Three Tourists Rescued After Getting Lost on Doi Khun Tan

Pictures courtesy of MGR

Authorities in Lampang have successfully rescued three tourists who went missing while trekking on Doi Khun Tan in heavy rain. The group, consisting of a South Korean man, a Thai woman and a Thai child, became separated from their tour party late on 27 September. After nearly four hours of searching, officials located the tourists and escorted them to safety shortly before 22.00, to the relief of all involved.

The incident began when more than 20 Thai and foreign tourists travelled by train from Chiang Mai to Ban Mae Tan Noi station in Hang Chat district on the morning of 27 September. From there, they set out on foot along the Huai Mae Tan Noi reservoir trail, a 6–7 kilometre route leading into Doi Khun Tan National Park. Later in the day, the three missing individuals lost contact with the larger group and requested assistance.

At dusk, the South Korean tourist was able to use his phone to call for help and reported that the trio had become disoriented in the forest. Contact was maintained via mobile signal, allowing officials to use video calls to guide and reassure them, although the exact location remained unclear. Rainfall throughout the evening complicated the search and left the tourists increasingly cold and fatigued.

The rescue operation involved police, district officials, local leaders and village volunteers, supported by the Wiang Tan rescue team. The search began at Huai Mae Tan Noi reservoir and continued on foot along forested trails despite difficult weather conditions. Eventually, rescuers found the three individuals, who were wearing raincoats and showing signs of fatigue but were otherwise safe.

On their return, the tourists were met by Hang Chat district chief Naretrit Ubolsri and other officials waiting at the reservoir ridge. Their safe recovery ended several tense hours for both authorities and the wider tour group. The coordinated response highlighted the importance of close cooperation between local police, community leaders and rescue volunteers in mountainous areas prone to sudden weather changes.

Key Takeaways

• Three tourists, including a South Korean man, were rescued after getting lost on Doi Khun Tan on 27 September.

• The search took nearly four hours in heavy rain, with rescuers maintaining contact via video calls.

• All three were found cold but safe and brought down to safety before 22.00.

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  Adapted by Asean Now from MGR 2025-09-29