Khao Yai National Park in Thailand

Without a doubt, Khao Yai is the best and most popular national park in Thailand. It is quite easy to see many interesting animal species there.

Founded in 1962 as the First National Park, it is the third largest park in Thailand. Although mainly located in Nakhonratchasima province, the park also extends its borders to Prachinburi, Saraburi, and Nakhonnaiok. The Khao Yai checkpoint is a 2.5-hour drive from Bangkok.

The park covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers, including tropical forests and evergreen meadows. Mount Kao Rom (1,351 meters) is considered the highest in the park. The average height of the national park ranges from 400 to 1,000 meters above sea level.

Cao Yai is part of the Dong Phayen-Cao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex covers five protected areas from Cao Yai to the Cambodian border. Other protected areas include Pang Sida National Park, Thap Lan, Ta Praia, and Dong Yai Nature Reserve.

Wildlife

Elephants, macaques, muntjacs, zambas, gibbons, porcupines, and civets are common among mammals. Rarer mammals include bears, gaurs, otters, red wolves, and jackals. For a while there was no sign of tigers here, but hidden cameras have revealed a significant population in neighboring Tap Lan and Pang Sida parks. There used to be one Siamese crocodile in the national park, but it disappeared long ago.

The national park is home to 300 native and migratory birds. The largest rhino population in Thailand is concentrated here. Bird species found in the park include barbets, fire-bellied long-tailed grubs, broad-backed ducks, pittas, mountain owls, great mueller's woodpeckers, collared pygmy owls, blue-winged fliers, blue irenes, Asian trogons, drongos and magpies.

Many land birds, such as silver loafers, bushbuck chickadees, green-footed grouse, and Siamese loafers, inhabit the roads and trails. If you want to admire the birds, then the best times to do so are the dry months and March and April, when bird migration occurs.

Khao Yai is also a place where you can watch reptiles. The most favorable time is in March and April, until October. However, reptiles are not easy to find during the colder seasons. The reticulated python, grasshopper, Chinese rat snake, Chinese water snake, Nile varan and desert iguana are just a small number of the reptiles you may encounter in the park.

Visit

The park is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily throughout the year. There are vehicles that can run until late at night. The park is very popular with foreign and local tourists, so it can be crowded on weekends and extremely busy on holidays.

The main entrance is in the northern part of the park near the town of Pak Chong in Nakhonratchasima province, the second entrance is in the south in Nakhonnaiok province. The entrance fee is 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. For those with a Thai driver's license, work permit or student cards, the entrance price will be different. While camping or staying in a bungalow, the entrance fee will be valid for 3 days.

How to get there

You have the option of exploring the park on your own by personal car, motorcycle or scooter, but it is best to use the services of a tour company. Khao Yai is one of the most popular destinations for bikers. They can often be found on the roads. The park's visitor center is 13 kilometers from the northern checkpoint.

Public Services - The park can be reached by public transportation. It would be a measured trip from Bangkok to Pak Chong, where you have to change to the songhtao, which travel hourly. But there is nothing of interest near the entrance. What is noteworthy is located 14 km from the entrance deep into the park. There is no public transportation from the entrance to the tourist center.

Personal transportation is. One trip from any hotel or airport in Bangkok to Khao Yai North Entrance costs about 2,300 baht. With good traffic the trip takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes. For more information or to book personal transportation online, open the "cab details" page.

Excursions

Excursions - More favorable tours in groups of up to 10-12 people can be arranged on arrival at various resorts or with tour operators. The tour schedule is less flexible, it follows a strictly established route.

Private wildlife tours - The best way to explore the park without interference from outsiders. The most popular tours:

• One-day wilderness tour with a night safari in Khao Yai
• Two-day wildlife tour in Khao Yai
• A three-day wilderness tour in Khao Yai

It is very important to know when booking a hotel north of Khao Yai that tour operators may not include transportation from hotels located too far away. You should ask the tour operators if they include transportation from a particular hotel before booking a room there.

Where to stay

Many hotels are located near the national park. But some hotels prohibit transportation of their guests, so it is better not to stay in such places.

There are several bungalows at two different points in the national park. Accommodation in them costs 800 baht (2 people), 2400 baht (8 people) and 9000 baht (20 people). A place in the bungalow can be booked only on the DPN website in advance. Since the transfer must be made within 2 days and it takes longer to transfer from abroad, reservations can only be made in Thailand. Payment can be made at 7-Eleven stores or banks.

