Sik Hiu – Khao Sadao

Sik Hiu at Khao Sadao is widely rated as one of Thailand's best cross-country sites, built around a five-kilometre bowl-shaped ridge facing south that gives pilots plenty of room to work thermals rising off the flatlands below. The takeoff itself is large, easy and grassy, which makes getting in the air here straightforward, and landing options are generous too, backed by the facilities of a nearby golf complex. The combination of a forgiving takeoff, wide-open landing options and reliable thermic conditions off the flatlands is what earns this site its reputation, alongside genuinely striking scenery over the surrounding countryside. It's reached from Bangkok by road, roughly two and a half hours via Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima, following signs toward Voyage Panorama Golf Resort and on to Wat Pa Kao Sadao near the site — worth noting that local signage for the temple is in Thai, so it isn't obvious until the main gate at the base of the hill. Between the accessible takeoff and the scale of usable terrain, this is a site that rewards both a relaxed local flight and a serious cross-country attempt on the right day.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is large, easy and grassy, set in the middle of a five-kilometre bowl-shaped, south-facing ridge that opens onto the flatlands below.

Getting there & local rules

From Bangkok, follow Highway 1 north to Saraburi, then Highway 2 toward Nakhon Ratchasima, following signs for Voyage Panorama Golf Resort and on toward Wat Pa Kao Sadao near the site — about 2.5 hours by car. Temple signage is in Thai and isn't obvious until the main gate at the base of the hill.

Local rules & hazards

The site's bowl-shaped, south-facing ridge gives pilots plenty of room and time to connect with thermals rising off the flatlands in front, which is what makes it favoured for cross-country flying.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Sik Hiu – Khao Sadao, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Sik Hiu – Khao Sadao with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.