Phetchaburi

Phetchaburi: The Royal Escape with a Magical Secret

Welcome to Phetchaburi, one of Thailandā€™s oldest and most charming provinces! Just a short hop south of Bangkok, this city is a treasure trove of history, where a king's palace sits on a hill, and a magical cave temple hides a golden secret.

This isn't your typical tourist-packed town. Phetchaburi is an authentic slice of Thailand, blending royal history with stunning nature and a sprinkle of monkey-fueled chaos. Itā€™s the perfect prelude (or alternative!) to the popular beaches of nearby Cha-am.

Whatā€™s the Vibe?

A wide-angle view inside the Tham Khao Luang cave temple in Phetchaburi, Thailand. The vast cavern is naturally lit by beams of sunlight shining down from an opening in the ceiling, illuminating several golden Buddha statues, two white stupas, and a person standing on the right.

The Phetchaburi Bucket List: Palaces, Caves & Coastlines

Get ready for an adventure that takes you from a mountain-top palace to a subterranean sanctuary.

Climb to the "Palace on the Hill" (Phra Nakhon Khiri)

You can't miss this. Towering over the city is Khao Wang (Palace Hill), a royal palace complex built by King Rama IV. You can take a fun cable car to the top and explore a fascinating mix of Thai, Chinese, and European-style buildings, temples, and chedis. Itā€™s now a museum, and the panoramic views are absolutely stunning.

Warning! The hill is ruled by hundreds of very cheeky monkeys. Hold onto your snacks, sunglasses, and phones. They are bold and they will try to "borrow" your stuff! šŸ’

Be Awed by Tham Khao Luang Cave

This is the one youā€™ve been waiting for. This is, hands down, one of the most magical places in Thailand. You'll descend a staircase (past more monkeys, of course) into a massive, cathedral-like cave. Inside, over 170 Buddha statues rest in the shadows, waiting for the magic moment.

Pro-Tip: Go in the morning (around 10-11 AM) when the sun is high. Rays of light pierce through a hole in the cave ceiling, illuminating the golden Buddha statues in a dusty, divine spotlight. It is absolutely breathtaking.

Chill Out on the Coast (Cha-am & Hat Chao Samran)

After all that history, it's time for the beach! Phetchaburi is the gateway to some of the Gulf's best beaches.

Cha-am: A long, popular, and lively sandy beach loved by Thai families. Perfect for kicking back with a beach umbrella, eating fresh seafood, and enjoying the scene.

Hat Chao Samran: A quieter, more local beach that was once a royal seaside retreat. Great for a peaceful stroll.

Explore Thailand's Largest Park (Kaeng Krachan)

If you have more time, Phetchaburi is also home to the massive Kaeng Krachan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a true wilderness for serious hiking, wildlife spotting (elephants! hornbills!), and experiencing Thailand's untamed jungle.

How to Get There

Phetchaburi is super easy to get to from Bangkok.

By Train: A scenic and cheap 2.5-3 hour train ride from Bangkokā€™s main stations.

By Bus/Van: Frequent and fast, minivans and buses leave from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal all day.

By Car: A straightforward 2-hour drive down the main highway.

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

Wat Muang is located in Hua Taphan sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan district. It is presumed that the temple was constructed in the late Ayutthaya Era

Ang Thong

View of the Chao Phraya River looking south from Bang Rak

Bangkok

A golden Buddha statue nestled on a hillside.

Chai Nat

An ancient temple.

Kamphaeng Phet

A serene, hazy view of the long, wooden Mon Bridge in Kanchanaburi, spanning a calm lake where a small boat is cruising. Layers of forest-covered mountains are visible in the background under a soft, warm light.

Kanchanaburi

Macaque monkeys play on the green entrance sign for the ancient stone temple of Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi, Thailand.

Lopburi

A high-angle, scenic view looking along the crest of the massive Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, with its reservoir on one side and a lush green valley and forested hills on the other, under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakhon Nayok

The magnificent golden stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, glows against a deep blue twilight sky, with a Buddhist monk in orange robes standing in the foreground courtyard.

Nakhon Pathom

A panoramic view from a high vantage point in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, looking out over a dramatic, forest-covered limestone peak and a vast plain of green and yellow patchwork agricultural fields stretching to the horizon under a blue, cloudy sky.

Nakhon Sawan

A modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive pylon topped by a golden, traditional Thai spire, spanning a wide river in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The foreground is filled with green water hyacinths under a clear blue sky.

Nonthaburi

A traditional Thai temple with an orange-tiled roof sits in the middle of a tranquil pond in Pathum Thani, Thailand. A large, ornate Naga serpent statue encircles the structure, its body forming a walkway leading to the entrance. The building and a blue sky are reflected in the water, and the scene is framed by dark green leaves in the foreground.

Pathum Thani

A scenic view of the Wat Pha Sorn Kaew temple complex in the mountains of Phetchabun, Thailand. A massive, white seated Buddha statue and an ornate, golden pagoda are nestled in the lush green hills, with layers of distant mountains visible in the background.

Phetchabun

The ancient brick ruins of a temple in Phichit, Thailand, are illuminated by the warm, golden light of sunset, with surrounding trees and a clear sky.

Phichit

A scenic, high-angle view of the patchwork rice paddies in Phitsanulok province, Thailand. The fields, some flooded with water and others a vibrant green, stretch towards a line of dense trees with rolling hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Phitsanulok

The red brick ruins of the ancient temples at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand, with crumbling walls in the foreground and several towering prangs against a blue sky with clouds.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

An elevated, panoramic view of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand at sunset. A red-roofed temple is nestled in the foreground, overlooking a vast landscape of winding rivers, aquaculture farms, and a small town, with dramatic limestone mountains rising in the hazy, golden-lit background.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

A long-exposure photograph of a river with milky, flowing water cascading over smooth, dark boulders, surrounded by the lush green trees of a forest in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Ratchaburi

A riverside view of Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan, Thailand, at sunset. The chedi is brightly illuminated in pink and white, reflecting on the calm water next to a traditional temple and docked boats under a colourful sky.

Samut Prakan

A large, golden statue of a mythical bird stands before an ornate Thai temple in Samut Sakhon, featuring a multi-tiered red and gold roof, all set against a clear blue sky.

Samut Sakhon

A red and yellow train approaches on a track running directly through the center of a bustling market in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Crowds of tourists stand inches from the track, holding up their phones to photograph the train as it passes the colourful market stalls.

Samut Songkhram

A wide stone staircase with ornate Naga serpent railings leads up to the magnificent golden Mondop of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple in Saraburi, Thailand, under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Saraburi

A white Thai temple in Sing Buri with an ornate, multi-tiered red and gold roof. In the foreground, on a manicured green lawn, are several colourful and whimsical statues, including two large pink rabbits, a rooster, and a black elephant.

Sing Buri

An aerial view of the sprawling temple ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, showing numerous ancient brick stupas and pillars set amongst green lawns, trees, and ponds, with mountains visible in the distance under a warm, hazy sky.

Sukothai

A massive, golden dragon statue at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, Thailand. The dragon is coiled over stylized clouds with its mouth wide open, spouting a cascade of water onto a structure below. Visitors walk on the paved plaza in front of the immense statue under a clear blue sky.

Suphan Buri

An aerial view of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, Thailand, a large, curved concrete structure surrounded by lush green mountains and a vast reservoir under a cloudy sky.

Tak

An ornate, multi-tiered golden temple in Uthai Thani, Thailand, featuring intricate gables and numerous pointed spires set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground is a manicured garden with red flowers and green hedges.

Uthai Thani