Information
Landmark: Khao Yai National ParkCity: Gulf of Thailand
Country: Thailand
Continent: Asia
Khao Yai National Park, Gulf of Thailand, Thailand, Asia
Overview
Khao Yai National Park, one of Thailand’s largest and most famous, stretches across Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, and Prachinburi in the country’s northeast, where mist often clings to the jungle-covered hills at dawn.Thailand’s first national park opened in 1962, and today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its teeming wildlife and sweeping forested hills.In Khao Yai, hikers and nature lovers can wander through dense green forests, stand beside misty waterfalls, spot wild elephants, and explore a surprising mix of ecosystems.Khao Yai National Park is famous for its rich mix of plants and wildlife, from towering dipterocarp trees to the calls of gibbons echoing through the forest.More than 2,000 kinds of plants grow in the park, along with 320 bird species whose calls echo through the trees, and countless mammals, reptiles, and insects.You’ll find elephants, tigers, gibbons, bears, and several kinds of deer here, sometimes catching a flash of striped fur between the trees, making it a top spot for wildlife watching.The park shelters everything from steamy tropical rainforests to cool, misty montane woods, and forms part of the vast Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex that stretches across the border into Cambodia.The park’s mix of forests, meadows, and winding streams shelters an incredible range of plants and wildlife.Khao Yai is known for its waterfalls, especially Haew Narok and Haew Suwat, where water crashes into cool, misty pools.Haew Suwat became well-known after appearing in the film *The Beach*, where water spilled in a silver sheet over its rocky ledge.You can easily reach these waterfalls, and they’re stunning for photos-especially in the rainy season, when the water roars and mist hangs in the air.The park’s rivers and streams-like the cool, rushing Khao Yai River and the misty Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall-serve as vital water sources for wildlife and nearby communities.The park’s landscape is a sweep of rugged hills and towering ranges, crowned by Khao Rom, which rises 1,351 meters above sea level.Shifts in altitude create distinct ecosystems, from mossy lowlands to windswept ridges, and open the way to miles of hiking trails.Wildlife watching is one of Khao Yai National Park’s biggest draws, whether it’s spotting a hornbill’s bright beak flashing through the trees or catching sight of elephants along the trail.You’ll have the best luck spotting animals in the early morning or late afternoon, when they’re on the move and the air still smells cool and fresh.You might spot elephants moving through the trees, hear gibbons calling overhead, catch sight of wild boar, and glimpse flashes of color from countless bird species.Birdwatchers love the park, where hornbills flap through the trees, red-wattled lapwings call from the grass, and green pigeons perch in the shade.Hiking: The park has trails for every pace, from a ten-minute stroll under pine trees to steep climbs that leave your legs burning.One favorite route is the Pha Kluai Mai Trail, a moderate hike that winds through lush forest and ends at a waterfall where the air smells cool and fresh.Khao Yai Viewpoint Trail is a quick walk that rewards you with sweeping views of the park’s rugged mountains, where mist often clings to the ridges.Haew Suwat Waterfall Trail winds through lush forest and leads you to one of the park’s best-known falls, where water spills in a silver curtain into the pool below.Camping’s a great option if you want to soak up nature, with spots set aside in the park where you can pitch your tent under the pines.The campsites offer simple comforts-running water, a fire ring-and give you a front-row seat to the park after dark, when you might catch the glint of an owl’s eyes in your flashlight beam.Cycling is a favorite here, especially on the park’s roads that twist through the forest, where you might catch the scent of pine in the cool air.It’s a wonderful chance to wander through the park’s shifting scenery, from shady pine groves to open meadows, without rushing.Night Safari: Join a guided tour after dark, when owls call from the trees and other nocturnal creatures roam freely in their natural habitat.Friendly, sharp-eyed guides lead these tours, pointing out a leopard in the shade or explaining why monkeys chatter at dusk.Photography: Khao Yai is a dream for photographers, with mist curling over waterfalls, dense green forests, and wildlife at every turn.Photographers flock to it, especially those eager to capture nature and wildlife where they truly belong-like a heron lifting off from a misty shoreline.Cool Season (November to February): Visit Khao Yai then, when the air feels crisp and you can spot deer grazing in the open with ease.The air stays pleasantly mild, so a hike or a game of frisbee in the park feels downright inviting.Rainy Season (May to October): It’s a great time to visit, especially if you want to watch the waterfalls roar and spill silver spray into the warm air.Still, be ready for a downpour, and watch your step-mud can slick the path, and a few trails may be roped off from flooding.Hot Season (March to May): Hiking’s less appealing then, with heat climbing high enough to make the ground shimmer.Still, you might catch sight of wildlife, especially near a quiet stream or shaded pond.You can reach Khao Yai National Park from Bangkok in just two to three hours by car, cruising past open rice fields and roadside fruit stalls along the way.It sits about 160 kilometers northeast of the capital, where Highway 305 meets Highway 21 and the asphalt hums under passing trucks.The park has several entrances, but the main one sits beside the headquarters in Nakhon Ratchasima, marked by a tall wooden gate.If you’re taking public transport, catch a bus from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, then hop into a local taxi or a songthaew-a shared pickup truck with wooden benches-to reach the park.Many Bangkok tour companies run day trips to Khao Yai National Park, complete with a guide, transport, and stops at highlights like thundering waterfalls and quiet spots where you might spot hornbills in the trees.Khao Yai National Park is at the heart of protecting Thailand’s wildlife and wild landscapes, from roaming elephants to the dense, rain-soaked forests they call home.It’s one piece of a vast network of protected lands designed to safeguard Southeast Asia’s rich biodiversity, from the call of gibbons at dawn to the flash of orchids in the shade.The park promotes sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, inviting visitors to wander its pine-scented trails while keeping their footprint as light as possible.In short, Khao Yai National Park is a rare chance to see Thailand’s wild side up close-lush forests, distant waterfalls, and creatures stirring in the undergrowth.Whether you’re hiking a rocky trail, spotting a deer in the trees, or just soaking in the sweep of mountain views, the park offers a quiet escape from the city.Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it draws nature lovers from around the world and serves as a vital refuge for wildlife, where wind stirs the tall grass.