Sightseeing

The distances between sights and roads can be long, so they are difficult to cover on foot. Visitors are not allowed to follow the same route on the road. It is possible to hitchhike, though, if there is sufficient traffic on the roads.

There is a restaurant, several grocery stores, a parking lot, and a short circular trail near the Visitor Center. This center is recognized as a good starting point for exploring the national park. The restaurant and grocery stores are open from 7 or 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Several meadows near the visitor center at Yod Hao Q Mountain increase the chances of seeing some amazing mammals. There are also several salt marshes along the roads to attract larger mammals such as elephants, gaur, deer and wild boar.

Hikers have a wide choice of trails: from 500 meters to 8 kilometers, and all together they amount to 35-40 kilometers, which makes the park an attractive place for hikers. The circular route in the visitor's center is the only route that does not require a guide. Any other route must necessarily be guided. There are also longer routes that require a guide to be present for up to 3 days. To see some of the most popular routes, please open a map from this page.

Although the park is very popular with local tourists, most of them prefer activities like picnicking while camping or visiting waterfalls and lookout points. This means that most of the trails are not too crowded.

There are several waterfalls in the park. To get to most of them, you can use transportation and walk a little. Heeo Narok Falls in Khao Yai is one of the highest and most impressive waterfalls in the country. The same jump scene from the movie "The Beach", which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, was from Heeu Suwat Falls, located 8 kilometers east of the visitor center.

In addition to the main restaurant at the visitor center, there are 3 other restaurants inside the park, one near Heo Suwat Falls, one south of Heo Narok Falls, and one at the intersection with Khao Heow Road. There is also a restaurant at Lam Takong Camp, but it is not open regularly and on weekends it only provides instant noodles or snacks. It is more likely to be open on crowded days such as weekends or holidays.

Attempts to protect nature and the main problems

Although the park administration takes effective measures against the illegal cutting of the rose tree, the problem still arises from time to time, though not as serious as in neighboring Pan Cid and Tap Lan parks. Poaching of fragrant wood species (sandalwood, aloes) is a bigger problem. Traces of illegal theft can be found on common routes.

According to the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee (Doha, 2014), illegal logging of Siamese rose wood and other trees is increasing and intensifying in the Dong Phayaen-Kao Yai forest complex.

Because of the good paved roads, visitors and park workers drive at speeds over 60 km/h, which is already too much for a national park. During our visit to the park, we saw park rangers driving above 80 km/h.

Snakes stranded by cars, dead or injured are a common sight on the roads, and severely injured pythons can be seen all too often. We spoke to visitors who claimed to have seen a macaque carrying a dead calf that had died in an accident. Others said they had noticed injured adults. Too many times we saw park rangers and visitors not slowing down as they approached macaws on the roads. They drove too recklessly, nearly injuring the animals.

Although driving at high speeds is a current problem, cases do occur: We have heard stories according to which some visitors have stopped on the road to observe animals like gibbons, macaws and rhinoceroses. These people have been fined for slowing down traffic.

Climate

May through October is the rainy season with high humidity. The average temperature is 27 degrees during the day and 13 degrees at night. This is the perfect season for waterfalls

November through February is the cold season, with clear, sunny weather. The average temperature is 22 degrees during the day and drops to 9-10 degrees at night.

In March and April comes the warm season, humid, with average temperatures of 20-30 degrees during the day and 17 degrees at night.

Khao Yai Attractions

Visitors Center

In addition to restaurants and kiosks, there are several interesting trails around the visitor center. Behind the center there is a short loop trail, about 800 m long. This trail does not require the guidance of an attendant. After walking half of this trail, you can turn off onto a larger trail, 9 kilometers long, which will lead east to Heo Suwat Falls. A guide is a must for this trail, as many people used to scuffle there. who spent several nights in the jungle until they were found.

Although the area of the center is said to be lively, it is a great place to watch birds: kingfishers and rhinoceros birds are quite common.

Campgrounds

The park has two campgrounds with toilets, showers and parking. You can rent a tent from 250 baht (2 people). Each accessory like sleeping bag, sheet, blanket costs about 20-50 baht. The area is good not only for camping, but also for hiking. (These prices are current as of April 2018)

If you leave the tent, sooner or later it will be visited by macaques. If the tent is closed, the monkeys may tear it up. It is wise to leave all doors and bags open. Any small purses or anything else that the monkey might mistake for food are best opened. Macaques will only take food or anything that looks like a food container.

