking at the beginning of the trail. Follow the GPS track, as the junctions are not signposted.

Durian Chum Viewpoint: A Steep Phuket Enduro Loop

The Durian Chum Viewpoint loop is a short but steep jungle route in the hills near Ban Thung Thong in central Phuket, climbing through thick forest to a hilltop viewpoint with a cafe at the top. It is a real, GPS-recorded 7.3 km circuit with a sharp 473 m of climbing, and it sits squarely in Phuket's enduro riding country. This is one for confident riders and fit hikers who like a proper climb and do not mind a bit of route-finding.

An adventure route. This line is a fix of an older AllTrails route that had become impossible to complete through overgrown vegetation. It went almost cleanly in the dry season, but carry the GPS track, expect hike-a-bike on the steep sections if you ride it, and watch for spiders strung across the trail.

Riding and hiking it

The loop is graded hard, mostly for the sharp climb.

For enduro riders, it is a steep technical spin up to a real viewpoint. The first hill is the crux, so be ready to push the bike where it gets too steep or loose.
For hikers, it is a rewarding half-day: a sharp rise, big views and a cool cafe at the top, as one recent walker put it.

You can log your own time by category and compare on the leaderboard further down the page. If you need a bike, Phuket CRF Off-Road & Enduro Rentals hires out dual-sports built for exactly this terrain.

The route and terrain

The circuit climbs from Ban Thung Thong up through shady forest to the Durian Chum viewpoint before dropping back down. It is genuine jungle trail and forest road, not a groomed path, and the vegetation closes in quickly, which is why the dry season matters so much here.

Use the elevation profile above to see where the steep pitches sit, and read the seasonal note before you commit.

Best time to go

December to April (dry season): the best and really the only recommended window, when the trail is clearer and firmer.
May to November (green season): not recommended, when heavy rain washes the trail out and the plants grow over it.

Start early for cooler air, carry plenty of water, and check the live rain radar and forecast further down this page before you set out.

What to bring and safety

Footwear or tyres with grip: the steep sections are loose and slick.
Water: carry more than you think; there is nothing on the climb, though there is a cafe near the top.
Navigation: carry the GPS track and an offline map, because the junctions are unmarked and the path can be faint.
Wildlife: watch for spiders across the trail, and give any snakes room.

Getting to the trailhead

The loop starts near Ban Thung Thong in the central Phuket hills, with street parking at the start. From Kathu or Phuket Town it is roughly 15 minutes by car or scooter, and from Patong about 20 minutes over the hill. Follow the GPS track from the start point, as the junctions are unmarked.

Nearby

This route is part of the same central-Phuket hill network as the Ban Manik Hill Loop 3 and the Kamala Hillside Trail. For the wider picture of riding these hills, see our Enduro in Phuket guide.

Route from a GPS track recorded by Borja F1 (adapted from an AllTrails route) and shared on Wikiloc. Trail photos are representative Phuket jungle.

Conditions

Weather, surface and what to expect underfoot.