Khao Yai National Park is a World Heritage site and one of the Asia’s last remaining intact Monsoon forests.

A wide range of flora and fauna

Covering almost 1,500 square miles and rising up to almost 1,400 metres, it contains a variety of ecosystems that support and wide range of flora and fauna. These include elephant, black bear, tiger, barking deer, hornbill and colonies of bat. You may not be lucky enough to see those on top of the food chain, but it keeps the interest up knowing they could be there, and there are plenty of smaller species to spot and wonderful scenery to enjoy.

Although it’s within easy reach of Bangkok, to experience the park in its best light we recommend that you overnight ideally not weekends when gets busier. During the day wildlife is at its most active either early or late and this is also when the park is less crowded with day trippers.

A day trip can be arranged but travel out of Bangkok can be brutal and so the day can be long and time poor at the park, especially if you pick up people along the way. As part of a tour or 2 day excursion you get a chance to truly appreciate its size and majesty. Travelling with your own guide you also get chance to stop along the way as things catch your eye perhaps an unusual market, a local celebration or a beautiful view.

Explore your way

Khao Yai can be explored in a variety of ways and there over 20 trails that wind their way through the mountains, forests, streams and waterfalls. Waterfalls form a focal point for a lot of the walks and the largest is Haew Narok, a dramatic three-level cascade carving a path through the surrounding forest as it drops 150 metres into the pool below. Another favourite is Nam Tok Haew Suwat, where you can swim in the pool that was made famous by the film The Beach. Staying on the water you can also shoot the rapids on a variety of routes, which are at their best during the rainy season.

Every evening as the sun starts to set the sky darkens with thousands of bats that soar en masse out of the park's many caves in their hunt for food. This can be combined with an escorted night time tour to search for the park’s nocturnal inhabitants and listen to the jungle at night.

Khao Yai National Park is a fantastic addition to any holiday in Thailand, offering easy access to the more natural side of the country, especially when it can be combined with a tour to other surrounding areas, such as the temples of Phanom Rung.