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🏔️ Phetchabun Travel Plan

Cross-Province Road Trip
Phetchabun–Phitsanulok & Phu Hin Rong Kla

Khao Kho and Phu Hin Rong Kla sit on the same mountain ridge but in different provinces. A lot of people see Khao Kho and turn back, when driving just a little further gets you to Phu Hin Rong Kla over in Phitsanulok — and from there you can drop down into Phitsanulok town to pay respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat before heading home, all in one go. We've laid this route out as a single loop with no backtracking: 3 days, 2 nights, with entry fees, opening hours and real food stops along the way.

🚗 Self-drive, no backtracking🌸 Phu Lom Lo in winter🙏 Pay respects at Phra Phuttha Chinnarat

Cross-Province Road Trip Phetchabun–Phitsanulok & Phu Hin Rong Kla

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This plan suits people driving themselves, because the two main spots — Khao Kho (Phetchabun) and Phu Hin Rong Kla (Phitsanulok) — have no public transport running directly to them. The route goes up to Khao Kho from the Phetchabun side first, overnight on the mountain, then crosses to Phu Hin Rong Kla via the Camp Son junction the next day, and rolls down into Phitsanulok town on the last day. You finish at Phitsanulok airport or train station — no need to loop back to Phetchabun.

Before you set off

The Khao Kho–Camp Son–Phu Hin Rong Kla stretch is a mountain road with plenty of sharp, steep bends. Check your brakes and tyres are in good shape, and fill the tank in town before you head up — petrol stations on the mountain are few and close early.

Day 1 — From Phetchabun up to Khao Kho

Start from Phetchabun town and head up Highway 2258, then 2196, into Khao Kho district. The drive passes farms and long mountain views, so there's plenty to stop for. Today is about temples, viewpoints, and catching the sunset before you check in.

Day 1

Phetchabun → Khao Kho

08:00

Leave Phetchabun town and head up to Khao Kho via routes 2258–2196It's about 50–60 km to Khao Kho district, roughly 1.5 hours including photo stops.

10:00

Wat Pha Sorn Kaew — pay respects and see the chedi with its mountain viewDress modestly. It gets busy mid-morning, so arrive before noon for fewer crowds. No entry fee; there's a donation box.

12:00

Lunch around Khao Kho — try the famous roadside Khao Kho grilled porkGrilled pork skewers with sticky rice are the classic Khao Kho snack, around 10–15 THB a skewer. You'll find plenty of stalls along the road up.

14:00

Check in to your Khao Kho stay with a mountain viewBook ahead in the cool season (Nov–Jan) — rooms fill up fast and prices climb.

15:30

Khao Kho Palace / Khao Kho MemorialA high viewpoint over the long ridgeline — good for photos in the late afternoon.

17:30

Catch the sunset from the viewpoint by your stayKhao Kho cools down quickly after sunset, so have a warm layer ready.

If you've got time in the morning before leaving, drop into a Khao Kho café for coffee with a sea of mist. This area has several mountain-view cafés open from early on — we cover the details separately in our Khao Kho café guide.

🎟️

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 2 — Crossing over to Phu Hin Rong Kla

Today is the highlight. You'll drive from Khao Kho to Phu Hin Rong Kla via Camp Son — only about 40–50 km, but it's a steep mountain road that takes longer than you'd expect. Set off a bit early so you can walk Lan Hin Pum before the sun gets harsh.

Day 2

Khao Kho → Phu Hin Rong Kla

07:30

Leave Khao Kho, head for the Camp Son junction onto route 2196, then 2331The road up to Phu Hin Rong Kla is steep and narrow in places. Sedans can make it, but use a low gear and drive slowly.

09:30

Arrive at the Phu Hin Rong Kla park headquarters and pay the entry feeEntry is 40 THB/adult, plus 30 THB/car, collected at the front checkpoint.

10:00

Walk the nature trail — Lan Hin Pum to Pha Chu ThongThe loop is about 2.8 km round trip, across oddly shaped rock formations to a cliff viewpoint. Wear trainers and bring water.

12:00

Lunch at the park restaurantThe park has a restaurant, water and toilets. Made-to-order dishes run about 60–100 THB a plate.

13:30

Lan Hin Taek and the old Political and Military SchoolHistorical sites from the Communist Party of Thailand era, with interpretive signs along the way. An easy walk, about 1 hour.

15:30

Romklao–Pharadon Waterfall (rainy to early cool season only)Plenty of water around Jul–Nov; thin in the dry season. If you come in summer, you can skip this one.

