Khao Yai National Park in Thailand
Entrance to the National Park
Khao Yai National Park lies two hundred kilometers or one hundred and twenty miles northeast of Bangkok in central Thailand. Depending on how much traffic there may be on the road at the time, it can take you between three and four hours to drive there on any given day from the capital. When it was established in 1962, it was Thailand's sole national park which would now make it the oldest. The park covers an area of over 2,000 square kilometres (770 square miles) and stretches over the four provinces of Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima. In 1982, the park was listed as an ASEAN Heritage site.
View over the Evergreen Forest
The park encompasses a mountain range that sprawls across an enormous tropical evergreen forest and a wide grassland complete with an abundant variety of wildlife including many endangered species of animals such as elephants, gibbons, tigers, leopards, sambar stags and Malaysian sun bears as well as more than 300 species of bird. The parks highest peaks lie on to the east along a land-form known as the Khorat Plateau. One of the peaks is called Khao Khiaw or Green Mountain and rises to a height of over 1,300 metres about 4,400 feet. Another one is called Khao Laem or Shadow Mountain and rises to a similar height.
Haeo Suwat Waterfall
Khao Yai National ParkThings to See and DoThe road leading up to the park from the town of Pak Chong is lined with several Tuscany designed buildings reminiscent of a small Italian village. They include many resorts, hotels and guesthouses. Among the narrow cobbled stone streets are several restaurants, cafes and souvenirs shops. This would be the ideal place to stay the night, have something to eat or just wonder around the streets for a little leisurely shopping. This is also the best place to book a tour of the park.Although guides are sometimes available at the parks headquarters, it would be far better to hire an English-speaking one from one of the guesthouses in the Italian Village outside of the park. You can of course go your own way. There are a dozen or so trails of varying in degrees of difficulty in which to choose. They can range anywhere from two to eight kilometres or one to five miles. One of the trails in the park snakes along the Lam Takhong River and at the upper reaches of the river you will find the Haeo Suwat Waterfall.
Italian Tuscany Village
Khao Yai National ParkThings to See and DoIt is just one of many dotted around the park. If you should be here between March and May you'll also be able to see many varieties of orchids flowering around the falls. Also along the trails you'll find several clearings with observation watchtowers where you may be lucky enough to spot a few animals.In an effort to reduce the environmental damage within the park itself, facilities such as accommodation, restaurants and an 18-hole golf course have now been closed. There are however still some dairy farms, vineyards and wineries in the park. But then again this is not the real reason why you come to to a national park is it. Surely you've come here to see the beautiful flora and fauna or did I perhaps get it all wrong. No I didn't think so. From the main entrance you drive along a winding mountain road dotted with lush greenery on either side. There are several viewing points where you can stop and survey some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable in such a tranquil oasis.
Evergreen Forest at the National Park
Khao Yai National ParkGetting ThereThere are a couple of ways to reach the park by road from Bangkok but the most easily accessible one is to take the northbound route along Phahon Yothin Road from Highway 1 to Saraburi. Then from there turn right onto Mitraphap Road on Highway 2 towards Nakhon Ratchasima. Continue on towards the small town of Pak Chong until you come to a junction on route. After that take the right fork into Thanarat Road. You''ll see a signpost marked Khao Yai. A short distance from there you turn right onto the secondary road 2090 which will take all the way to the park's head quarters.You can also take Highway 1 from Bangkok after which you would turn eastbound along the Rangsit–Ongkharak Road on Highway 305 to the town of Nakhon Nayok. From there turn onto Highway 33 and continue a short distance before turning left onto the secondary road 3077 which continues all the way to the park.
Directions to the National Park
Return from Khao Yai National Park to the National Parks Page
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