Just three hours from Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park is a lush paradise that offers a perfect weekend getaway for expats and adventure seekers alike.
After my August visit, I've crafted this ultimate travel guide, combining my personal experiences with essential tips for your journey—from when to visit, how long to stay, to where to eat and sleep.
Top 3 Things to Do in Khao Yai National Park
1. Jungle Hiking: Ideal for Wilderness Seeking
Hiking in Khao Yai National Park is truly an immersive escape from chaotic city life. Surrounded by dense tropical forests, you could marvel at unique plant species and tune in to the calls of wildlife.
The park features seven trails, each catering to different hiking levels. The shorter Trails No. 1, 2, and 7 are beginner-friendly, taking around 1-2 hours and with well-maintained roads.
Trails no. 3 to 6 are more attractive to adventurers for their rugged dirt roads and better wildlife spotting opportunities. A ranger is mandatory when you're trekking along these trails. But they could speak little to no English.
That's why we felt so fortunate to have booked Tenny, our guide, in advance. Acting as our translator, she helped us understand the ranger's introduction, and instructions and pointed out exactly where to look for gibbons, hornbills, and other animals. She captured many captivating moments for us as well.
Hiking inside Khao Yai2. Waterfalls: Best Viewed in the Rainy Season
No trip to Khao Yai is complete without visiting its iconic waterfalls. The most popular two are the largest Haew Narok Waterfall and the Haew Suwat Waterfall, famed for a classic scene in the movie The Beach.
You could witness the waterfalls at their most spectacular in the rainy season(June to October) while they are turning into trickle in the dry season (November to May).
Just a heads-up—swimming isn't permitted at any of the waterfalls, so enjoy the view from designated viewpoints.
Khao Yai National Park3. Wildlife Encounters: A Game of Chance
Home to thousands of wild animals, Khao Yai is a paradise for animal lovers. Spotting wild elephants is the big draw there, but sightings of them are rare. More often, you could see barking deer, macaque monkeys, gibbons, civets, porcupines, and various bird species, like great hornbills.
To spot wildlife, you could combine it with an early morning hike or join in a one-hour night safari, as the wild animals are typically active in cool hours.
Wild Elephants in Khao Yai National ParkHow Many Days Is Enough for Khao Yai National Park?
For a quick visit to Khao Yai National Park, a day trip may suffice, but 2–3 days are ideal for a richer experience that includes hiking and wildlife observation.
Day trips to Khao Yai National Park are popular online, especially from/to Bangkok. They might seem tempting, but with a lengthy 6-7 hour round-way drive, you would barely scratch the surface.
With 2 days, you could cover the major attractions, take longer hikes, and even join guided night activities like safari or bat watching. Adding a third day allows for a more relaxed pace and better opportunities to spot wildlife.
Our Two-Day Journey through Khao Yai National Park
During our 2-day trip, we traversed trails 3 and 4, visited the majestic Haew Norak Waterfall and Haew Suwat Waterfall, and tried bat-watching at dusk. Here are the details of our adventure:
Day 1: KM 30 Viewpoint Stop, Trail 3 Hike, and Haew Suwat Waterfall
- Morning Views at KM 30 Viewpoint
Our first stop, the KM30 Viewpoint, offers panoramic views of the mountains below, ideal for capturing breathtaking vistas.
Before reaching this stop, we navigated nearly an hour of winding mountain roads from the entrance of the park. If you're prone to motion sickness, a touch of preparation may serve you well.
Viewing platform, Khao Yai, Thailand,- Trail 3 Hike: Into the Wilderness
After a brief pause, we proceeded to the visitor center to gear up for our trek along trail 3. Our ranger thoughtfully provided us with leech socks (Essential! We saw leeches during our hike). Subsequently, we drove to the starting point at KM33.
Our 3-hour hike could be split into two parts: an hour and a half through dense jungle, followed by another half in a grassland setting.
Within the lush forest, the ranger enlightened us about various plants (smell and even taste), taught us to identify animal tracks and droppings, and familiarized us with the sounds of diverse wildlife. The most magical moment? Capturing a flock of hornbills soar overhead while a curious monkey rummages for food nearby.
As for the open grasslands, the August greenery, dotted with white flowers, made for picturesque photo opportunities. Ascending the observation tower with binoculars in hand, tracking animal traces gave us a thrilling sense of participation!
Hiking along Trail No.3 at Khao Yai National Park- See the Spectacular Haew Suwat Waterfall
After a simple lunch at the tourist center, we explored the Haew Suwat Nature Trail, leading to the iconic waterfall.
Descending to the waterfall's base from the parking lot took approximately 40 minutes. Most of the path was smoothly paved, with the slight challenge of a steep set of stairs at the end. Not advisable for those with limited mobility—opt for the viewing platform instead.
Haew Suwat Waterfall- Bat Watching
As dusk approached, we visited Khao Luk Chang Bat Cave, hoping to witness thousands of bats taking flight. It is said that the bat colonies typically emerge around 6-6:30 pm.
