Khao Yai National Park — Attraction in Prachin Buri Province

Khao Yai National Park, established in 1962, is Thailand’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning over 2,000 square kilometers across four provinces—Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Prachinburi, and Nakhon Nayok—it offers a diverse range of natural attractions and activities for visitors.

The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, featuring evergreen forests, grasslands, and mountainous terrains. It’s home to over 3,000 plant species, 320 bird species, and 66 species of mammals, including elephants, gibbons, and the elusive dhole. Birdwatchers can spot species like the red junglefowl and coral-billed ground cuckoo.

Among the park’s highlights are its numerous waterfalls. Haew Narok, the tallest at 80 meters, offers a dramatic view after a short hike. Haew Suwat, made famous by the film “The Beach,” is another popular spot, easily accessible via a brief walk from the parking area.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the Nong Phak Chi Observation Tower provides an excellent vantage point to observe animals in their natural habitat, especially during dawn and dusk. The park’s diverse ecosystems support a variety of flora and fauna, making it a prime location for nature photography and study.

Hiking trails of varying difficulty levels crisscross the park, leading to scenic viewpoints, waterfalls, and serene forest areas. Guided tours are available for those interested in learning more about the park’s ecology and wildlife.

Camping is a popular activity, with designated sites like Lam Ta Khong Campground offering basic facilities. Stargazing is particularly rewarding during the cool season when the skies are clear, and the air is crisp.

Beyond the park’s natural attractions, the surrounding area boasts several points of interest. Visitors can explore local wineries, such as PB Valley and GranMonte, which offer tours and tastings. Family-friendly destinations like Primo Piazza and Farm Chokchai provide interactive experiences with animals and agriculture.

The best time to visit Khao Yai National Park is during the cool season, from November to February, when temperatures are comfortable, and wildlife is more active. The rainy season, from May to October, brings lush greenery and fuller waterfalls but may limit some activities due to trail conditions.

Accessible by road, the park is approximately a three-hour drive from Bangkok, making it a convenient destination for both day trips and extended stays. Whether you’re a nature lover, adventure seeker, or simply looking to unwind amidst tranquil surroundings, Khao Yai National Park offers a memorable...

100 percent recommended. We camped for three nights and it was the highlight of our trip to Thailand. We rented a motorbike at the entrance of the park for 500THB/day (it's overpriced, but it's an option in case you don't want to ride from Pak Chong) and rented all the gear (tent, mats, sleeping bags, pillow) at the camping site. The camping facilities are very good (restaurant with average prices included, showers, charging station) and there's plenty of trails to suit different curiosity and fitness levels. We did trails 1, 2 and 6. Number 6 must be done with a guide for 1000THB (per group. we luckily found with whom to share the expense). Although it's the longest and most difficult of them all, I can't recommend it, because there's not much to see during the trail and with our guide's quick pace, we completed it in 3.5 hours, kind of rushing through the jungle and not having a lot of opportunity to digest the experience. One good thing, though, is that we visited a waterfall (before the waterfall where the trail ends) where we could actually get into the water to cool off, while it's forbidden to swim in all other areas of the park. So, trail number 6 was okay, but for 1000THB I don't think it's really worth it. We also did the night safari (it's 600THB per car, so again you can share with more people) and saw a family of elephants (a bit in the distance), porcupines, a civet, a fox, and deer of course. We would have loved to see crocodiles and bears, which live in the park, or elephants during the day, but didn't have luck. There's deer, monkeys, porcupines and monitor lizards around the camping site. In three days we managed to explore only a bit of what the park has to offer and figured that we would need at least three days more to enjoy all that's available. We also really enjoyed riding the motorbike around the park. The roads are in good condition, there's no traffic, and you are surrounded by nature. p.s. - BE CAREFUL with the monkeys and deer. They are not aggressive, but they will steal your food if you give them a chance. Deer CAN and WILL open your tent if you leave food inside and monkeys will 'mug' you if you let your guard down :D p.s. - Go during the week. There's noticeably way more people on...

Khao Yai National Park is worth to visit for the people who love nature and green scenery. Khao Yai is known as world heritage site because of its significant landscape and great and unique biodiversity. And also this national site is very first national park in Thailand with rich natural resources and unique wildlife. So that there is no doubt that there is best option for mammals watching. Transportation is easy is easy to get there by bus, train and or private van.From the Bangkok (mo chit bus station), it takes almost 4 hours to get to the Khao Yai. The entrance fee of this park is 400 Bhat that is worth to spend it.At there, you can do camping,trekking, hiking and explore the nature.The one thing we must to do it, before you want to do trekking or hiking, you should report information Center. At there, the officers assist you the types of trails and do and don’t things. And also that they will give the map and experienced tour guides guide if you want. The best season is winter with fresh and cool air.I recommend that if you want to spend your quality time with your loved ones, Khoa Yai national park is the must.if you want escaping from the city life, exploring the countryside( wildlife and waterfall)with fresh breeze, this national park is the best place to experience of full set of nature. One more thing is the food. The food is not expensive as much that is between 50 to 100 bhat. You can try Thai style curry and fresh juices.One of the best food for me is fried potatoes that is very unique and delicious. The last thing is the opening hour (6:00am to 6:00 pm) in everyday. But weekend can be busy with visitors so the weekdays...