Vol. 13 - Dec 2025
Wake up above the clouds at Geo Phu Thap Boek
Sponsored by Agoda
We booked our stay in Phetchabun this week through Agoda, and it made planning the trip easy. From simple mountain stays to places high above the clouds in Phu Thap Boek, everything was easy to compare in one place.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet room with a view, cooler weather, or something family-friendly, Agoda makes it simple to find a stay that fits your style and budget.
If you’re planning a mountain escape in Thailand, it’s a great place to start!
🙋🏽♀️ Sawadee from us!
There’s something really refreshing about staying above the clouds. Cooler air, slower mornings, and a completely different rhythm to the day. It doesn’t feel like a normal Thailand trip. It feels quieter, softer, and easier to breathe. We didn’t come with big plans, and that ended up being perfect.
🗺️ NEW - We’re excited to introduce our ‘Local Secrets Maps’ page!
Our map has grown a lot lately, and we wanted a cleaner way for you to explore every beach, café, waterfall, and hidden corner we share. Now you can browse everything by location or theme, all in one place.
Click the Local Secrets Map in ‘The Thai List Insider’ to try it out.
Enjoy this weeks List!
Ploy & Jochem
🗺️ The Journey: Living Above the Clouds
A travel story
We reached the ‘Sea of clouds’!
The drive up already told us this trip would be different.
The road was very steep and narrow, climbing higher with every turn. At some points it felt like we were just zig-zagging straight up the mountain. The higher we went, the cooler it got, and then suddenly we were driving straight into thick cloud. A few minutes later, we came out the other side and realized we were above it all. The mountains were below us, covered in white.
Along the way, we stopped at Wat Pha Sorn Kaew. The temple sits quietly in the mountains, surrounded by hills and open sky. Even though it’s well known, it didn’t feel busy when we visited. We walked around slowly, took in the views, and enjoyed the calm. The white Buddha statues and mosaic details feel almost unreal against the green mountains behind them.
The first evening was magical. We ate moo kha ta, Thai hot pot and BBQ, outside, wrapped in blankets, wearing hoodies. The grill wasn’t just for cooking, it was for warmth. Steam from the food mixed with the cold air, and for a moment it genuinely felt like we were back in Holland, haha. Cold fingers, warm food, quiet around us.
Not something you expect in Thailand!
The next morning we woke up early without alarms, made coffee, and sat quietly while the fog slowly shifted. Some mornings the clouds stayed thick and white, hiding everything. Other mornings, they slowly opened up and revealed layers of green mountains stretching out in front of us. Either way, we didn’t feel the need to do much. Just sitting there felt like enough.
Our stay Geo Phu Thap Boek (จีโอ ภูทับเบิก) was simple and comfortable, but with a stunning view! Lying in your bed, cozy looking over the clouds is an experience in itself. You don’t come here for luxury details. You come for the view, the silence, and the feeling that you’re far away from everything else.
After breakfast, we drove slowly around the mountain roads, stopping whenever something caught our eye. No plan, no pressure, just following the road and the views.
By late morning, we usually headed down towards town for lunch. One day we ate at Kitchen Kroa Leo, a proper local place with really good Thai food. Another day we stopped at KIN Café & Restaurant, which was easy, relaxed, and ideal with a kid.
Most afternoons ended with coffee. Cup Craft Specialty Coffee became a favorite, good coffee, made properly (ask for ‘Mai Waan’ if you don’t like sweet syrup in your coffee). We also liked Piccolo Café, small and cozy, the kind of place where you end up staying longer than planned.
As the sun dropped, we drove back up the mountain again. The temperature fell quickly, the light softened, and everything went quiet. Dinner was simple, nights were early, and sleep came easily after a full day of cool air and doing very little, exactly what we needed.
Wat Pha Sorn Kaew with its gigantic White Buddha statues
⛅️ TIP: Best time to visit Phetchabun
If you want cool weather and clouds, come between November and February. Mornings and nights can be cold, so bring warm clothes. It’s a nice change from the usual Thailand heat.
Happy Ploy on the mosaic staircase at Wat Pha Sorn Kaew
The atmosphere in Cup Craft is relaxed and cozy
Jungle and clouds, background for some great pictures!
🗣️ Say it like a local
“Cha-cha dai” (ช้าๆ ได้) — It’s okay to go slow.
That’s exactly how this place feels.
📰 Thailand Now
🏔️ Mountain destinations trending this cool season
Places like Phetchabun, Khao Kho, and Phu Thap Boek are seeing more interest as travelers look for cooler air and quieter escapes during the winter months. Expect busy weekends, especially around sunrise viewpoints.☕ More cafés popping up outside big cities
Small specialty coffee spots are opening across provincial towns, including Phetchabun. Good coffee is no longer just a Bangkok or Chiang Mai thing, even rural areas now have solid local roasters and cozy cafés worth stopping for.🌫️ Cool mornings, warmer afternoons
This time of year brings chilly early mornings in higher elevations, with sunshine and milder temperatures by midday. Layers are key, especially if you’re staying above the clouds.
