I have visited Khao Kho almost 20 times. Khao Kho is a district in Phetchabun Province, a lower northern province with an atmosphere almost identical to the upper north. If you enjoy mountains and cool weather, I think you don't need to travel as far as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, or Mae Hong Son because Khao Kho can meet your needs.

Khao Kho has a lot to offer tourists, from natural attractions to newly built tourist spots. If you're curious about what Khao Kho has to offer, follow me on a tour!

Let's start with Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew. Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew is located on Highway 12 (Lom Sak - Phitsanulok) in Ban Camp Son. From Lom Sak District, pass through the winding Khao Khot before reaching Ban Camp Son. On the right hand side, you will see a sign. Follow the path for a short distance and you will reach Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew.

The Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew Siriratchatharmanimit pagoda is designed to resemble a seven-tiered lotus flower, dedicated to the Lord Buddha. The top of the pagoda houses the relics of the Lord Buddha.

The Phra That Pha Son Kaew Chedi is beautifully designed. It is decorated with colorful tiles from Benjarong porcelain cups, bowls, and plates, as well as beads, glass rings, gold and silver, and other valuables. This makes the chedi extremely beautiful and intricate, so much so that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has ranked it as one of the top 10 Dream Destinations. It is truly a must-visit place.

The Phutthachai Mongkol Pillar, a large, intricately carved stone pillar, depicts the story of the Buddha's victory over the Mara demons on all four sides. The pillar is topped by a statue of Phra Somdej Phutthachai Mongkol Chinamar, the Buddha who triumphed over Mara.

And the white Buddha statues that you see sitting in a row of 5, next to the Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew pagoda, are the Five Buddhas. Currently, the construction progress has made significant progress. The base of the Five Buddhas will be the main Ubosot hall. The 1st and 2nd floors will be used as accommodation for those who participate in meditation retreats. Other areas will be used for religious activities, chanting, listening to Dhamma teachings, and meditation practice.

For the image of Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew, I combined images from two different times, which is why the sky looks different.

If you drive a little further from Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew, you will find a newly opened coffee shop "PINOLATTE", which is located higher than Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew.

This restaurant is located on a hill, offering stunning panoramic views. You can see the mountains, the sea, and even the Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew temple. This is definitely one of the restaurant's biggest selling points.

The drinks are also expensive. Hot menus start at 70-95 baht, cold menus start at 75-120 baht, and blended menus start at 90-135 baht. I ordered a Strawberry Milkshake for 125 baht. Let me tell you, it was very sweet.

View from PINOLATTE shop.

Let's continue to other attractions. Leaving the PINOLATTE shop, I headed towards the Camp Son intersection, turned left, and headed towards Khao Kho District.

Nowadays, the road leading to Khao Kho District is lined with strawberry farms on both sides. I think that visiting strawberry farms in Khao Kho is much easier than in Chiang Mai. Tourists who want to buy strawberries to take home can pick them directly from the farm. The variety planted is the Royal Project 80. When I went, the price for large strawberries was 400 baht per kilogram, and for small strawberries, it was 200 baht per kilogram.

This evening, I have a plan to capture the last light at the Khao Kho Sacrificial Monument. Along the way, I saw a tall, white pagoda standing majestically by the roadside.

The white pagoda you see is the Kanchanapisek Buddha Relics Pagoda, an architectural blend of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Rattanakosin styles. The top of the pagoda enshrines the Buddha's relics, brought from Sri Lanka. Inside the pagoda, there are many sacred Buddha statues. If you visit Khao Kho, I recommend stopping by this pagoda for good luck.

From the Kanchanabhisek Pagoda to the memorial, the distance is about 10 kilometers. However, the road is quite steep near the memorial, so you should drive carefully.

Near the entrance to the Itthi Base Weapon Museum, there is a "Khao Kho" tree planted for tourists to see. The name "Khao Kho" comes from this tree.

Inside the Itthi Base Weapon Museum, which was once a base for artillery guns to support the fighting. Currently, it has become an open-air museum that displays weapons and military equipment used in battle during that time. There is also an exhibition room showing equipment, utensils, clothing, and weapons of the communists. It is open to the public from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

From the Weapon Museum at Itthi Base, it is not far to the Khao Kho Sacrificial Monument.

This simulated battlefield base also offers a truly stunning view of Khao Kho town, including the magnificent Phra Borommathat Kanchanapisek pagoda.

The atmosphere after the sun has set, the last light begins to appear.

At dusk, you can see the stars on the ground in the simulated combat base in Khaokho town. It's very beautiful.

I retraced my steps back to the Camp Son intersection to reach my accommodation. Tonight, I'm staying at The Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort, which is not far from the Camp Son intersection.

There is a place for guests to relax while waiting to check in.

My room tonight is a Hillside Chalet Deluxe. From the hotel's internal road, you will need to walk uphill to the room. The path is steep, but the hotel has provided a walkway. It might be a bit difficult for the elderly.

Upon entering the room, the bathroom is located on the left-hand side, while the dressing area is on the right. The dressing area includes a wardrobe and a work desk.

The seating area has a small TV and a fireplace. However, judging from its condition, the fireplace has not been used yet.

The bathroom has a large bathtub next to the toilet. I think the positioning is not ideal, as your legs will hit the bathtub when you sit on the toilet.

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the lobby.

The hotel has an Adventure activity area, which is not included in the room rate. If you wish to participate in any activities, there will be a fee for each activity.

We had to rely on our instincts to navigate the entire way because we didn't know the exact coordinates of the Takhian Ngo mountain. I chose a route that passed Khao Kho Zoo and Sri Dit Waterfall, continuing until I reached a three-way intersection where a right turn would lead to Nong Mae Na. Instead, I turned left to head towards the Royal Palace. Less than 5 km from this intersection, you'll see a road on the left-hand side that will take you up to Takhian Ngo mountain.

Soon, the first light began to appear behind the mountain, gradually changing color with time.

As the light began to appear, I could see the mist more and more clearly. Although the mist today was not as thick as the sea of mist I had seen before, I could still see a thin mist covering the forest in front of me. It was beautiful in a different way. The golden light that shone on the mist turned the mist into a golden color as well. After a while, the color changed from gold to white, looking no different from cotton candy.

From the viewpoint of Khao Takhian Ngo, I retraced my steps to the original path to enjoy the morning atmosphere of the Rattanai Reservoir, which is the origin of the fog.

"Sleeping on Khao Kho for 1 night, your life will be extended by 1 year" is true or not, I don't know because it cannot be proven. But what I do know is that every time I come to Khao Kho, I feel refreshed, relaxed, and get to experience the cold weather. It's like recharging the battery in my body so that I have the strength to continue fighting the real world.

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