For the 10th iteration of the Pong Yaeng Trail, we bring back the longest-distance race, the PYT160.

2024 PYT will be starting from Ai Na Ra Farm near Pong Yaeng Sub-district Office, just off the road No.1096.

The route will first take you eastward out of the Pong Yaeng area to Mae Sa Mai village and spiral down quickly through a mixture of deciduous and pine forests just below Mae Sa Waterfall, the lowest part of the entire route at around 400m AMSL.

Then, it hooks north to the foothill of Mon Hlong before ascending via the famous Rock Tower Climb to the summit of Mon Hlong itself 10km later.

Continuing on the road and farm tracks heading West, Pong Krai village awaits. The route pitches down very quickly to bring you back firmly into Pong Yaeng Valley.

The next part of the challenge for PYT160 is the Doi Pui Circuit (DPC), where climbs are long, with both ups and downs.

The final part is the Nin Prapa Trail (NPT)—the Southern Loop or the River Loop. As both names suggest, you will follow the course of streams and rivers to the very bottom and Southernmost of the route before climbing back up slowly to where you started.

Alternative to flooded original.

For those who wish to avoid tackling a hundred-miler, PYT120 is an excellent alternative to PYT100. You will start in the evening, a unique twist compared to the early start of PYT100.

The first half of the course is the same as RTC50, a familiar challenge for some, followed by the second half, which shares the the route with PYT70.

Doing a PYT120 means you can expect long climbs, high peaks, and extra fun, making for a truly unique and intriguing experience.

Alternative to flooded original.

Alternative to flooded original.

PYT70 is very similar to PYT100 but misses out the River Loop completely.

PYT70 "only" visits the Doi Pui summit, just like DPC but follow by a short brutal loop of PNK.

Alternative to flooded original.

The River Loop, the Nin Prapa Trail (NPT), as the name suggests, will follow the course of streams and rivers to the very bottom and Southernmost of the route before climbing back up slowly to where you started.

Most runners need to pay more attention to the time it takes to complete the loop, so be prepared that it might take you longer than anticipated!

Alternative to flooded original.

RTC50 One of the shorter races of the PYT event, RTC is the absolute classic. It uses a combination of trails from the first edition of PYT 10 years ago.

However, it is far from a walk in the park. RTC this year will start at 5 p.m., which means you will tackle most of the course in the dark, with the view of the Pong Yaeng valleys at night keeping you company most of the way.

The trail combines single-track and dual-track dirt roads with some technical sections. For those who enjoy night running to escape the heat and enjoy a rare nighttime view of the valleys, RTC is definitely the race to do.

Alternative to flooded orginal.

The shortest race in the event, PNK, has only around 2.5% flat section and a total ascend of 1200m+.

It is still not a quick pushover.