Khao Yai National Park Overview

For travelers hoping to rescue their lungs from the fumes of Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park’s 40km of hiking and biking trails offer salvation. A World Heritage Site, Khao Yai displays truly amazing varieties of flaura and fauna, all set in one of the world’s largest monsoon rain forests. Only 160km from Bangkok, Khao Yai opend in 1962 and is Thailand’s first national park. Its humbling 2168 sq. km range from stark prairies to thick evergreens. The park is inhabited by roaming wild elephants, tigers, and bears (oh my!), though you’ll more likely be swatting insects and peeling off leeches than coming face to face with a leopard or Asiatic black bear. You’ll also likely get a glimpse of one of the more than 300 species of birds, including the great hornbill, that call the park their home. Khao Yai is most easily reached via Pak Chong .

Transportation. Most traveling to Ko Yai will travel through Pak Chong. Songthaew bound for Khao Yai leave from Pak Chong around the corner from the 7-Eleven, on Tesabarn 19 (30min., when full 6am-6pm, 40฿). The park headquarters and visitors center (☎081 773 127; open 8:30am-4:30pm) are located 14km from the park’s entrance. You can arrange pickup from the park headquarters (☎044 297 406). Although Let’s Go does not recommend it, many travelers hitchhike to the park.

Orientation And Practical Information. The park is open daily from 6am-9pm. It costs 400฿ to enter, 200฿ for children, and vehicles are an additional 50฿. The park headquarters and visitor center rents bikes (50฿ per hr., 200฿ per day), hands out simplistic trail maps (150฿), and can provide trekking guides (300-800฿ depending on length of trek). The map is sold in the souvenir shop, alongside leech guards (50฿) and other helpful products.

To avoid leeches, don’t trek in sandals and steer clear of salty water. Leech-guards are a necessity during the rainy season. Unless you’re a seasoned trekker, hiring a guide or taking a tour is highly recommended. Not only do guides keep you on the poorly designated paths, but they can point out otherwise unrecognizible fauna of the jungle. Many travelers opt for an all-inclusive tour arranged by their hotel. Greenleaf Guesthouse and Khao Yai Garden Lodge offer similar tours that range from half-day to a 1 and a half day treks. The popular day-and-a-half tour includes a visit to both Buddhist meditation and bat caves, waterfall swims, elephant-trail treks, and jungle hikes. Hotel or guesthouse guide prices usually include entrance fees, transportation, guides, and lunch. Greenleaf Guesthouse’s ½-day tour costs 1300฿; 1½-day is 1500฿. For private bird-watching tours, Greenleaf’s Bird-Man is your man: after 10-years on the job, he continues to chase after birds with childish glee (private tour 2500฿, groups of 3 2000฿ per person). Khao Yai Garden charges 1500฿ for a half-day;,400฿ entrance fee to park not included.

Accommodations. The Royal Forest Department in Bangkok (☎02 506 2076) can grant permission to stay overnight in the park; it is probably a good idea to try and book by 6pm the day of your stay. There are two campsites within the park: Lumtakong (Pha Kluai Mai), 9km from the visitors center; both offer campsites (30฿) and tent rentals (80฿ for 2-person tents, 150฿ for triples; pillows, sleeping bags, and blankets also available for rent). Both campgrounds have bathrooms with cold water showers. Be careful with food as gibbons can be quite forward; bear-bagging is highly recommended. Alternatively, Suratsawadee Lodge .

Sights. Once in the park, there are a few sights you cannot miss. The waterfalls are at the top of this list. Haew Narok (“awful cliff”), a three-tiered cascade, is the tallest waterfall in the park. Elephants have been known to slip and fall from the surrounding cliffs. Haew Suwat Falls was filmed for the popular American movie, The Beach. The Haew Suwat Falls also boasts a rope-swing; Let’s Go definitely does not reccommend you give it a try. Pha Kluai Mai Falls (named for the surrounding red orchids) are also noteworthy. To observe the park’s wildlife, venture to Nong Pak Chi Watch Tower, 11km from the north entrance. This is the place to observe deer, and other, smaller wildlife. Elephant Crossing is the spot to view elephants.