Khao Kho National Park

Khao Kho National Park is a protected mountainous area in Phetchabun Province in north-central Thailand that includes Khao Kho mountain. The park conserves upland forest, waterfalls and viewpoints on a high plateau.

The area is known for scenic lookouts, winding mountain roads and a cooler climate compared with surrounding lowlands; mist and clouds commonly form around the peaks. Waterfalls, short hiking trails and small-scale viewpoints are among the principal draws for day visitors.

The terrain includes forested ridges and valleys that support regional wildlife and watershed protection. Visitors commonly combine stops in the park with visits to nearby district towns and local attractions.

Geographically the park sits within Khao Kho District of Phetchabun Province in central-northern Thailand, on a highland mass that rises above surrounding plains.

• Best viewing times: Higher-elevation viewpoints offer noticeably cooler temperatures and seasonal cloud or mist, making spring and winter mornings popular for panoramic views.
• Main attractions: Trails and roadside viewpoints provide access to waterfalls and forested slopes that are typical attractions within the park.

Khao Kho is a mountain plateau about 40 kilometres northwest of Phetchabun, cool enough in winter that Thais nicknamed it ‘Little Switzerland’. Most of the sights along Highway 2196, the road that runs across the top, recall the years from 1968 to 1982 when these hills were a stronghold of the communist insurgency and a front line for the Thai army.

The old army base has been turned into a small weapons museum, and on the highest point of the plateau a memorial tower honours the soldiers who died in the fighting; when it is open you can climb up inside to a small viewing window over the surrounding ridges. Right beside the road nearby rises the Phra Borommathat Chedi, a huge white bell-shaped stupa whose interior is lined with hundreds of gleaming Buddha images. Several waterfalls are signposted off the main road, and a plain royal residence sits on top of a steep hill.

In recent years the plateau has become hugely popular with Thai weekenders, and its newer headline sight, the mosaic-covered hillside temple of Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaew with its five stacked white Buddhas, now draws the biggest crowds. Winter nights from mid-November to mid-February can drop close to freezing, so bring warm layers.

Khao Kho came to prominence in the 1970s, when communist insurgents fought against the mainstream Thai government across these highlands. As a result the area draws history buffs as well as nature lovers, with many of the war memorials and former communist base camps tucked away among beautiful tracts of pine forest.

The main historical attraction is the Khao Kho Memorial, a tribute to the conflict that ran from 1968 to 1982. Visitors who can do without another memorial may prefer the hidden chedi, draped in saffron cloth and said to conceal holy relics. Other outlying sights include the Khao Kho mountaintop and Si Dit Waterfall. Temperatures here are cool during the dry season, especially at night, so it is worth bringing a warm change of clothes.

Khao Kho National Park is in Phetchabun Province. The park is reached by road from Phetchabun town (approximately 1-2 hour drive). Buses and private taxis operate from the provincial center; personal car or hired transport offers the most direct access.

• Arrive before sunrise for clearer mountain views; fog often rolls in mid-morning.
• Avoid the rainy season (June-September) if the goal is panoramic vistas-roads and viewpoints can be misted out.
• Take cash at local ranger stations for parking/fees; some viewpoints have small stalls selling local snacks.