Phetburi province
The province of Phetburi borders Pratchuap Khiri Khan to the south, Burma to the west, Ratchaburi to the north and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. Characterised by thick jungle covered mountains towards the western frontier with Burma that run down to the plains by the Gulf of Thailand, Phetburi holds considerable allure for nature-loving travellers -- with stunning mountain scenery and lush national parks.
While the provincial capital, Phetburi (also known as Phetchaburi) has a number of wats worth peeking at, the massive Kaeng Krachan National Park (Thailand's largest at 3,000 sq km) makes a stopover of at least a day or two worthwhile. There are also a few beaches not far from Phetburi that may interest some.
Despite the considerable appeal, tourism is only a small part of the local economy -- the majority of the population are involved in the agricultural and fisheries industries.
