Phetchabun is a northern Thai province situated around 330 km from Bangkok. It’s a real hidden gem that only a few tourists get to visit. It’s a beautiful city known for its Khao Kho mountain. Khao Kho mountain is a small town also referred to as ‘The City in the Clouds’ which the Thai locals love to visit. We fell in love with this small town and we believe you will too. Here is a list of the top 8 things to do in Phetchabun, Thailand. As well as other useful tips and information to make your trip unforgettable.
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8 Things to do in Phetchabun, Thailand:
A list of 8 amazing things to do in Phetchabun, Thailand. Most of these attractions are located on Khao Kho Mountain.
1. Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew (Wat Pha Sorn Kaew )
There are over 40,000 temples in Thailand but this is one of the most impressive and iconic temples in the country.
This unique temple is extremely popular and visited by many locals. Some of the highlights here are Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew Chedi, the Sanctuary of the Five Buddhas, Dhamma Practice Hall (the Green Jade Buddha Hall), Phra Buddha Lertrattana Chotmanee, Phra Buddha Rattana Samritphol, Lan Pho (Bodhi Plaza) and Sivali Thera Plaza.
There are also some great cafes near the temple such as Le Bonheur Khao Kho, Pino Latte Restaurant & Cafe and Dragon Hill Cafe. If you have the time or want something to eat or drink, check them out.
Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew temple’s opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:00. It’s free to visit this temple although parking is 20 Baht per bike and 30 Baht per vehicle.
Tip: For the ladies, make sure you are wearing something that covers your knees and shoulders. They are very strict here, and if you aren’t covered up, you will have to buy a sheet of fabric to cover yourself, which costs 120 Baht. Men, you can wear shorts and a T-shirt but cover the shoulders.
This is a must-do thing in Phetchabun Thailand without a doubt.
2. Sri Thep Historical Park
This incredible park is home to ancient ruins from the Khmer Empire that is around 1,000 years old. There is also an information centre which shows you some incredible artefacts discovered here and tells you more about them.
They have large electric carts that transport you from the information centre to the ruins. Once at the ruins, you are free to walk around.
There are four main ruins to look at known as Prang Si Thep, Prang Song Phi Nong, Khao Klang Nok and Prang Ruesi. There is also a 4-meter deep excavation site which was the highlight for us. At this excavation site, there is part of an elephant skeleton along with two human skeletons which were discovered in 1988.
For Sri Thep Historical Park the opening hours are from 08:30 to 16:30. The entrance fee is 100 Thai Baht per person.
❥Also Read: Things to do in the beautiful Ancient City of Ayutthaya, Thailand.
3. Khao Kho Mountain (Best Thing to do in Phetchabun, Thailand)
Khao Kho mountain is the main thing to do in Phetchabun province. This incredible mountain is 1,172 meters above sea level and experiences cold temperatures at night.
There is a small town on top of the mountain which is commonly referred to as “The city in the clouds”. Since the town is so high up, the clouds gather near the top of the mountain. The town sits just above these clouds or sometimes in them.
During the mornings and evenings, clouds build and you get spectacular views of the cloud cover around you. This has made Khoa Kho very popular and most things to do in Phetchabun are on this mountain. Such as Khao Kho Viewpoint, Tanrak Talaymok, Sri Dit Waterfall, Amazing Dinosaur and the wind turbines.
4. Khao Kho Viewpoint
This is the main viewpoint on Khao Kho mountain which offers incredible views of the cloud cover and the town. There is a big car park and a small market across the road.
This is a great place to visit and we recommend staying close to here for at least one night so you can visit the area and experience the cloud cover early in the morning.
❥Also Read: Thailand’s Ultimate Hidden Gem: Khao Sok National Park
5. Tanrak Talaymok
Tanrak Talaymok is another great viewpoint where you can see the floating clouds. What makes this viewpoint amazing is that there is also a cafe, restaurant and hotel here.
It also has a beautiful garden and viewing decks to get the best views. You don’t need to stay at the hotel or buy something from the restaurant or cafe to go here, it’s completely free and open to everyone.
6. Sri Dit Waterfall
Sri Dit waterfall is the main waterfall on Khao Kho Mountain. During the wet season, the river is full and the waterfall is big and powerful. You can’t swim at the waterfall due to its strong stream.
