Thailand Guide
The northeast: Isaan
Arrival
Access to the park is via the town of Pak Chong, 37km to the north, which has useful bus and train links, including to Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Khorat and Nong Khai, and some accommodation. From Pak Chong, the cheapest way to get to Khao Yai is to take a public pick-up from outside the 7-Eleven shop, 200m west of the footbridge on the north side of the main road near Soi 21 (every 30min 6.30am–4pm, less frequently on Sun; 30min; B25). Public pick-ups, however, are not allowed to enter the park itself, so you'll be dropped at the park checkpoint, about 14km short of the Khao Yai visitor centre, park headquarters and most popular trailheads. At the checkpoint, park rangers will flag down passing cars and get them to give you a ride up to the visitor centre; this is common practice here.
A less time-consuming but pricier option is to charter a pick-up from Pak Chong: these count as private vehicles and are allowed inside the park. They can be chartered from the corner of Soi 19, and cost around B1000 for the ride from Pak Chong to Haew Suwat Falls, or about B1500 for a return trip, including several hours in the park.
Coming back from the park is often easier, as day-trippers will usually give lifts all the way back to Pak Chong. Otherwise, hitch a ride as far as the checkpoint, or walk to it from the visitor centre – it's a pleasant three- to four-hour walk along the fairly shaded park road, and you'll probably spot lots of birds and some macaques, gibbons and deer as well. At the checkpoint you can get a pick-up to Pak Chong: the last one usually leaves here at about 5pm.