Khao Yai National Park Park

Address: Khao Yai National Park (covers parts of Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi), Thailand

Website: https://www.dnp.go.th

Khao Yai National Park is a large protected area in central Thailand that conserves mountain forests, grasslands and river valleys across multiple provinces. It is one of the country’s most accessible big‑game parks and contains a network of roads, trails and visitor facilities.

The park’s attractions include numerous waterfalls, hiking trails, viewpoints and wildlife-rich areas where visitors can see hornbills, macaques, gibbons, elephants and other species. Roadside wildlife sightings are common at dawn and dusk while forested trails provide opportunities for guided birdwatching and longer treks.

Khao Yai was designated in the mid-20th century to protect the Dong Phaya Yen mountain range and later became part of a larger UNESCO-recognised forest complex for its biodiversity. Park infrastructure supports day visitors, overnight stays and regulated wildlife viewing.

The park spans parts of Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima and neighbouring provinces in central-eastern Thailand and is reached by road from Bangkok and regional towns; the landscape is mountainous with mixed evergreen and deciduous forest.

• Park status: Established in 1962 as Thailand’s second national park and part of the larger Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai forest complex recognised for biodiversity and seasonal wildlife migrations.
• Wildlife viewing: Wildlife includes elephants, gibbons, gaur and hornbills; early morning or late afternoon drives and guided walks increase the chance of observing mammals and birds.

What to See#

• Park access and visitor centres: Visitor centres and gated park entrances mark the primary access points; main roads lead to trailheads that access waterfalls, viewpoints and grassland-forest habitats.
• Major waterfalls: Haew Suwat and Haew Narok are two of the park’s most visited waterfalls, each set in forested ravines and accessible by marked trails of varying difficulty.

Khao Yai National Park is reached by road from Bangkok-expect about a 2-3 hour drive depending on traffic. The common driving route is via the Mittraphap/Route 2 corridor toward Pak Chong; many visitors drive to Pak Chong and continue by car or taxi to the park gates. Regular intercity buses and vans run from Bangkok’s Mo Chit bus terminal to Pak Chong; from Pak Chong town take a local songthaew or taxi to the park entrance (short drive).

• For wildlife watching head into the park at dawn or dusk-those are the best windows to see deer, macaques, hornbills and gibbons along the main roads and lookouts.
• Enter via the Pak Chong side/visitor centre to access the most visited loops, waterfalls and marked viewpoints; the park roads are the easiest way to cover key stops without getting lost on secondary tracks.
• Avoid Thai public holidays and weekends when coach groups flood the trails and picnic areas; if possible plan weekday mornings and use designated viewpoints rather than stepping off roads, both for safety and better wildlife encounters.