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3 Days 2 Nights

Use highway No 21 from Saraburi province to Lom Sak in Si Thep district. Drive until you reach 102 km, then turn left to highway No 2211. Continue for 9 km and you will see the entrance to the Si Thep Historical Park on the right.

The Si Thep Historical Park, formerly known as “Muang Sapaisalee”, is an ancient city, which prospered during the reign of Khmer or between the 11th to 18th Buddhist centuries. The city is believed to be over 1,000 years old and was deserted after a plague.

Si Thep was of the Dharavadee and Lop Buri period. Human statues with heads of singha, water buffalo and monkey, which resemble dwarfs, provide an exotic experience. It is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm. Admission fee is Bt10 for Thai and Bt30 for foreigner. An additional fee of Bt50 is charged per car for those who wish to drive in. For group visit with a personal guide, contact the park (056-820-122).

Get back to the road and take highway No 21 up the north. Drive past Wichian Buri, Sam Phan, and Nong Phai districts for a distance of 130 km. Stop for lunch, get supplies and refill the petrol tank at stations on both sides of the road along the way. Head to Khao Ko by using highway No 21 Petchabun-Lomsak.

Keep driving to 236 km to the Na Ngua three-way conjunction. Turn left to highway No 2258 Na Ngua-Sadaopong. The tar route up to Khao Kho is fine.

To drive up to Khao Kho, use high-power-engine cars, pickups or vans that are in good condition. Carefully check the brake and clutch as the route is steep, narrow and winding.

The “Amazing hill” is at 17.5 km and is a place where drivers love the amazing experience. At this spot, stop your car and release the gear. Incredibly, your car will move up the hill for 10 metres, which is considered an illusion by some. After that drive past an intersection for 1 km, slow down at the curve and keep left. Turn left and proceed up to the Phra Tamnak Khao Kho. Drive slowly and use low gear on the steep route.

Phra Tamnak Khao Kho is a palace built for His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of their royal visit. You need permission from officials to look around the vicinity. Young guides, who are students in the area, will bring you around the palace and give information.

Along the way up to the palace, you can see the Phaya Sua Krong trees, which bloom during winter. The road is one way and circular in shape, using the same point for entrance and exit.

Leave the palace by using the same way back to the intersection. Turn left and take highway No 2196. After a 5-minute drive, you will arrive at the Ruenruedee T-junction, turn left and go along the steep road up the hill for 3 km to visit the Armoury Museum (Than Itthi), which is on the right. It was the army base for fighting terrorists in Khao Kho in 1981. A wide range of weapons is on display. The museum is open daily from 7am to 5pm. Admission fee is Bt10 per person.

The Khao Kho Sacrificial Monument, built to honour heroic deeds of those who sacrificed their lives, is 500 metres diagonally across Than Itthi. Study the history of the battle and enjoy beautiful Khao Kho view.

Use the same route back to highway No 2196 towards Khao Kho district. The way is steep and winding hence drive

carefully and slowly. Enjoy the scenic view of Khao Kho, which is reminiscent of Switzerland.

Spend overnight on Khao Kho and breathe the pure air. It is said an overnight sleep on Khao Kho makes you live 10 years longer. A wide range of resorts and accommodation are open for service.

The next morning leave Khao Kho district for Phu Thap Boek by using highway No 2196 to Camp Son. On the way you will pass the Phra Borom That Jedi Pisek, which stands strikingly beside the road. Stop by to pay respects to the sacred Buddha statue and pray for good luck. Ring the range of bells in the monastery, which is believed to expand longevity. Just make sure you hit every bell.

Return to highway No 2196 and drive towards Son Camp, which connects to highway No 12. Turn right to Lom Sak district. At 126 km, turnleft at the three-way conjunction and change to highway No 2372. Keep on for another 12 km and turn left at the intersection towards Phu Thab Berk and Ban Wang Baan on highway No 2331. Drive for 16 km on tar road, which is steep, winding and rough at the end of the route. Drive slowly and keep your eyes on the road. Be careful about vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Thap Boek Toll fee is on the way. After that, turn right to Thap Boek Village for 2 km on concrete road. At the summit of Phu Thap Boek, witness the sea of mist, cabbage plantations and wild flowers as well as enjoy shopping Mong hill-tribe products. For more information about viewing Thap Boek mist, contact 056-709-465 or contact the Phetchabun Tourism Association (056-701-736).

