Thailand's Khao Yai National Park

Thailand's Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai is the most famous of Thailand's national parks. It is one of the 5 largest nature reserves in the world. Located 200 km from Bangkok, the park covers an area of 2168 km² between the four adjoining provinces of Thailand. It covers a large area of unspoiled jungle and mountainous terrain near the Korat plateau. The elevation ranges from 350 to 1350 m above sea level.

Declared a nature reserve in 1962, Khao Yai National Park has allowed the preservation on its territory of rare and Red Book species of animals and plants.

Flora and fauna

The great diversity of flora and fauna of the park was the basis for the inclusion of Khao Yai in 1982 on the list of World Heritage Sites. There are thousands of plant species and hundreds of bird and animal species. The central part of the park is covered with dense evergreen forests. There are many ancient trees covered with lianas and moss. Among the vegetation are fig trees, rattan palms, ferns and wild orchids.

The park is home to many - wild elephants, gibbons, deer, bears, wild boars, buffalo and even tigers. List the names of the animals of Thailand is endless. However, there are only a few of the latter, which is a rare chance to see. In the highlands there are several viewing platforms for discreet observation of animals. From one of them in the early morning you can see animals that have come to lick the saline lands of the reserve.

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Khao Yai is also home to about three hundred species of birds - parrots, pheasants, snake-eaters, exotic rhinoceros birds. One of the caves of Khao Luk Chang Mountain (6 km from the main entrance) is home to over one million bats. A fantastic spectacle awaits tourists at dusk when they fly out, covering the sky. There are reptiles - lizards, snakes, a lot of insects. On a side note: mosquitoes are probably the most dangerous and unpleasant insects of Thailand.

Waterfalls

There are about two dozen waterfalls in Khao Yai Park. In the center of the park, not far from the campsite, is Heaw Suwat. This is where Leonardo DiCaprio jumped in the movie "The Beach". Most of the waterfalls, on the other hand, are located away from the usual sightseeing trails in the depths of the park. Therefore, they are visited mainly by fans of active hiking.

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Especially impressive is the three-level Heaw Narok ("Hell's Abyss") waterfall with a total amplitude of 150 meters. In its largest section the water falls from a height of 80 m. Also of interest are Heaw Sai with steep cascades, wide Heaw Pratoon and high Wang Heaw. Fans of sparkling streams, splash and foam, noise and The waterfalls of Thailand are a splashing creation of nature, we recommend reading the article about the waterfalls of Thailand.

When is the best time to visit

The best time to visit the park varies according to travelers' preferences. Tourists who like to watch wild elephants come here mostly during the dry season, which begins in November and ends in February.

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The nature of Khao Yai is especially beautiful in spring - lush vegetation, the fragrance of blooming flowers, the long trill of birds. During the rainy season, the waterfalls are spectacular. The second half of June and July - time charming blooming orchids and fluttering countless butterflies of all colors. It is better to visit the park not on weekends or holidays, but on regular days, when the probability of seeing animals is higher.

Popular Routes

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Khao Yai Park has 312 miles of forest trails up to 10 km long with signs for tourists. You can buy a park map or guidebook at the park office. The most popular route is along Trail 5 to the Nong Pak Chi Lookout Tower on the lakeshore. The walk to the tower is through a forest, then a meadow. The length is 4.5 km.

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On the way you can meet deer, hear gibbons hiding in the tall trees. From the observation deck you can watch swifts swooping and, if you are lucky, see elephants and wild bulls, gaurus. You can return by walking about a kilometer from the tower to a dirt road that connects to the main road. From there you can walk or drive 2 km to the park office or drive 12 km to the control point.

Many want to visit the Heaw Suwat waterfall, which is relatively close to the office. The waterfall can be accessed via a forest trail or road, a 6 km hike. From Heaw Suwat, you can continue to a campsite near Pha Kluai/Orchid waterfall on trail 3. There is a 3 km paved road leading to it. On the way you can see macaws, kingfishers, and rhinoceros birds. The area around the waterfall is known for its many orchids of all kinds, which gave the waterfall its second name.

Every evening from 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. there is a one-hour night safari in cars with floodlights, the light of which shows animals, birds and reptiles from the darkness.

Tickets must be purchased by 6 p.m. At the ticket office near the park office. There is also the option of a safari at dawn. At any time of the year you need to dress warmly. In the office you can also hire a gamekeeper guide for remote or difficult routes.

How to get there and where to stay

First of all, you need to go to the town of Pak Chong. This can be done from Bangkok North Station by train or bus, or from Pattaya Bus Station by bus. You can get to the northern entrance of the park by taking a local songteo (a kind of minibus) to the intersection of Highway 2090 and 2. In Pak Chong, it is convenient to rent a songteo with pickup at the park. For 43$ baht you can go to the park, spend a few hours there, and then come back. A trip to Heaw Suwat Falls, on the other hand, will cost 20$. You can reach the park headquarters by driving to the intersection of roads 2090 and 3077.

You can stay at the hotels in Pak Chong as well as in the park itself. You can choose the budget Phubade Hotel near the Park Chong train station or the comfortable Rim Tam Inn near the bus station. If not booked in advance, hotels may not be available on weekends and holidays. In that case, a cabin or tent in the park is not an option.

Khao Yai has 3 lodging areas in cabins for 23-100$ per night, as well as cheap (1.5$) dormitories. At the campsites, you can rent an empty or equipped tent for 3$ or 7$. You can also bring your own tent by paying 30 baht for a permit to pitch.

When staying in tents, there is a high probability that deer will come to visit travelers in the dark. To avoid repeating other people's mistakes, you should not photograph them with a flash. Scared animals can hurt tourists.

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