Thailand Guide
The northeast: Isaan
Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai was the country's first national park to be established (1962) and remains one of its most popular. Spanning five distinct forest types and rising to a height of 1341m, the 2168-square-kilometre park sustains over three hundred bird and twenty large land-mammal species – hence its UNESCO accreditation as a World Heritage Site – and offers a plethora of waterfalls and several undemanding walking trails.
It's quite easy to trek around the park by yourself, as long as you stick to the official trails, but as some of Khao Yai's best features are as much as 20km apart, you might get more satisfaction from joining a tour. Tours are reasonably priced and cater primarily for independent tourists rather than big groups.
There's camping and basic accommodation in the park itself, and plenty more comfortable options along the access road to the park and in the nearby town of Pak Chong. Note that if you are planning to stay outside the park but want to make two or more day-trips into the park, you'll have to pay the park entry fee every time you come through the checkpoint.
Try to avoid visiting at weekends and holidays, when the trails and waterfalls get ridiculously crowded and the animals make themselves scarce. Even at quiet times, don't expect it to be like a safari park – patience, a soft tread and a keen-eyed guide are generally needed, and it's well worth bringing your own binoculars if you have them. Be prepared for patches of fairly rough terrain, and pack some warm clothes, as the air can get quite cool at the higher altitudes in the park, especially at night.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- Sight(s) ▼
- Sports and Outdoor ▼