Follow the same way back to highway No 2331 then connect to highway No 2011. Turn right to highway No 203 towards Lom Kao district. Stop for lunch on your way.

Do not miss Lom Kao fermented noodles. Boon Mee shop, on Lom Sak-Leoi road, serves Lom Kao fresh fermented noodles with herbal red curry, sweet curry and non-coconut milk curry in clay bowls. It’s open daily from 8am to 5pm (056-709-274, 089-643-2775).

From Lom Sak district, use highway No 12 Nam Nao-Chum Phae to head for the Nam Nao National Park, which is a total distance of 94 km. From Phor Khun Pha Muang intersection, drive along a fine tar but winding road up the hill. Drive carefully, especially at the curves, and be careful about the cars from the other lane. You will pass the gate to the Northeast at 18 km.

At 21 km, there is a resting area on the left hand. The spacious spot oversees the scenic mountain ranges, which are the borders between Petchabun and Chaiyaphum. Hill-tribe products can be bought at shops in the area. The park vicinity starts from 28 km but the entrance is at 49 km. Turn left to the Nam Nao National Park and stay on the road for 1.5 km to reach the park office. Shops and Tourist Service Point are inside the park, which is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm. The park covers an area of 603,750 rais with attractions and viewpoints scattered around.

After checking into your room, drive back to highway No 12 Lom Sak-Chum Phae. Stop at the Tham Pha Hong at 39 km. Park your car before proceeding on foot to the summit about 200 metres above to see the picturesque view and stunning sunset.

For the best sunrise spot, drive to Phu Kho at 46 km. It oversees Phu Kum Khao pine forest and deep forest. At the far end is Phu Kra Dueng and Phu Pha Jit. Follow the 4 km trekking trail to study nature.

After breakfast, drive to Phu Kum Khao pine forest whose entrance is at 53 km Lom Sak-Chum Phae. Drive along the asphalt road for 15 km. The area is purely covered with a huge pine forest with prairie below. In summer, the prairie will turn from green to dark brown and return to green during the rainy season. Phu Kum Khao can be seen in the middle of the forest.

Continue to Tham Yai Nam Nao or Phu Nam Rin situated on 60 km. Drive another 3 km to reach the 66 National Park Protection Unit. Tham Yai Nam Nao is a limestone cave, 955 metres above the sea level. The magnificent stalactites and stalagmites provide an unusual experience. Another strange feature is little currents that flow off the cave.

Nam Tok Heo Sai Waterfall is your next stop at 67 km. But you must proceed 1 km on foot to reach the waterfall, which is 20 metres high. You can swim in a deep pond at the waterfall. About 500 metres away is the fantastic Sai Thong Waterfall, which is 30 metres wide and 4 metres tall.

On your way back to highway No 12 Lom Sak-Chum Phae between 63 km and 70 km, you will see the picturesque forest at the Nam Nao National Park, which is splendidly colourful during December and January.

For further information about accommodation, contact the Nam Nao National Park office (081-962-6236, 02-562-0760). If you bring your own tents, you have to pay a fee of Bt30 per night. Room at the park is available between Bt1,000-3,500.

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Accommodation

Khao Kho Talae Phu, Tumbon Thungsamer, Khao Kho district Phetchabun; Tel 056-750-061-2

Rai Jan Ram Resort, Khao Kho district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-728-050-1

Rim Doi Resort 1, Muang district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-560-183

Rai Sin Ting, Nam Nao district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-718 – 229.

Restaurant

Salathai Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken) Wichian Buri district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-567-015.

Krua Ban, Muang district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-723-017

Kanom Jeen Khun Ta (Fermented Noodle), Muang district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-720-553

Suan Camp Son Khao Kho Valley, Khao Kho district, Phetchabun; Tel 056-287-291

Hospitals

Muang Petchabun Hospital: Tel 056-748-030-40

Khao Kho Hospital, Khao Kho district: Tel 056-728-059

Pho Khun Pha Muang Hospital, Muang district: Tel 056-721-812-3

Police Stations

Muang Phetchabun Police Station: Tel 056-711-005

Khao Kho Police Station: Tel 056-728-061

Nam Nao Poice Station: Tel 056-779-030