Khao Yai National Park : Thailand’s Most Accessible Wildlife Sanctuary

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park is Thailand’s oldest and most visited national park, established in 1962 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Lying about 200 km north-east of Bangkok, the park straddles four provinces — Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi — and covers over 2,000 square kilometres of montane forest, grasslands, and rivers.

Wildlife

Khao Yai is home to around 300 wild elephants, making encounters on the main road a genuine possibility rather than a zoo experience. Gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, hornbills, gibbons, and monitor lizards are all frequently spotted. The park is also one of the last strongholds of the Siamese crocodile in Thailand, though sightings are rare. Night safaris organized from the visitor centre give the best chance of seeing owls, leopard cats, and civets.

Waterfalls and Trails

The park has several well-marked trails. Haew Narok (80 m, two-tiered) and Haew Suwat (25 m) are the most visited waterfalls; the latter is the one that appeared briefly in the film The Beach. Shorter trails near the park headquarters are manageable without a guide. Longer routes toward the Cambodian border require a registered guide and advance booking.

Getting There and Practical Info

From Korat: About 1.5 hours west on Highway 2, then south on Highway 2090 to the Khao Yai gate. The park entrance fee is 400 THB for foreigners, 40 THB for Thais. Open daily 6:00-18:00. No camping is currently permitted in most zones; accommodation ranges from park bungalows to the many resorts that line Highway 2090 outside the park entrance.

Best time: November to March for dry, clear conditions. June to October for waterfalls at full flow, but expect leech-heavy trails and muddy paths.