Khao Yai National Park

14° 26' 29" N 101° 22' 10.99" E [14.4414, 101.3697] (KML)

Established in 1962, Khao Yai was Thailand's first national park. Today it is the second largest national park in Thailand and, in 2005, the area along with the surrounding Dong Phaya Yen mountains was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site [S].

The lower regions of the park seem to be around 350m above sea level. Even at this altitude and in general throughout the park you will find a more attractive climate than in nearby Bangkok [M]. The average day temperature throughout the year is around 23°C.

As for most areas in Thailand the year is split into three seasons. There is a hot season, cold season and a rainy season.

The Hot Season [S] lasts from March through April. The day temperatures can be a bit above the annual average but it is still very pleasant due to the higher altitudes.

After the Hot Season [S] the Rainy Season [S] starts. This lasts from May till October. You will find many days with rain. Average day temperatures are still high but humidity also increases.

The Cold Season [S] lasts from November till February. During this time the day temperatures are pleasantly in the low twenties. Night time might require a sweater as temperatures will drop furhter.

Khao Yai is along the way from Bangkok [M] to Nakhon Ratchasima [M] (Korat). The nearest town is Pak Chong [S], which can be reach either via most Bangkok-Korat trains or via most buses to Korat. Once in town, hire or share a songthaew to the park's main northern entrance.

Thai Nationals:

• Adults: 40 baht (2008 fees)

Foreigners:

• Adults: 400 baht (2008 fees)

Others:

• Children (under 14): 100 baht
• Bicycles: 10 baht
• Motorcycles: 20 baht
• Cars: 30 baht

The entry fee must be paid on each day that you enter the park. If you depart the park and return the same day, the entry fee does not have to be paid again.

One of the best ways to see the park is renting a car or motorbike [S] in Pak Chong [S] and staying one night in the park. If you don't have your own transport it is quite difficult to get to the park information centre as the bus from Pak Chong usually takes you to the ticket office and the natural park centre is about 10 km away. A lot of people hitchhike [S] and park rangers are usually quite willing to take anyone as long as they contract their services for the day.

Take a night time jeep safari spotting deer. Booking can be made through most hotels. Bookings can also be made directly at the visitor centre in the park.

Visit some of the spectacular waterfalls. They might not be the largest you have seen but the scenery is simply stunning. During the Hot Season [S] some waterfalls might be almost dry. The Rainy Season [S] is the best time to see spectacular falls. During the months of June, July, August they can have plenty of water. Under these wet conditions flora also will be at its best.

• Khao Yai Jungles and Waterfalls (Thailand Travel Plan), [1]. Take a two day trip of this natural jungle which is home to wild elephants, tigers, bears, porcupines, gibbons, snakes and parrots. On the first day, you'll take a sunset trip into the spooky bat caves to see thousands of the creatures waking up for the night. The next day your guide will take you in search of tropical wildlife, stopping at the waterfall into which Leonardo DiCaprio dived during a scene from ‘The Beach’. At the end of the day, you can relax with a swim and a herbal sauna back at your jungle bungalow resort.  

At Zone 1 in the visitor center a small souvenir shop is setup. They offer a variety of souvenirs from Khao Yai National Park [M], such as bags, T-Shirts, ...

At Zone 1 there are a number of small food stalls and a restaurant where visitors can order a variety of Thai food and drinks.

• Bobbys Apartment and Jungle Tours, in Pakchong. 291/6 Moo 18 Mittapab Rd., T. Pakchong A. Pakchong, Nakhonratchasima 30130, ☎ 044-328177 (bobbysappartementandjungletours@hotmail.com), [2].  , Pronounced "Bo bees." An outpost for European travelers and the occasional North American run by a Brit and a German and their Thai girlfriends.
• Sak Phu Duen Hotel, [3].  , in the heart of Khao Yai. Facilities include a restaurant and pool. Cost approx £30 sterling per night for a double room.
• Park bungalows sleeping from 2 - 24 people are available for rent from the park office, or check the Department of National Parks website.
• Greenleaf Guesthouse & Tour [S] is in Pak Chong [S]. Every day tours are organised to the park. It offers clean, basic double rooms for 200 B, the people are lovely and the tours are great.
• The Palm Tree, ☎ +66-86-2523238 (ftw@loxinfo.co.th), [4]. 950-1400 baht.  
• Greenery Resort, [5]. Rooms 3600-8000 baht.  

Camping is available within the park at designated sites. Bring your own tent or hire one from the ranger office.

Also Bobbys Appartment and Jungle Tours offer a Two and Half Day Tour . Which you spend 1 night at the apartments and 1 night camping in the Park . So you have 2 days treking in the Park seeing all the sites . Also you do the Half day tour , swimming in the spring , go to the cat cave and temple , then see 2-3 million bats comeing out of the cave in the evening . The 2 days in Khao Yai are amazing , and you have 1 of the guides with you the whole time . They supply the food and water for both days and all the camping gear . Also the entance fee to the park in included and snacks and fruit . We had a great time and recommend this to everybody ! 0044328177 . www.bobbysjungletourkhaoyai.com bobbysappartmentandjungletours.com

Text content was last edited at 15:30, on 7 February 2010 by Wikitravel user Globe-trotter. Based on work by Peter Fitzgerald, Dominik Mayer, Marc Heiden, Rina and Ronald van Coevorden, Wikitravel user(s) Inas, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.