Home Destinations Phetchabun 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About
Home › Thailand › Phetchabun › Phetchabun 2 Days 1 Night · Khao Kho–Pha Sorn Kaew–Cafes
⛰️ Phetchabun Trip Plan

Phetchabun
2 Days 1 Night · Khao Kho–Pha Sorn Kaew–Cafes

Khao Kho is close enough to drive from Bangkok in a single day, but the cool air and mountain views make it feel like you've gone much further. This 2-day, 1-night plan keeps the pace easy: on day one you cover the pretty temples and viewpoints around Khao Kho, then stay up on the mountain so you can wake to a sea of mist. Day two is for paying respects at a temple, sitting in a cafe, and grabbing some sweet tamarind before heading home. We've checked the opening hours and entry fees for every stop, so feel free to reorder it around wherever you're staying.

⛰️ Khao Kho sea of mist🛕 Wat Pha Sorn Kaew☕ Mountain-view cafes
Phetchabun 2 Days 1 Night · Khao Kho–Pha Sorn Kaew–Cafes

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Phetchabun is a province Bangkokers love to drive to at the tail end of the rainy season and start of winter, because Khao Kho sits high enough to get morning mist and stays cool almost year-round. It's about 350 km from Bangkok to Phetchabun town, then roughly another hour up the mountain to Khao Kho. Leave early and you'll arrive in time for lunch up top. This plan assumes you're self-driving, since the sights around Khao Kho are spread out and there's no public transport up there.

Who this trip is for

  • Couples and groups of friends who want an easy nature trip that isn't a long drive and fits neatly into one overnight stay
  • Photographers — Wat Pha Sorn Kaew and the mountain cafes are heavily photographed spots that a lot of people come to recreate
  • Temple-goers — you get both Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew and the Kanchanaphisek Stupa in a single trip
  • Not a great fit if you don't have a car, since the sights up the mountain are far apart and some stretches of road are steep
🎟️

Book the activities in your Phetchabun trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in PhetchabunHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Phetchabun attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from PhetchabunOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Phetchabun activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Phetchabun tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — Up to Khao Kho for temples and viewpoints

Day 1

Bangkok → Khao Kho → overnight on the mountain

05:30
Leave BangkokAn early start helps you avoid the traffic around Saraburi and gets you to Khao Kho in time for lunch. Fill the tank before heading up, as petrol stations on the mountain are sparse.
11:30
Arrive in Phetchabun town, stop to eatGrab lunch in town before heading up. The rice-and-curry shops and noodle stalls in Phetchabun town are more plentiful and cheaper than what you'll find on the mountain.
13:00
Drive up Khao Kho, check inIt's about an hour from town up to Khao Kho. Picking a place to stay near Camp Son or close to the viewpoints makes the next morning easier. Drop your bags, then head back out.
14:30
Kanchanaphisek StupaA white stupa right off Route 2196, easy to reach. Pay respects to the Buddha relics; the stupa blends Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin styles. Free entry, and you'll need about 30–45 minutes to walk around.
15:30
Viewpoint and Khao Kho wind-turbine fieldThe wind-turbine field is open 06:00–18:00, with a tram tour for around 60 THB/person. Late afternoon, when the light starts to slant, is good for photos. If you're tired of walking, the roadside views you pass while driving are lovely too.
17:30
Find a sunset spotSeveral hills around Khao Kho catch the sun setting behind the ridgeline. Ask your accommodation which spot is closest.
19:00
Dinner on the mountainRestaurants up on Khao Kho close earlier than in town — many shut around 20:00–21:00. If you want a moo kratha (DIY BBQ) place or a view restaurant, go before 19:00. Turn in early tonight so you can get up for the mist tomorrow.

About the weather

November to February is the coolest stretch and when the sea of mist rolls in most reliably. Nights on Khao Kho can drop to 10–15°C, so bring a warm jacket. In the rainy season the views are lush and green but the mist is hit-or-miss and the roads get slippery — drive slowly.

