Khao Yai National Park
National park · Prachantakham ·
UNESCO site with waterfalls, wildlife, hiking, and jungle trails
UNESCO site with waterfalls, wildlife, hiking, and jungle trails
"UNESCO-listed and Thailand’s first national park, this protected area is a key draw behind Khao Yai’s appeal as a weekend country getaway for Bangkok residents." - Lane Nieset
"Khao Yai is my favorite adventure park because it has so much going on. It's truly the best way to see wild elephants in their natural home. You can also visit the waterfall from the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. If you like spotting wildlife and learning about the environment, it's worth joining a tour group for a full day of trekking with an English-speaking guide who will highlight all the best viewing opportunities for you. From Bangkok, guided excursions start at about $75 per person. Just make sure to pack leech socks." - Stacey Wreathall Stacey Wreathall Stacey Wreathall is a freelance writer and Thailand travel expert. She lived in South East Asia for six years, calling Bangkok home for four of them. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Named after its main mountain, Khao Yai National Park, one of Thailand’s oldest and most visited, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. It’s home to one of the few—and largest—remaining monsoon forests in Southeast Asia and spans a whopping 2,333 square feet. The main draw here is the dense evergreen jungle, which swoops from lofty mountains down to impossibly green valleys speckled by waterfalls and caves. The park is also home to hundreds of wildlife species—elephants, macaques, gibbons, and even bears and otters—plus some 300 resident and migratory birds, and quite a few reptiles. You’ll need a guide and transportation to visit Khao Yai. The park is huge and going at it solo is not recommended, simply because some trails are quite long; there’s even a three-day route that requires overnight stays in the jungle. Those with some level of physical fitness will have an easier time with the hike, but you could just as well sit back and take in all that greenery." - Marianna Cerini
"Thailand’s first national park and a UNESCO-listed conservation area, home to over 3,000 plant species and some 300 bird species. It supports herds of Asian elephants and iconic great hornbills with large casques, and offers a range of guided and self-guided walks, camping and wildlife viewing from towers; the park also contains the Haew Suwat waterfall, which became widely known after being featured in the film The Beach." - SilverKris
Benji H.
Constanza K.
Russell K.
Gerry R.
Donovan L.
Meowth The Scratch C.
ProTalk English C.
Dxb A.
