If you're seeking a peaceful getaway from Bangkok's chaos, look no further than Khao Yai National Park. Spanning 2,206 square kilometers, this park is

renowned for its wild elephants, gibbons, hornbills, picturesque waterfalls, and trekking paths. Bird enthusiasts flock here, with over 280 species to admire. Established in 1962, it was Thailand's first national park and achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005.

Despite spending over a decade in Thailand, I had overlooked this stunning wilderness. It turned out to be a delightful discovery.

Bangkok

If your schedule is tight, consider booking a day trip from Bangkok. For a more immersive experience, staying a night or two is ideal. I opted for a tour with Greenleaf Guesthouse & Tours, which I highly recommend. More details on tours and accommodations follow.

Continue reading for insights on activities, lodging, and how to reach Khao Yai National Park.

Planning Your Visit

Reasons to Visit: Jungle treks and incredible wildlife, including wild elephants & gibbons.

Getting There: Take a day trip from Bangkok or board the 3.5-hour train to Pak Chong, the park's gateway, and arrange a day tour via Greenleaf Tours.

Reaching Khao Yai National Park from Bangkok

If an overnight stay isn't feasible, I suggest taking a day trip from Bangkok. For longer visits, public transport is available, but at least one night is necessary for a full-day tour. It's about a 3.5-hour drive from Bangkok.

To access Khao Yai National Park via public transport, head to Pak Chong by train, bus, or minivan. Arrange a pickup from your lodging upon arrival. I chose the train and found it a great option.

Trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Train Station, stopping at Don Mueang and Ayutthaya stations. Fares range from $4-5 USD for the approximately 3.5-hour journey. Book through the SRT D-Ticket app or 12go.asia.

Here are five train options from Bangkok to Pak Chong:

  • Train #21 (Departs 6:10, arrives 8:43)
  • Train #135 (Departs 7:10, arrives 10:43)
  • Train #71 (Departs 10:35, arrives 13:17)
  • Train #139 (Departs 19:25, arrives 22:33)
  • Train #23 (Departs 21:05, arrives 23:58)

Trains may run late, so if you're aiming for a half-day tour on arrival, choose earlier trains (#21 or #135). Both air-conditioned and fan sections are available. (I traveled in the air-conditioned section,
and it was pleasant.)

If joining a full-day tour, you'll return in time for the last train back to Bangkok.

There are four trains from Pak Chong to Bangkok:

  • Train #24 (Departs 1:41, arrives 4:50)
  • Train #140 (Departs 3:12, arrives 6:50)
  • Train #72 (Departs 11:18, arrives 14:10)
  • Train #22 (Departs 19:48, arrives 22:15)

Buses from Bangkok (NakhonChai 21) leave from Mo Chit Bus Station but drop you off at Tesco Lotus in Pakchong, about seven kilometers away from the center. Mini vans also depart from Mo Chit Bus Station heading to Pak Chong.

Best Time to Visit Khao Yai National Park

The park welcomes visitors year-round from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are March to May, with temperatures hitting 26-27 degrees. The dense forest keeps it cooler than other regions. The rainy season runs from June to September, bringing spectacular waterfalls and vibrant plant life. In December to January, temperatures can drop to 10 degrees with clear skies.

I visited in January; it was warm during the day but chilly at night. For me, the best time would be October and November, right after the rainy season, when the foliage is still lush. Be cautious of ticks in dry season and leeches in wet season. Tours provide socks for both. Don’t forget to pack insect repellent.

Activities in Khao Yai National Park

The park's entrance fee for international visitors is 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. Day tours include this fee.

Trekking
There are seven trails ranging from 1.2 to 8 kilometers, taking 45 minutes to six hours to complete. Trails are well-marked, but start early due to heat. The official site states that Trails 1-5 and 7 can begin from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Trail 6 must start by 10 a.m. Guides are mandatory for Trails 3 to 6.

Birdwatching
Home to 282 species of resident and migratory birds, the park attracts avid birders. You'll notice impressive camera equipment around. I used a 70-200mm lens, but a longer one would have been ideal for wildlife shots.

Camping
Lam Ta Khong Campground and Khao Rom Viewpoint Campground are the only campgrounds in the park. Lam Ta Khong is fantastic for wildlife sightings and a favorite among photographers. You’ll need your own transport to camp. Camping gear is available for rent, including tents and sleeping bags. Facilities include showers, electricity, a restaurant, and a coffee shop.

