Primarily a market town, Pak Chong sparks little interest for travelers except as a point of transit for those traveling to Khao Yai National Park . The surrounding region is rapidly being developed into a tourist destination to accommodate park visitors and wealthy Thais retreating from the madness and concrete of Bangkok. Although upscale resorts and spas are becoming the norm, a few budget options just out of town make Khao Yai National Park an enjoyable and feasible possibility.
Guesthouses and resorts between Pak Chong and the park will pick up and drop off guests at the Pak Chong bus or train stations. Call in advance to make reservations. Songthaew leave from Pak Chong for the park around the corner from the 7-Eleven, on Tesabarn 19 (every 30min., or when full 6am-6pm, 40฿). The train station (☎044 311 534) lies at the end of Tesabarn 15. Trains go to Bangkok (4-5hr.; 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 10, 11:30am, 2, 4:30, 10:30pm, midnight; 36฿) via Ayutthaya (23฿), and Khorat (1hr.; 12:15, 2:15, 4, 9, 10:50am, 1:15, 3:20, 7:40, 9:35, 10:45pm; 18฿). Get to the station 15min. before scheduled departure. There are three main bus stations . One at the Thai Farmers Bank, just after Tesabarn 19 and next to the 7-Eleven (☎044 313 750). Buses to Khorat (1hr., every 20min., 64฿) and connections to northern and northeastern destinations. On the other side of the Mittaphap (Friendship) Highway, about 1km west and 200m past the overpass, there is a second station (☎044 312 131) with buses to Bangkok (2hr., every 40 min. 4am-9:20pm, 157฿) and Khorat (1hr., every 30min 6:30am-3pm, every hr. 3-10pm). As of summer 2008, a new bus station is under construction, 50m down Tesabarn 10. In the meantime, buses to Phitsanulok (7hr.; 7:20, 10:30am; 249฿) depart from near the construction site; tickets can be purchased at small desk also next to the construction site.
Pak Chong’s development along transport lines explains its layout, which extends approximately 2km along its main axis, Mittaphap (Friendship) Highway, paralleling the railway. Side streets are designated “Tesabarn Rd.,” followed by a number. Odd-numbered Tesabarns intersect with the highway on its northern side, while even-numbered Tesabarns intersect on its southern side. Starting at the western part of the highway, the major landmarks are the stoplight at Tesabarn 16/17, the pedestrian overpass, and the Shell gas station at Tesabarn 25.
Bangkok Bank, centrally located near the overpass, gives cash advances, cashes traveler’s checks, and has an MC/Plus/V 24hr. ATM. (☎044 311 361. Open M-F 8:30am-3:30pm.) Other services include: a Police Station, about 1km west of the center of town, on the main road (☎044 311 234, open 24hr., some English spoken); The Bangkok Hospital Clinic, 1km west of the police station (☎044 316 6115, open 24 hr.), a supermarket at the corner of Tesabarn 16, with flashlights, batteries, and toiletries for treks (open daily 8:30am-9:30pm); laundry, at Garden Lodge and Greenleaf Guesthouse (30฿); CAT, on the corner of Tesabarn 22, which handles faxes, has free Internet, receives collect calls, places domestic and international phone calls (collect calls free; open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm); and the post office, directly across from CAT. (☎311 736. Open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, Sa-Su 9am-noon.) Postal Code: 30130.
T Khao Yai Garden Lodge , Thanarat Rd., on the left side of the road from Pak Chong to Khao Yai. Has a pleasant garden with small pools and lamyai trees and swimming pool. Clean shared bathrooms with hot water. (☎044 365 178; www.khaoyaigardenlodge.com. Doubles with shared bath 350฿, suites with marble bath and A/C 1300-3000฿. Discounts for suites are negotiable.) Greenleaf Guesthouse , Km 7.5, Tanarat Rd. Organizes cheap, decent rooms with fan and cement floor. Offers tours of the park. (☎044 365 073; www.greenleaftour.com. Doubles with bath 200฿.)
If you’re in Pak Chong in the evening, don’t miss the night market and its assortment of food, drink, and fruit vendors. The roast pork is a particular favorite among locals. The day market, which starts near Tesabarn 21 and extends one block uphill from the main road, also has food stalls. (Open daily 6am-4:30pm.) Restaurant options in town are limited. Khao Yai Garden Lodge Restaurant in front of the property has tasty noodle soup (20฿).
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