📻 The Thai (Play) List
Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .
Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.
“Lost with you”
– Patrick Watson
Get lost together. This song embodies Petchabun perfectly, no worries, just quiet time with you.
“Road Trippin’”
– Red Hot Chili Peppers
Road trips are our favorite, and what better tune blasting from the cars’ speakers than this one?
- The Thai List Insider -
If you liked this week’s edition, here’s how we’d spend one perfect day in Petchabun:
🏔️ Phetchabun: Cool Mornings, Mountain Roads, Above the Clouds
• 6:30 am : Wake up above the clouds at Geo Phu Thap Boek
No alarm needed. Open the door, breathe in the cold mountain air, and watch the clouds move slowly through the valleys below. Mornings up here are quiet, cool, and unreal.
• 7:30 am : Coffee with a view
Make a simple coffee and sit outside wrapped in a hoodie or blanket. Some mornings the clouds stay thick, other mornings they slowly lift and reveal layers of green mountains. Either way, there’s nowhere else you need to be.
• 09:30 am : Slow drive around Phu Thap Boek
Take the mountain roads with no real plan. Stop at viewpoints, small roadside stalls, and anywhere the view pulls you in. The drive itself is part of the experience.
• 12:30 pm : Lunch in town
Head down towards Phetchabun town for lunch. Eat at a local spot like Kitchen Kroa Leo for proper Thai food.
• 2:00 pm : Coffee break
Stop at Cup Craft Specialty Coffee for a proper coffee and a quiet sit-down. As a European Jochem always wants to ‘do stuff’, but here it’s giving yourself over to just ‘be’ and enjoy doing nothing.
• 4:30 pm : Drive back up the mountain
Make your way back towards Phu Thap Boek as the sunlight starts to dim and the air starts to cool again.
• 6:00 pm : Sunset above the clouds
Back at your hotel, watch the sun drop behind the mountains. The temperature falls quickly, and the clouds often roll back in.
• 7:00 pm : Moo Kha Ta dinner
Eat moo kha ta outside, Thai hot pot and BBQ, wrapped in blankets and hoodies. The grill keeps your hands warm, steam rises into the cold air, and it almost feels like winter back home. Bring some red wine and a beer, and enjoy a good conversation with your friends or partner!
• 8:30 pm : Early night, deep sleep 😴
No nightlife, no noise. Just quiet, cold air, and a really good night’s sleep after a full day outdoors.
🍲 Eat & Sip - Thai food tips (on top of the Mountain)
• Moo Kha Ta (หมูกระทะ) : Thai hot pot and BBQ, and a must in the mountains. You grill meat and vegetables while broth simmers around the edge.
• Tom Jued (ต้มจืด) : A clear, mild soup with vegetables, tofu, or minced pork. Warm, light, and really nice in cooler weather.
• Hot Chinese Tea (ชา ร้อน): Almost every mountain restaurant serves this. Nothing fancy, just hot tea in small cups, but up on Phu Thap Boek, it’s perfect for warming your hands while watching the clouds.
💎 Local Treasures
• Phu Thap Boek viewpoints : Wide mountain views and the famous “sea of clouds.” Best early in the morning or just before sunset, when the light is soft and the air is cool.
• Khao Kho Highlands : Rolling hills, open views, and cooler weather year-round. A great area for slow drives, simple cafés, and quiet stops along the road.
• Wat Pha Sorn Kaew : A peaceful temple set in the mountains, known for its mosaic design and ‘white buddha’s’. Enjoy the open views over the valley. Go early or late in the day for a calmer visit.
✨ Hidden Gems
• Phu Thap Boek backroads : Small mountain roads winding through vegetable farms and hills. Quiet, green, and perfect for slow drives away from the main viewpoints.
• Early morning fog moments : Not a place, but a timing tip. Step outside just after sunrise and watch the clouds move through the mountains before they lift.
• Local Moo Kha Ta Spots : Simple, no-name restaurants near the mountain stays. Plastic chairs, hot grills, the best way to spend a cold evening up high.
📍 For Our Insiders
Every week we drop new pins onto our Local Secrets Maps - special spots you won’t always find in the guidebooks. Street stalls tucked down alleys, rooftop bars only locals know, temples that feel like they belong to you alone.
This map is just for Insiders, and it grows with every edition - a living guide that keeps unlocking Thailand, piece by piece.
👉 Tap the link on your smart phone or computer, and choose “Open in Google Maps” for the full interactive experience! 🌏
🚨 NEW!
We’ve grouped all our locations into easy-to-browse categories.
You’ll first land on our new ‘Maps’ page, then tap the section that fits your next trip.
And yes - this week’s Petchabun edition is under “Mountains” 🏔️
🙏 See you next week!
We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love 💕 by inviting your friends and family to join our little community.
Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer.
Don’t miss out on the journey.
Wishing you save travels,
The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand 🇹🇭