Unfortunately, overcast skies delayed their emergence and we just caught some of them until nearly 7 pm. As per local insight, sunny days are the best for witnessing this spectacular event, with the highest chances occurring during the dry season (November to May).
If you're looking for night activities in Khao Yai, the night safari offers a better experience in the rainy season. Even if you couldn't spot any animals, traversing the park in an open truck is cool enough!
Day 2: Trail 4 and the Grand Haew Narok Waterfall
After checking out of our hotel at 7:30 AM, we made our way straight to the park's visitor center to meet our ranger and make gear preparations.
- Trail 4 Hike: Short but Challenging
Trail 4 may be shorter than Trail 3, but it presents a higher level of difficulty. Laden with uphill and downhill stretches, denser vegetation, and post-rain slippery paths, the hike lasts approximately 2 hours.
Highlights included crossing a stream on a fallen log (a thrilling balancing act!) and stumbling upon a giant ant nest—both nerve-wracking and fascinating.
Hiking along Trail No.4 at Khao Yai National Park- Haew Narok Waterfall
Our final stop was the park's tallest and most dramatic waterfall, Haew Narok. This three-tiered waterfall cascades a staggering 150 meters, grander than Haew Suwat Waterfall.
The scenic kilometer-long journey to the waterfall meanders through the serene forest. But the last 200 steep steps were a workout!
Do I Need a Guide for Khao Yai National Park?
If you are a local expat with a car and some basic Thai skills, exploring the park independently is possible. You would just need to book a mandatory ranger if hiking along the challenging trails 3 to 6.
However, for foreign travelers, you'd better book a tour with an English-speaking guide and private transfer in advance. Without any internal transportation, navigating the park on your own is quite difficult due to the large size.
Moreover, the local rangers could barely speak English. Without a guide to explain key details, you could miss out on valuable insights about plants and wildlife. This is also where the frequent negative feedback on hiking experiences is from.
Transportation, Khao Yai, ThailandBest Time to Visit Khao Yai National Park
As a natural paradise, the ideal time to visit Khao Yai depends on what you want to experience. Each season has its unique charm, so it's more about aligning your preferences with the park's seasonal highlights.
- Dry Season (November to May): Best for Clear Skies and Hiking
In the dry season, all the activities are available. With guaranteed sunny days, the trekking trails become less muddy.
The weather is also cool as Khao Yai's elevated terrain and dense forests keep the temperatures moderate, even during Thailand's hotter months (March to May), with daytime highs rarely exceeding 30°C (86°F).
However, the grasslands take on a golden hue, and the waterfalls, while still scenic, are less powerful.
- Rainy Season (June to October): Best for Lush Greenery and Powerful Waterfalls
During wet months, the park comes alive with vibrant greenery, offering a discovery-channel experience. As the rainfall usually comes as a short bust in the late evening or early morning, it rarely affects daytime activities too much.
You could also enjoy a less-crowded experience. During my visit in August, we were the only group on the trail, and made me feel exclusive and immersive.
Be prepared for occasional trail closures, particularly for rugged routes like trails 5 and 6, as heavy rains can make them unsafe.
Read further about the best time to visit Thailand.
How to Get to Khao Yai National Park
Since there is no airport in Khao Yai, Bangkok serves as a popular gateway to Khao Yai National Park. The journey typically takes around 2.5 to 3 hours from Bangkok to Pak Chong, the closest town to the park.
Door-to-door private transfers are undoubtedly a convenient and flexible option. However, if you opt for a bus or train, you would need to arrange an additional private transfer to reach the park.
Get more ideas about planning a trip to Thailand.
Where to Stay
Staying inside the park is not suggested unless you are fine with no air conditioning and minimal amenities at Lum Ta Kong campsites and guesthouses. Besides, they have to book at least 2 months in advance due to limited rooms and only accept transfers via Krung Thai Bank.
For comfort seekers, look for hotels outside the park. You could have more options with better facilities and cozy dining. After a day of hiking and exploring, nothing beats returning to a cozy room and a nice meal. Lacol Khao Yai and the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort are top-rated choices.
What to Eat in Khao Yai National Park
When it comes to food, dining inside the park is quite limited, with only one at the tourist center. You could find some food stalls serving simpler Thai fast food options like pai thai (fried noodles), pad krapow (Thai basil meat), and fried fish or chicken. The food is affordable, but don't expect a dining service touch!
Outside the park, you could have more dining options with better service, from local Thai cuisine to international dishes.
On our second day at the national park, we treated ourselves to a Michelin-recommended meal at Penlaos, near the park entrance. We loved their sticky rice, som tam (green papaya salad), Gai Yang (Grilled chicken), and Isan Sausage (pork and rice sausage), alongside their signature ice cream.
Thai food, Khao Yai, ThailandWhat to Pack for a Visit to Khao Yai National Park
Sunscreen, insect repellent, and a good pair of hiking shoes are also must-haves.
If you're visiting during the rainy season, don't forget high socks for leech protection and a raincoat for sudden downpours.
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