Updated: 30 October, 2024
Visit guide to Khao Yai National Park with prices, how to get there, to see wild elephants, impressive waterfalls and hiking.
Khao Yai National Park was Thailand's first national park, founded in 1962, and is the largest in the country.
There is the most lush jungle near Bangkok, just a few hours drive away, so it is perfect to visit in 1 day.
In this guide I explain what there is to see and all the transportation alternatives, but if you don't have time to read the entire article, I recommend this one Khao Yai excursion full day, one of the best jungle excursions in all of Thailand.
Why go to Khao Yai?
The park is registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site in UNESCO since 2005 because it represents an important ecosystem.
A large number of wild animals live in this national park: 392 species of birds, 112 of mammals and more than 200 of reptiles and amphibians.
The most notable are 2 species of gibbons (very difficult to see), birds like the hornbill or hornbills in Spanish and elephants, one of the few places where you can see wild elephants in freedom in Thailand.
In addition, you will find exuberant flora typical of a tropical jungle.
🐘 In this other article you can read more about Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand: ethical or just a business?
What to do in Khao Yai?
In Khao Yai National Park you can do one of its hiking routes, there are a total of 7 to choose from, perfect for spending the day, they are between 1.2 and 8 km.
Some of the most interesting places are its waterfalls, the most important being Heow Narok which has a drop of 80 meters and how beautiful it is Haew Suwat which became famous for the scene that was filmed there in the movie The beach with Leonardo DiCaprio as the protagonist.
👍 Fun fact: most of the movie The beach It was filmed on Maya Beach, in the Phi Phi Islands. Other scenes were filmed in Bangkok and Phuket.
⭐ You may also be interested in this article about What to do in Phi Phi: Complete Guide 2023 with all the transportation options, or this other one about the 7 Movies Filmed in Thailand where I detail the places where they were filmed.
How to get from Bangkok to Khao Yai?
To get to the park you can go by bus or train, it will take about 4 hours from Bangkok, with both options you will have to go to Pak Chong, which is the closest town and from there connect with the local bus.
- By Bus: The minibuses leave from Mochit Station, there are only 5 a day, they take about 3 hours to Pak Chong and the change costs about 7 euros. Then you have to take another bus from Pak Chong to the park, those buses are more frequent, they leave every half hour and cost 1 euro. The bus will leave you less than 10 minutes walk from the entrance. Another alternative is to take a taxi from Pak Chong.
- Train: The other option is with the train from Hua Lamphong Station and it takes 3 hours to Pak Chong, the price starts at 2 euros depending on the train and class. Once in Pak Chong you will have to take the local bus or taxi to Khao Yai park.
- Driving: You will have more flexibility and you will not waste time. For rent a car in Thailand I recommend you this search engine with the best prices. Yes, it is surprising when you meet it, but it is very good for getting car deals in Thailand.
- Excursion: It is the most practical way to visit this park, it is with a Khao Yai Full Day Tour like this link that includes transportation from Bangkok, the guide, entrance to the park and lunch. This way you will have a better chance of getting the most out of the tour, seeing more animals and the most beautiful points of the park, including the Haew Suwat waterfall. Below you can see availability and book.
If you go on your own, keep in mind some routes such as the one that passes through the Haew Suwat waterfall you need to hire a guide to do it.
Practical information about Khao Yai National Park
- Entry Fee:: 400 bahts (10.47 euros) for adults and 200 bahts (5.23 euros) for children between 3 and 14 years old
- Opening Hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where to stay?
If you are visiting Khao Yai National Park and want to make the most of seeing all the corners of the park, the ideal is to stay at least one night.
In the same park there are two camping sites, Lum Ta Kong and Khao Rom, the price is only 30 baht per person and you can rent everything you need (tent, blankets, pillows, sleeping bag, mat, etc.).
In this park link you can make the reservation.
It's great to wake up right there in the park, but if you prefer to sleep in a proper bed and have your own bathroom, in Pak Chong and the surrounding area you will find accommodation at a good price.
The hotel I can recommend is Moosiyard Hometel Khaoyai which is nice, cheap and with a good breakfast included. In addition, the peace of the place invites you to stay there to relax.
Final Thoughts
Khao Yai National Park is one of those places with surprising nature that I recommend visiting from Bangkok.
At the same time, it is a great place to see wild animals, including elephants, so you don't contribute to the business of animal abuse so widespread in Thailand. Plus, nothing like seeing them in the wild.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Bangkok and Thailand
- What to see in Bangkok: 21 must-sees
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- What to bring to Southeast Asia: 47 Essentials in your Backpack
- Sleeper Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
- Khao Sok National Park: visit to the park, lake and caves
- How to Go from One Airport to Another in Bangkok (for Free)
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.