The first campground has a small restaurant, but it is not always open. It's pretty easy to get to the restaurant on foot in the HQ area.

During the cold season, from November to February, the temperature at night can drop to 9-10 degrees. It is better to take warm clothes to sleep in the tent. In addition, you will need it for morning and evening walks or for riding a motorcycle.

Lam Takong Campground

The first campground is 6 kilometers from the visitor center. It is almost in the center of all the attractions of the national park.

There is a trail across the bridge to the north of the camp that leads to some open meadows, perfect for finding wildlife. Elephants occasionally appear on the roads around the camp.

Malay porcupines and civets visit the campground every night, so if you have a flashlight, you will easily spot them, as the eyes of these animals glisten like cats. As you slowly approach, you can get as close as you can and get a chance to admire their beauty.

Visitors with motorcycles can buy fuel at the front of the house if necessary. When the restaurant closes at 5 or 6 p.m., an elderly couple in the house prepares some meals, often just instant noodles or sticky rice, which can be mixed with fish in a can.

Pha Kluaymai Campground (Pha Kluaymai)

It is located 3 kilometers east of Lam Tahong Camping Site. Tent, sleeping bags, pillows and mats can be rented. Cold showers, toilets and restaurant are available. The toilets and showers at this base are a little better.

Along the watercourse to the west of this camp is a 3 km trail. This trail is also home to many medium-sized lizards. We saw three different species in one day, one of them the Chinese water dragon. This trail ends at the end of the main road a few hundred meters from Heo Suwat waterfall.

There are several fruit trees at the campground, which are often visited by some very bright birds such as bullbirds, barbels, pigeons and many others if it is time for the fruit to ripen. In addition, 40 meters down the woods behind the toilets on the north side there is a "secret spot" where some amazing birds such as the orange-headed ground thrush, white-backed shama thrush and Siberian blue robin are often seen.

Porcupines and civets are often seen at night, so it is better to arm yourself with a flashlight.

Watchtowers

There are two watchtowers around the meadow area of the park, which can be easily accessed by several routes.

Nong Phak Chi Watchtower

It is located 2.5 km north of the visitor center next to a salt marsh and a pond. Several paths from the main road pass through this watchtower. The area is mostly a meadow, which makes it an ideal place for hiking.

This watchtower is very popular because of its good 360 degree visibility, there is a great chance of spotting some mammals and birds.

Khao Luk Chang Bat Cave

According to some reports, between 1 and 3 million bats with wrinkled lips live in this cave. During sunset, you can watch a long cloud of bats for hours from the cave, which looks stunning. Some birds of prey regularly feed on bats by diving into this cloud.

Pechera is located 4.5 km from the northern gate of the national park. Look at the sign on the map to find the trail leading to the cave.

Waterfalls

There are many waterfalls in Khao Yai. Most are easily accessible by car in combination with a short walk, but to get to other waterfalls, you need a longer guided hike.

Haew Narok Waterfall

This three-level waterfall, the highest of which is at a height of 80 meters, has an absolute height of 150 meters and is the largest waterfall in Khao Yai National Park. It is located about 10 km from the south gate in the direction of the north gate on the main road (road 3077). You can reach the waterfall by a 600-meter path from the road. There are restrooms and a restaurant, as well as parking at the beginning of the trail.

There are many birds, lizards, macaws, and sometimes elephants to be found on the short trail.

Just before you go down the stairs to the observation deck, there is a rest area where the trail begins 600-800 meters long. There are no signs on the trail. This trail will lead to the best place to watch, where the waterfall can be seen from a higher place for better landscape photography.

Getting to Heo Narok Falls, you can burn a considerable amount of fuel on a scooter. If you plan to get there this way, there is a small store at your service 10 km south of the south gate.

There are also many salt marshes on the main road north of Heo Narok Falls. Elephant activity in this area is very high compared to other known places.

Haew Suwat Waterfall

This famous 20-meter waterfall from the movie "The Beach" with Leonardio DiCaprio (novel by Alex Garland) is 13 km from the visitor center. It is easily accessible by scooter or car, just a hundred meters from the end of the road. This waterfall can also be reached on foot, walking 8 km from the visitor center.

