Khao Yai National Park is a must-see for all nature lovers in travel to ThailandIt is one of the largest and most renowned parks in the country.
Menu
Description
Located less than 3 hours drive from Bangkok (200km), the Khao Yai National Park The beauty and richness of its flora and fauna captivate visitors.
The park has an area of 2,168 km² and straddles four provinces: Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok.
It is home to the largest monsoon forest on the Asian continent and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ASEAN National Heritage Site.
The Khao Yai Park The park has more than 2000 plant species and as the park reaches an altitude of 1351m, different species can be distinguished depending on the elevation: rainforest, mixed, evergreen, deciduous.
The highest peak is the Khao Rom (1,351 m), there are also numerous waterfalls including the famous Haew Narok Falls and Haew Suwat which were used for the filming of the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio.
The wildlife of Khao Yai
Mammals
The park has nearly 70 species of mammals including 250 wild elephants, leopards, deer, bears, tigers, wild pigs and macaque monkeys, gibbons and rare species of bats in the caves.
The danger of wild elephants
Coming across wild elephants can be a wonderful experience but can also be dangerous, here is a video giving some advice in case of an encounter with wild elephants :
Afterwards, it's like with the packs of dogsIf they don't feel fear there should be no danger, as in the video below (2 days in the jungle).
The birds
There are about 300 species of birds including different types of hornbills, red-headed trogons and scratched beards.
Insects, reptiles and other...
There are also many species of spiders, ants and worms in the forests, as well as snakes, monitor lizards and crocodiles, with which it is not advisable to take selfies!
See :
French woman bitten by a crocodile while trying to take a selfie
Practical information
Entrance to the park costs 400 baht for an adult and 200 baht for a child.
You can then stay in the park for as long as you like and only have to pay again if you leave.
Don't come in sandals, bring closed walking shoes and long trousers, to protect yourself from snakes but especially from leeches.
see also :
Dangerous animals to know in Thailand
Park entrance and reception
The first thing you will see after entering the park from the north is an altar dedicated to Chao Por Khao Yai (the sacred spirit of Khao Yai).
You can light incense and kneel down like Thai visitors to ask the spirit to protect you, so you don't get eaten by a tiger, crocodile or crushed by an elephant 😉 .
The visitor centre is located 15 kilometres south of the north gate, where English-speaking staff provide maps and information on guides, accommodation and hiking.
There are also bikes for hire, a food court, a gift shop and a museum.
There are many walks you can do on your own, but it is advisable to take a guide for longer walks and also to see more animals, it usually costs 500 baht for the day.
Find a hotel in Khao Yai
You can find the best hotel deals in Khao Yai with Booking.com
Getting to Khao Yai National Park
You can get an idea of the cost of transport or book your tickets with our partner 12go.asia :
The small town of Pak Chongto the north, serves as the gateway to the Khao Yai National ParkIt is easily accessible from the capital.
The southern gate of the park seems closer to Bangkok, but as there is no direct highway, fewer accommodation options and the park headquarters is far from the southern gate, most people use the southern gate to get to the park. Pak Chong as a starting point to visit the Khao Yai Park.
Many travel agencies and hotels offer the trip from Bangkok, but you can also go by yourself:
By minibus
Minibuses leave directly to Pak Chong from Victory Monument Station in Bangkok, departing every two hours and costing 180 baht.
The best way to get there is to go to the metro station BTS Victory Monument which is right next door.
By bus
Buses leave approximately every half hour from the northern terminal of Mo-Chit in Bangkok (about 180 baht).
Pak Chong is on the way to Nakhon Ratchassima (Korat), which is the main road to the Isan region, so you are sure to catch a bus easily, just make sure there is a stop at Pak Chong.
Getting from Pak Chong to Khao Yai
À Pak ChongEvery half hour, songthaew pass along the Thanarad Road To the entrance of the park.
You can also easily rent motorbikes in Pak ChongThe price is between 300 and 500 baht.
By train
Trains leave from Hualampong station in Bangkok 4 times a day but the journey takes 4-5 hours, so it's probably not the best way to get there.
To see the train timetable click here.
Other pictures of Khao Yai
Video on Khao Yai
Alexandre and Solenne, from France, stayed two days in the Khao Yai jungle :
Maps of Khao Yai
Accommodation map
Maps of possible walks and treks
Map of Pak Chong
See also : 5 national parks to discover in Thailand
If our news, tourist or cultural information has been useful to you and you would like to support us :