SRC:https://www.thetravel.com/guide-to-explore-khao-yai-national-park-in-thailand/ Thailand Best Beaches
Thailand is brimming with numerous natural wonders that it would be hard to pick a favorite, but Khao Yai National Park definitely lingers among the most impressive. Many tourists visit the park for elephants, among the country’s largest wild species. Other creatures to explore in the park include bears, guar, leopards, macaques, gibbons, and pythons, among others. Founded in 1962, Khao Yai was the first National Park, among the 127 others now housing other wildlife in the country. It is the most visited in Thailand, and arguably one of Asia’s best. Here is a full guide to exploring Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park.
The popular gateway to Khao Yai National Park is Pak Chong. And since it is located about 200 km from Bangkok, both the Pak Chong and the park are easily accessible from the Thai capital. From Bangkok, travelers can reach Pak Chong by driving on Highway 1 and then following Highway 2. One can also get there on a bus from the Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal or train on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima line. Once in Pak Chong, tourists can use a small local bus or a taxi driver to get them to the park.
– The time it takes to reach Pak Chon by bus: four hours
– The time it takes to get to Khao Yai National Park from Pak Chong: 40 minutes
How To Get Around Khao Yai National Park In Thailand
When visiting Khao Yai National Park independently, the main challenge is usually the size of the park; it’s vast and is 27 kilometers from Pak Chong. The Visitor Center and several other trails starting from the northern gates of the park are still more than 14 kilometers away.
The most affordable way of getting around Khao Yai National Park is taking a public truck from Pak Chong to the park’s main northern entrance. There are plenty of these trucks, and they usually take off from 711 near the giraffe statue, located on the east side of the night market, on the main road. Travelers don’t need to board any form of public transportation to get to the stage, as one can get there by walking it’s a short distance from all the public transportation stations.
– The Public Truck’s Hours of Operation: 6:00 am – 5:00 pm
– The cost of bordering a public truck: 40 baht
One can also hop into the truck from any of the guesthouses situated on the main road. The latest one can move from the park’s gates back to Pak Chong on Songthaew is 4:00 pm.
Once at any of the park’s gates, travelers must do hitchhiking to the Visitor Center. Hitchhiking is very easy, and numerous trails are leading to the top attractions within the park. There are rides to take tourists back to the campgrounds, the cabins in the park, or the waterfalls. One can also board a taxi from Pak Chong to the Visitor Center or one of the campgrounds.
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– The cost of a taxi to the Visitor Center from Pak Chong: is 300 baht
For a taxi, travelers should have a driver’s contact to inform them of the pick-up and negotiate a price to come to a reasonable one.
Renting a car is another option, but it’s not very popular, because one has to get one in Bangkok. Those renting from Pak Chong or around the park have very limited options. Requirements for renting a car are passports and international driving licenses.
– The cost of renting a car: 1,500 baht
A motorbike is the best option for getting around Khao Yai National Park! They are the best option because they are affordable and extra helmets are available (for some extra, of course!). Hondas are the most popular and operate Mondays through Saturdays. With these motorbikes, travelers renting them must return them with tanks full, and in good condition. A flat tire will cost about 500 baht and more if there is any more damage to the bike.
– Honda operating hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where To Stay In Khao Yai National Park In Thailand
Exploring Khao Yai National Park from Bangkok on a day trip is possible, but other travelers may prefer to stay for some days and spend their nights in one of the park’s campsites. Due to the vastness of the park, it is reasonable to extend travel days to view more of it. While staying within the park, tourists can rent tents, sleeping bags, and bedding at the site. This means that one doesn’t have to pack all these when visiting Khao Yai National Park.
Macaque monkeys are always around, and are likely to sneak their way into the travelers’ tent. To avoid these creatures tearing bags apart, visitors should leave any food item out in the open.
There are other hotels around if one is looking for a comfier place to spend their travel days. These hotels range from luxury to budget. In Pak Chong, vacationers will find numerous luxury resorts offering elegant rooms with incredible views. One example of a luxury resort in the town is Thames Valley Khao Yai resort. The town also has plenty of budget and mid-range hotels with incredible amenities.
Don’t Miss These Activities In Khao Yai National Park In Thailand
Trekking is the best way of exploring the park’s spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife. There are short and long trails leading to the park’s waterfalls. Travelers can always trek the shorter trails on their own and have tour guides take them through the longer ones.
– Cost of a tour guide: Ranges from 500 Baht to 1000 Baht, depending on the length of the trail.
Related: 10 Trails In Glacier National Park For Experts OnlyBeing home to plenty of widely diverse animals, wildlife spotting is an activity one wouldn’t want to miss. The list of wildlife species in this park is astounding, with elephants dominating the park. The best time to spot these wonderful creatures is either at dusk or dawn.
A night safari is another enjoyable activity at Khao Yai National Park. Numerous companies offer night safaris and are usually included in the park’s overnight trips. It is one of the best ways of spotting wildlife, but it is not guaranteed that an elephant will show up during the ride.
Explore the beautiful waterfalls in the park. Travelers love waterfalls, and almost everyone has a picture of a waterfall on their Instagram. With 44 breathtaking waterfalls within this park, admirers of these natural wonders are definitely in luck! The most visited among them is Haew Suwat because it was filmed in the movie, “The Beach.”
Thailand is home to incredible destinations. While its cities and beaches top most travelers’ bucket lists, a visit to this beautiful nation wouldn’t be complete without exploring Khao Yai National Park.