There is an alternate, "hidden" path next to the restaurant that leads to the top of the waterfall where the jump scene was filmed. It's less than a 200 meter walk.

The waterfalls of Heeho Sai Fay

Located just 700 meters north of Heo Suwat Falls, 300 meters south of Heo Pratun Falls.

Heo Pratun Falls

Located 1 km north of Heo Sai and 300 meters north of Heo Sai Fai waterfalls.

Fa Klujamai Waterfall

This smaller waterfall follows a 3 km long trail between two campgrounds through the jungle. It was the only crocodile that lived here and could be seen almost every day every year, but no one has seen it since October 2018.

Nang Rong and Sarika Falls

Both are located in the southeast of the park in Nakhonnaiok Province.

Viewpoint, north

Between the north gate and the visitor center, 4.5 km from the north gate.

Yod Khao Kheow, Mt.

About 1,292 meters above sea level, this is the highest place in Nakhonnaik Province. It is located about 11 km from the visitor center, which can be reached by car or scooter all the way to the summit. There are three good vantage points and several short trails along the road to the summit. The area around the mountain is rich in wildlife, especially birds. Elephants are regularly seen in the area.

Viewpoint #1

It is located on top of Yod Khao Kheow, a good view to the north. Height: 1247 meters above sea level.

The cliff of Fa Diu Dai

After walking 600 meters along the trail, there is a beautiful view from the top of the cliff to the southeast. Serows, silver pheasants, and some other ground birds are quite common here at certain periods. Height: 1142 meters above sea level.

This vantage point is closed to the public from June 1 to September 30 each year, beginning with the 2018 rainy season. This is necessary to restore the forest without disturbance.

Viewpoint #3

Good view to the north. Height: 1040 meters above sea level.

Khao Paeng Ma - a place to watch gauras

Khao Paeng Ma is an 8 km² mountain stretch of reforested area, located 68 km from the north gate just beyond the northeast corner of the park. This place is not part of the national park. During the rainy season of 1995, just a couple of years after the project began, a small group of gaurs regularly appeared in the area.

When the observation drew the attention of the authorities, the Wildlife Foundation of Thailand (WFT) decided to protect the area more strictly from poachers. Since then, the gaur population in the area has increased, but the serious threat from poachers still persists.

This area is an ideal place with the best opportunities to see gaurus. It is a popular spot among locals and can be very crowded on weekends. The road through the site to the visitor center is unpaved and very bumpy, requiring 4WD. The 1.8 km long trail, starting from the visitor area, will lead to the watchtower and continue to the nine scenic overlooks.

Khao Paeng Ma station on the west side of the forest area is an area where hunting is forbidden, another very good place to find gaur.

Where to go next?

If you need ideas on where to go next after visiting Khao Yai National Park, there are several options:

Near Bangkok

Bangkok is southwest of Khao Yai, about 2.5 hours away.

Kaeng Krachan National Park, in the opposite direction from Bangkok, is one of the best wildlife spots in the country for more experienced tourists.

Visit WFFT - near Kaeng Krachan National Park to view rescued wildlife, rehabilitation facilities and take a tour. Here you will find many animals that live here permanently and others waiting to go out into the wild. Here you will meet elephants, primates, slow loris and many others, hundreds of them.

Kaeng Krachan National Park on the map

Near Hua Hin

Hua Hin is about 5 hours from Khao Yai in the opposite direction from Bangkok.

Kui Buri National Park - There is almost a 100% chance that you will see wild elephants any day of the year. Other common mammals include deer, golden jackal, Burmese hare, and gaur.

Khao Sam Rots Yot National Park - to see Praia Nakhon Cave, some other caves, very impressive views of the limestone mountains, observation deck, canal boat tour.

Near Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is northwest of Bangkok, about a 4.5-5 hour drive from Khao Yai.

Erawan - Kanchanaburi National Park north of Kaeng Krachan is the country's most popular waterfall for foreign tourists.

Sri Nakarin Dam National Park - Here is the Huai Mei Khamin waterfall, about 40 km north of Erawan. This is a similar waterfall, even better than the Erawal waterfall.

Sai Yok National Park, a 1-hour drive from Kanchanaburi, is popular for its caves and waterfalls.

Read also: 12 best things to do in Kanchanaburi

Khao Yai National Park on the map