Petchaburi province lies 3 hours South West of Bangkok and is predominantly only heard of from people passing between Bangkok and the well known coastal city of Hua Hin. Petchaburi is mainly flat with a large coastal area consisting mainly of fishing villages and towns, however to the West of the province, bordering Myanmar is Keang Krachan National Park which is the largest national park in Thailand and a large track of rainforest, mountains and rivers.
The park is popular with Thais but lesser known among foreigners and camping trips are the most popular activity for people visiting the park. There are several campsites in Keang Krachan with camping facilities, including tent rental facilities, washrooms, and on site restaurants. There are numerous resorts in the area too, many of which located on the banks of the lake on the park boundary.
Cycling in Petchaburi is not a well known activity and there are no bike rental facilities in the area, however for those with their own bike and transportation, there are endless opportunities for mountain biking in Petchaburi and road cycling. Starting from Keang Krachan dam, there are various quiet roads perfect for road cycling enthusiasts, and the hills in the area make for a stunning backdrop. With the slight raised elevation the temperatures can be slightly cooler than the coast too making for a more comfortable experience.
Further in the park the forests become more dense and the hills turn into mountains which makes for better mountain biking experiences. A 50km cycling trip to Panoeng Thung rewards visitors with stunning mountain views and daily sights of the clouds hovering above the rainforest early morning. There is a semi paved road leading up to Panoeng Thung but for fitter people it would be more fun on a mountain bike.
Petchaburi is just one of many provinces that are great for cycling in Thailand, and as the cycling scene becomes bigger more and more routes are being established to cater for a growing number of cyclists.
