Khao Yai Attractions
There are several ways to explore Khao Yai National Park. If you have your own wheels, you can drive around the park all by yourself. If you do not have your own transport, consider joining one of the one-day tours as even the most economical versions will give you a decent idea of what the park is like. The best way to explore the park is obviously to join a multiple day tour which will include a night/several nights in the park and require a licensed guide.
Hiking and Trekking
There are currently six hiking trails which are promoted and regularly maintained by the park rangers. Besides the easiest one, a short 1,5 km loop around the visitor centre, which can be done completely by yourself, for all the other five routes we recommend you to hire a guide. The recommendation is mainly due to safety reasons but as a second advantage you’ll have a lot more chances to spot wildlife that you most probably wouldn’t even notice by yourself. Depending on the length of the trail (the longer one should take roughly 8 hours) a local guide can be hired at the visitor centre for THB500/THB1000 for the total of the group.
There are more organized trekking options on offer ranging from one to three days trekking and camping in the jungle. Refer to the visitor centre or one of the travel agencies in town if you want to do it: this is probably the best way to explore the park and spot wildlife, but the help of an experienced guide is mandatory.
Animal encounters
Even if more than likely you will not be so lucky to spot a tiger (in the last 15 years camera traps got pictures of them only 2 times and no one physically saw them), many visitors leave the park with memories of elephants, gibbons, crocodiles, monkeys, deer and civet cats among the others.
Those who stay in the park for a night or longer have more chances to spot wildlife since at sunrise and dusk animals head to their watering places. Two observation towers have been recently built in proximity to two ponds that are regularly visited by many animals and they are good spots for visitors with patience and a good camera.
Another good option is to join a night safari organized by park rangers and available every day at 7pm and 8pm. If there’s not enough people you’ll have to rent a truck just for your group (THB500), while in a busy day they’ll organize group safari for THB50 per person.
Waterfalls
There are 44 spectacular waterfalls in the park and if you are going to visit at least some of them keep in mind that during the hot season the level of water might be extremely low. Swimming and diving in the waterfalls is prohibited and even if you occasionally see people doing it without being fined remember that the current can be really powerful and injuries happened in the past. Moreover the rivers in the park are home for crocodiles and even if the population is quite small, we wouldn’t take the risk.
Haew Suwat Waterfall is the most popular featuring a 20 meter cliff made famous by Leonardo Di Caprio’s movie The Beach. Just an easy 100 m walk from the car park, it can also be accessed via a long 8 km trail from the visitor centre. Among the other waterfalls don’t miss Pha Kluai Mai (3 km far from Haew Suwat) and Heo Narok which is the largest and highest one in Khao Yai.
Join an organized tour
Travel agencies in Pak Chong and all around the area will offer you many different options to explore Khai Yai ranging from a day tour to multiple days trekking and camping inside the park. The cheapest option which is suitable for those without their own transport is to join one of the many single day group tours. For roughly THB1500 a songthaew will take you to all the most popular attractions in the park. Don’t expect to see much wildlife but at least you’ll have a better overall idea of Khao Yai compared to simply hitchhiking to the visitor centre and taking a short walk along the principal trail. For private expeditions and more adventurous options, talk to the travel agencies and make sure you’re clear about your interests, expectations, needs and physical shape.