Stargazing
From November to March, the clear skies offer excellent stargazing opportunities. The campground and nearby meadows make great spots.

Night Safari
The park provides two slots for a one-hour night safari at 7 and 8 p.m. Reservations are made at the visitor center before 6 p.m. Experience a 10 km drive in a high-bed pickup truck with powerful flashlights to find samba deer, Malayan porcupines, large Indian civets, Asian palm civets, wild elephants, owls, and nightjars. Arrange your transport to the park for these tours.

Review of Greenleaf Tour Guesthouse

at Khao Yai National Park

Greenleaf Tour Guesthouse & Food

I truly enjoyed my experience at Greenleaf Tour and highly recommend them. Initially, I had doubts due to their outdated website (no booking options through sites like Booking.com). However, their email response was impressively comprehensive, covering transport and lodging details. You can book a tour separately or combine it with a room at the guesthouse.

For logistical and cost reasons, I booked both. I opted for a 1.5-day tour and stayed two nights. In January, I worried about cold showers, but finding nearby hotels with hot water was challenging and pricey, as many hotels seem to focus on tours.

Greenleaf offered free pickup and drop-off at the train station, while other hotels charged a minimum of 200 baht each way. This was a significant perk. The station is only a short drive away. Free pickup is included only when booking a full-day tour.

The property features an open-air restaurant serving delicious Thai food at great prices (60-80 baht), with breakfast costing just 50 baht. They offer 19 rooms with a double bed for 300 baht/night with ensuite bathrooms. Rooms lack air conditioning and hot water, but January's cool weather made air conditioning unnecessary. I managed fine with a fan. Each room has a table on a shaded shared porch. Guests ranged from young backpackers to older trekkers.

The Thai-style rooms, while basic, were impeccably clean. I slept well and appreciated my stay, even needing an extra blanket at night due to the chill!

Khao Yai National Park Tour Options

Greenleaf Tour provides half-day (500 baht) and full-day tours (1,500 baht). I participated in both tours in January. Only the full-day tour includes entry into the national park; cash payment is required.

The half-day tour (15:00 – 19:30) features an underground cave visit, swimming in a natural spring, and watching bats exit a cave for their evening flight. You can't swim in the park's waterfalls, which may be why they offer swimming on the half-day tour.

The full-day tour explores Khao Yai National Park, emphasizing wildlife. We encountered hornbills, macaques, gibbons, wild elephants, vipers, and numerous bird species during our hikes. A pre-ordered lunch was served in the park, and we visited the impressive 25-meter Haew Suwat Waterfall. Wildlife sightings aren't guaranteed, yet we experienced two incredible encounters with wild elephants.

During our hike, we saw a 500-year-old Strangler Fig tree. Both tours used songthaews, traditional pickup trucks with seating in the back. Tick socks were provided for trekking, as ticks are prevalent in the cooler months. (During warmer months, these socks protect against small leeches.)

Honestly, I wasn’t too impressed with the half-day tour; I've seen many caves, and it was too cold for swimming. However, the bat sightings were a highlight. I was pleasantly surprised by the full-day tour, which exceeded my expectations with fantastic wildlife encounters. The guides were friendly and provided spotting scopes for improved wildlife viewing and even took photos of animals through the scope using our phones. This was especially beneficial for birdwatchers.

Private tours cost about 5,000 baht. This figure was quoted by Greenleaf and several hotels I contacted. Night safaris can be arranged through the park before 6 p.m. daily, but you'll need transport to the park or to stay on-site.

A fellow traveler I met during the full-day tour chose to stay in the park and booked ranger-led tours for the following night. Sadly, her experience wasn't great as the rangers didn't speak English and moved too quickly. She returned to Greenleaf for a second day tour and found it far superior to staying in the park!

Where to Stay: Khao Yai National Park Hotels

Staying inside the park is an option, but you'll need your own transport. Reach out to the park's office to reserve one of the two campsites or various lodges across four zones. For more information, visit the park’s website.

Budget travelers should consider Greenleaf Tours Guesthouse if they're okay with cold water and no air conditioning. For those looking for nicer accommodations outside the park with hot showers and air conditioning, Greenleaf Tour suggests the following options. (Check reviews before booking. Prices vary from $25 to $200 depending on the property and season.)