17:00

Back to your stay — overnight in the park or down in Nakhon ThaiThe park has bungalows and a campground; book ahead via nps.dnp.go.th. Camping is 30 THB per tent.

If you come in January

Phu Lom Lo, within the same park, is the spot to see wild Himalayan cherry blossom (Thailand's 'sakura') in full bloom around mid-January. During that window you have to take a local villagers' truck up to the viewing area — private cars aren't allowed up — so book a truck slot ahead and go early, because the crowds are huge.

Day 3 — Down to Phitsanulok town

On the last day you roll down from Phu Hin Rong Kla through Nakhon Thai district onto the Phitsanulok–Lom Sak road into Phitsanulok town. It's about 120 km from the park to town — give yourself extra time for the mountain stretch at the start — then close out the trip with a visit to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat and some Phitsanulok food.

Day 3

Phu Hin Rong Kla → Phitsanulok town

08:30

Leave Phu Hin Rong Kla, head down to Nakhon Thai onto Route 12 toward townOn the descent, use a low gear to hold your speed — don't ride the brakes for long stretches. The straight section afterward is an easy drive.

11:00

Pay respects to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat at Wat Phra Si Rattana MahathatThe temple is open roughly 06:30–18:00, no entry fee, dress modestly. Many regard this as one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand.

12:30

Lunch — try the 'dangling-legs' noodles by the Nan RiverDangling-legs noodles are a Phitsanulok signature — you sit with your legs hanging over the Nan River while you eat. Around 40–60 THB a bowl.

14:00

Wander the market or pick up souvenirs before heading backBang Krathum sun-dried bananas and other Phitsanulok souvenirs are easy to find around the in-town markets.

15:30

Return the car / head to Phitsanulok airport or train stationPhitsanulok has both an airport and the northern rail line, making it easier to get back to Bangkok than looping back through Phetchabun.

Packing and prep

Warm jacket — Khao Kho and Phu Hin Rong Kla genuinely get cold from Nov–Jan; nights can drop below 15°C.
Trainers — the Lan Hin Pum–Pha Chu Thong trail is a real 2.8 km round trip over rock.
Cash — park entry fees, mountain stalls, and the villagers' trucks up to Phu Lom Lo mostly take cash only.
A full tank — petrol stations on the mountain are few and close early, so fill up in town.
Book your stays ahead — Khao Kho in the cool season and the park bungalows fill up very fast.

Where to stay, and when

Night 1

Stay on Khao Kho the first night

A mountain-view room where you wake up to a sea of mist — good if you want to chill before taking on Phu Hin Rong Kla.

Night 2

Stay inside the park the second night

A bungalow or campsite on Phu Hin Rong Kla, close to the sights — wake up early and walk the rock fields before the crowds.

Alternative

Drop down to Phitsanulok town

If you'd rather not stay on the mountain, sleep in Phitsanulok town where there's a wider choice of hotels, then drive up to Phu Hin Rong Kla as a day trip and back.

If you want to compare Khao Kho stays with real review scores, see our Phetchabun hotels page — we've picked out only the places with good views and trustworthy reviews.

Compare mountain-view stays in Phetchabun and Khao Kho before you book

See the Top 10 Phetchabun hotels →

FAQ

Which province is Phu Hin Rong Kla in, and is it far from Khao Kho?

Phu Hin Rong Kla is in Nakhon Thai district, Phitsanulok province — not Phetchabun — but you reach it via the Camp Son junction that continues on from Khao Kho. It's about 40–50 km from Khao Kho, a steep mountain road that takes roughly 1.5–2 hours.

How much is the Phu Hin Rong Kla park entry fee?

Park entry is 40 THB/adult plus 30 THB/car, with an extra 30 THB per tent if you camp. It's collected at the front checkpoint, cash only.

Can a sedan make it up Phu Hin Rong Kla?

Yes, but the road is steep and narrow in places, so use a low gear and drive slowly, and check your brakes and tyres before you set off. Note that to see the blossoms at Phu Lom Lo in season you have to switch to a local villagers' truck — private cars aren't allowed up to the viewing area.

When is the best time to do this route?

November to January is best — it's cold, the sea of mist is thick, and in mid-January you also get the wild Himalayan cherry blossom at Phu Lom Lo. The waterfalls in Phu Hin Rong Kla have the most water from the rainy season into early cool season (Jul–Nov).

Why finish in Phitsanulok instead of looping back to Phetchabun?

Because coming down from Phu Hin Rong Kla on the Nakhon Thai side puts you closer to Phitsanulok town, and Phitsanulok has both an airport and the northern rail line for an easy trip back to Bangkok. It makes a single loop, so you don't have to backtrack up the mountain twice.

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