During the dry season, the waterfall is a lot smaller but still worth a visit when in the area. There is a small market by the waterfalls where you can buy food, drinks, clothes and souvenirs.
The entrance fee to Sri Dat Waterfall is 20 Baht per Adult, 10 Baht per Child and 30 Baht for parking. Opening hours are from 07:00 to 17:00.
❥Also Read: The Best Things to Do in Krabi, Thailand: Top 8
7. Amazing Dinosaur เขาค้อ Park
This whimsical dinosaur amusement park is the perfect place for the whole family. You can try to figure out the maze inside and look at all the dinosaur statues that are made to look life-like.
There aren’t a lot of things to do on Khao Kho for children but this place is perfect. The entrance fee is 100 Baht per Adult, Children over 90cm are 50 Baht, Children under 90cm and seniors (65 years and older) are free.
Opening hours for Amazing Dinosaur เขาค้อ Park are from 08:00 to 17:00
8. 180° All Day All Season Cafe
Out of all of the cafes in Khao Kho, 180° All Day All Season Cafe is our favourite. They have a wide variety of drinks, such as coffee, tea and sodas, as well as a food menu.
Their food and drinks are delicious and the view from this cafe is spectacular. There is a view deck where you can sit and eat whilst admiring the view. They decorated this cafe beautifully and there’s even a bar outside.
As an added bonus, there are also a few rooms that you can rent and stay in for the night. This cafe has it all. 180° All Day All Season Cafe opening hours are from 10:00 to 20:30
❥Also Read: 13 Unique Things to Do in Khao Yai, Thailand
Top tips and must-know information about Phetchabun
How to get to Phetchabun
There are 4 ways to get to Phetchabun:
Take a Private car to Phetchabun
This option is the best option as you will have your own transport while you are at your destination. This makes getting around a lot easier. There are many places where you can rent a car. Just make sure you have a license and drive carefully.
Take a Bus to Phetchabun
This is the cheapest way to get to Phetchabun but it will also take you the longest time and is the most uncomfortable. When in Bangkok, you can take a bus from the Mo Chit bus terminal to Phetchabun.
Take a Plane to Phetchabun
Phetchabun has an airport but it’s currently out of service. You can fly to Phitsanulok Airport which is around a 2-hour drive from Khao Kho. Some airlines, such as Nok Air, offer a combined ticket that will fly you to Phitsanulok Airport and then transport you to Khao Kho by minivan. This is an easy way to get here but it’s expensive and there are limited flights.
Take a Private taxi to Phetchabun
This option is mainly for people coming from Bangkok. You can ask any taxi driver to drive you here. This option is expensive but it’s comfortable. They will also drop you off right at your hotel which is a huge bonus.
❥Also Read: 11 Things to do in Bangkok
Where to stay on Khao Kho
Since most of the things to do in Phetchabun are on Khao Kho Mountain we will recommend that you stay around Khao Kho Viewpoint or Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew Temple.
Search or move this map around to find the best hotel for your travel needs
Booking.com❥Also Read: Five Wonderful Things to Do in Hua Hin, Thailand
Seeing the clouds at Khao Kho
The best time to see the clouds is early morning or late afternoon. Some days, there is a lot of mist, others there’s no mist. A cloud cover cannot be guaranteed.
We found that the best times were between 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Although this can change drastically between days. Our tip is to be at a viewpoint or a lookout point at sunrise.
Just after it rains, there will normally be some cloud cover as well so keep an eye out for this.
Language barrier
As mentioned earlier, Phetchabun doesn’t see many foreign visitors which means there isn’t a lot of English spoken around Khao Kho. This could make finding places to eat a bit challenging as most menus are just in the Thai language.
This issue is reduced due to the Thai people’s kind nature. They will go out of their way to try to accommodate you. Our rule of thumb is if the restaurant name is in English, there is a big chance that they will have English on their menu.
Otherwise, we recommend using Google Translate when needed.
If you enjoyed our 8 unique things to do in Phetchabun, Thailand blog please consider buying us a coffee. It gets very cold between the mountains at night and coffee is exactly what we need to keep us warm ☕.