Day 2 — Sea of mist, Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, cafes

Day 2

Sea of mist → temple → cafe → home

05:30
Wake up for the sea of mistIf the sky is clear, the mist over Khao Kho rolls in at first light, roughly 06:00–08:00 before the sun gets strong. Wear something warm. A popular spot is the roadside viewpoint hill along the Khao Kho route.
07:30
Breakfast / first coffeeMany places include breakfast. If yours doesn't, find a cafe that opens early and sip a warm coffee in the cool air.
09:00
Wat Phra That Pha Sorn KaewThe highlight of the trip — a mountaintop temple decorated entirely in colored mosaic tiles and porcelain cups, with five Buddha images seated in a row. It opens around 07:00. Parking near the walkway costs about 30 THB/car, or you can park below for free and walk a bit further. Dress modestly, and go early while it's still quiet.
11:00
Mountain-view cafeKhao Kho has dozens of view cafes — Le Bonheur Khaokho, The Front by BN. Farm, and Takmo Khaokho (Chinese-style, perched on a high hill), to name a few. Pick one that's on your way back down. Drinks run about 70–150 THB; settle in for the view before you descend.
13:00
Lunch + souvenirsHead down to town or stop at Camp Son and buy Phetchabun's famous sweet tamarind. Well-known shops include Sai Kaew and Makham Phet Suphan, or Rai Kamnan Jul, which also has pla som (fermented fish).
14:30
Set off for homeLeave in the afternoon and you'll reach Bangkok in the evening. Avoid driving down the mountain after dark, as the road is winding and the mist can settle in.

Rough budget per person

  • Accommodation, 1 night — Khao Kho resorts start around 800–2,500 THB/night, which works out to about 400–1,200 THB each once you split it
  • Food, 2 days — around 500–800 THB depending on where you eat
  • Entry / tram — the wind-turbine field is about 60 THB, parking at Wat Pha Sorn Kaew about 30 THB, and the temples and stupa are free
  • Petrol + tolls for the Bangkok round trip, roughly 1,500–2,000 THB/car, split by however many of you there are
  • All in, with 2–4 people, this trip comes to about 1,500–2,500 THB per person

Before you go

  • Your car — check the brakes and tires before you leave. The road up Khao Kho is steep and winding in places; with an automatic, use L or 2 on the way down to help with braking
  • A warm jacket — especially in winter and for the early-morning mist watch
  • Book ahead — in winter and over long weekends, Khao Kho accommodation fills up very fast
  • Cash — small shops on the mountain and some souvenir stalls still take mostly cash

Want to stay longer?

If you have 3 days, add Phu Thap Boek — the highest peak in Phetchabun at around 1,768 m, with thicker mist. But it's about 80 km from Khao Kho and the final stretch of road is very steep, so make it its own day rather than cramming it together with Khao Kho.

Find a great-view place to stay on Khao Kho before you book

See the Top 10 Phetchabun stays →

FAQ

Do you need your own car for a 2-day Phetchabun trip?

You really should have a car, since the Khao Kho sights — Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, the viewpoints, the wind-turbine field and the cafes — are spread out and there's no public transport up there. Without one, your options are hiring a car with a driver from town or joining a tour that includes transport.

When is the best time to visit Khao Kho?

November to February is best: the air is cool and the sea of mist appears most reliably. It's also the busiest stretch and accommodation books out fast. If you want to avoid crowds, the rainy season has lush green views, but the mist is unpredictable and the roads are slippery, so drive carefully.

What are Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew's hours, and is there an entry fee?

The temple opens around 07:00 daily and entry is free. Parking near the walkway costs about 30 THB/car, or you can park below for free and walk a bit further. Dress modestly. We'd suggest going in the morning while it's still quiet and the sun isn't strong.

Can you do Khao Kho and Phu Thap Boek in the same day?

We wouldn't try to combine them in one day. The two are about 80 km apart on winding, steep roads. If you want both, plan a trip of 3 days or more and give Khao Kho and Phu Thap Boek separate days.

How far ahead should you book accommodation on Khao Kho?

In winter and over long weekends, book at least 2–4 weeks ahead, since the scenic resorts fill up very fast. On a weekday outside the peak season, a few days' notice is usually enough.

Related

🗺️ Phetchabun travel guide🏨 Top 10 Phetchabun stays☕ Khao Kho's best view cafes

Copyright & Image Takedown Policy

Thailandaddict is created to review and share travel experiences. Where an image is sourced from elsewhere, we credit the source. If you are the copyright owner and prefer that your image not appear on this site, please contact us and we will gladly remove the image or correct the information.