National park · Thailand
Khao Yai National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่
Buy a park ticket (≈300 baht per adult) and drive from Pak Chong; hike Trail 1 for a 2‑hour forest walk, or do the 8‑km Haew Suwat waterfall trek (4–7 h) in the cool season (Nov–Feb).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,450 km² (560 sq mi)560 sq mi (1,450 km²)
approximate
Established
1962
Best months
Nov–Feb
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
At a glance
- Country
- Thailand
- Area
- 1,450 km² (560 sq mi)560 sq mi (1,450 km²)
- Figures vary by source; the park covers roughly 1,450 km² of forest and grassland.
- Established
- 1962
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Khao Yai, Thailand's first national park (1962), protects over 50 km of trails across tropical moist evergreen forest, dry evergreen and deciduous forests, and hill evergreen forest above 1,000 m. It is part of the Dong Phaya Yen – Khao Yai UNESCO World Heritage site. Wildlife includes gibbons, hornbills, elephants (rare), and a colony of nearly one million bats. The park is reached from Pak Chong (northern gate) or Prachinburi (southern gate).
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2005Listed with Dong Phaya Yen mountains.
Size and age
1,450 km² (560 sq mi)560 sq mi (1,450 km²) · national park since 1962
Figures vary by source; the park covers roughly 1,450 km² of forest and grassland.
Why go
- Explore over 50 km (31 mi) of trails across varied forest types.Explore over 31 mi (50 km) of trails across varied forest types.
- Spot wildlife such as gibbons, hornbills, and leopards.
- Visit waterfalls like Haew Suwat and Haew Narok.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, dry, good for trekking.
- FebCool, dry, pleasant.
- MarHot season starts, still dry.
- AprHot, dry, occasional showers.
- MayRainy season begins, trails muddy.
- JunRainy, waterfalls full.
- JulRainy, higher humidity.
- AugRainy, occasional storms.
- SepRainy, but decreasing.
- OctEnd of rains, good visibility.
- NovCold season, comfortable.
- DecCold, dry, ideal for wildlife.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibbons (morning calls)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| HornbillsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Elephants (rare sightings)Nov–Feb | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Bats (emergence colony)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Bangkok
Train or bus to Pak Chong (Korat), then songthaew or taxi 10 km (6.2 mi) to park gate.Train or bus to Pak Chong (Korat), then songthaew or taxi 6.2 mi (10 km) to park gate.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)
Bus or train to Pak Chong, then local transport to gate.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Prachinburi
Drive north 13 km (8.1 mi) to south entrance on Route 3077.Drive north 8.1 mi (13 km) to south entrance on Route 3077.
30 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northern entrance (Pak Chong side) | Ticket office, visitor centre, Trail 1 start, parking. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Southern entrance (Prachinburi side) | Access to Haew Suwat waterfall and southern road. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Central zone | Observation towers, wildlife spotting points, camping zones. | Open with entry ticket. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are park centre; points are approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult entry (per person) | THB 300 (≈ US$10) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Vehicle entry (per car) | THB 400 (≈ US$13) | vehicle | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Night wildlife spotting truck | THB 600 (≈ US$19) | truck | From visitor centre. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ฿300≈ US$10
- ฿400≈ US$13
- ฿600≈ US$19
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Wikidata – Khao Yai National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins are limited.
- Camping
- Only in designated camping zones; permits obtained at visitor centre.
- Stay on trails
- Off‑trail walking may damage fragile forest and increase loss risk.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited everywhere.
- Vehicle speed
- Maximum 60 km/h (37 mph) on park road; respect speed bumps.Maximum 37 mph (60 km/h) on park road; respect speed bumps.
Where to stay
Near the park
Baan Saranya Lodge & Restaurant
Air‑conditioned bungalows, restaurant, 800–1,200 baht per night.
In the park
Sak Phu Duen Hotel
Hotel in park centre, 3,900 baht per night, pool and restaurant.
Near the park
Pak Chong town
Wide range of guesthouses and hotels, 30 min drive to gate.
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Getting lost high
Wildlife (crocodiles, leeches) medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Vehicle access to both entrances; parking near visitor centre.
- Trail 1 is paved and suitable for limited mobility; other trails are steep.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish with you; use provided bins only when available.
- Buy leech socks locally to prevent leech bites.
- Support local homestays and park‑run lodges.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Khao Yai National Park?
Entry is about 300 baht per adult and 400 baht per vehicle (2026 estimate, check).
What are the best hikes in Khao Yai National Park?
Trail 1 offers an easy 2‑hour walk; the Haew Suwat waterfall trail is a moderate 8‑km hike taking 4–7 h.
When is the best time to visit Khao Yai National Park?
The cool season (Nov–Feb) provides dry, comfortable conditions; the rainy season (May–Oct) gives full waterfalls but muddy trails.
Can I camp in Khao Yai?
Camping is allowed only in designated zones with a permit from the visitor centre.
Is there public transport to the park?
Most visitors take a train or bus to Pak Chong, then a songthaew or taxi to the northern gate; no internal park buses.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Khao Yai National Park
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