At a height of 1,794 m Phu Tub Berk is the highest point of the Phetchabun mountain range. We now offer guided tours to this location.
The area is home to the Hmong people and was previously a major source of the opium poppy. It is now a major source of cool climate vegetables and is said to have the largest cabbage field in Thailand.
Veggies aside, Phu Tub Berk also has some truly amazing views. Sometimes the mountains are enveloped by a sea of fog, so you look down on top of the mist. On a clear night you can look up at the stars and enjoy a view that is almost as clear as as the skies in outback Australia. Naturally there is no southern cross but none the less, you can get a good look at a clear starry northern sky. If you stay overnight, your camera will most likely get a workout with some spectacular sunsets and sunrise photo opportunities.
Although it is still in the tropics, it rarely gets hot. Due to the altitude, the temperatures around the mountain remain cool all year and in the coldest months November – February it can drop below freezing.
We first visited Phu Tub Berk in December 2013. My experience of Thailand prior to that time was one of a hot and humid tropical climate, I was totally unprepared for the cold. I arrived dressed in shorts and t-shirt. There are shops there that sell cool climate clothing, but most people that live in that area are several sizes smaller than me and the best I could do was borrow a shawl from one of the campers, and huddle up around a camp fire to keep warm. We opted to sleep in the car vs the tent, and when we woke, to my surprise, there was a thick frost on the roof of the car and a light frost on the ground. Another thing I learned on this first visit – Toyota do not include heaters for cars sold in Thailand. It was a cold night, but a very enjoyable time sitting around the fires chatting (or at least trying to chat) with the locals.
You will not see many western faces in the Phu Tub Berk area, but in the holiday season it can become a little crowded as it is a very popular destination for the many Thais that enjoy a short escape from the tropical heat.
Phatchy, our tour guide, with one of the ladies from a local village near Phu Tub Berk, in the Phetchabun Mountains
Phat sitting on a swing at the rear of the Phu Tub Berk local store, coffee shop and post office enjoying the view of the cabbage farms and the Phetchabun Mountains
Also Visit
While in the area I recommend you visit Heaven Hill, Wat Tub Berk, and Wat Pha Sorn Kaew
There is no “bad time” to visit the area but July – October is probably the best time to see the morning fog. October – January is the Hmong new year celebrations. November – February is the cooler months. April – May is the crop planting season and you can see the farmers actively preparing the fields for planting.
If you are really energetic, it is also a great place to go for a ride on your bicycle.
The google map below will show you how to get there.