Khao Yai National Park Entrance
Khao Yai Entrance

Written by Ross Green

Where did Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers go to find the most spectacular waterfall in Thailand? Where can you wake to the sound of the Gibbons call? Where is the home where the deer, the tiger, and elephant still roam? When you are ready for something less crowded and spectacularly natural, Khao Yai is waiting, patiently, to be discovered.

Khao Yai, Thailand’s oldest National Park could boast about its 2000 square kilometers of Tropical Moist Evergreen Forest, stunning waterfalls, rivers and an extensive network of hiking trails.  It could boast about the five different zones of vegetation, 320 species of birds, 2000 species of plants, or 67 species of mammals. It could boast… but we are glad that it quietly remains one of Thailand’s less discovered natural treasures.

Due to the vast diversity of things to see and do in the land of smiles, this Unesco World Heritage site is getting passed by on most travelers’ busy itineraries. Three hours by car North East from Bangkok, in the heartland of Issan, Khao Yai sits waiting on the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains (highest peak – Kah Rom – 1,251m).  In Khao Yai park there are at least 12 trails ranging from 2.5 km to about 10 km in length. Most of the trails have color paint markings on the trees but it is advisable to hire a park ranger for hiking difficult trails.

Heaw Narok Waterfall
Heaw Narok Waterfall
When looking for a stand-in for southern Thailand scenery during shooting of ‘The Beach’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Heaw Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai was selected.  Heaw Suwat is stunning to be certain, yet Heaw Narok Waterfall remains the largest at 80 meters vertical drop.  Waterfalls in Khao Yai Park can be viewed at any time of year.  The rainy season from June to October will offer the raging displays of torrential water flows.  More subdued flows and best weather conditions will be experienced during the cool season from November to February, when average month temperatures are as low as a very comfortable 22 degrees celcius.

Khao Yai has a wonderful selection of accommodations to please the outdoor enthusiast looking to “rough it” and also those looking for more of the creature comforts.  Tents, bungalows, ‘terrace houses’ and dorms give everyone a chance to be cozy under Khao Yai’s blanket of stars.  Wildlife and bird watching guides are available at the park and one to three day treks can be arranged.  You may also purchase a trail guide at the park office and hike on your own.

Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park
The park has two animal observation towers open from 6 am to 9 pm. The most abundant mammals here are wild elephants, monkeys, ‘barking’ deer, wild pigs and porcupines. The tigers and black bears are rarer since development began in the central region of the forest. The Great Hornbill is easily heard and spotted even if you are not a birdwatcher.  A remote cave on the edge of the park is said to house one million bats (but who’s counting)?  They don’t like to be disturbed so it’s requested that you wait outside the cave for them to wake up and fly out at dusk for a nightly display of vast clouds of dispersing bats (weather permitting).  For the more adventurous there is a rafting excursion that goes through the Kang Hin Perng rapids.  There are even golf courses located outside the park as if there isn’t already enough to see and do at beautiful Kao Yai National Park.




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