National park · Thailand
Thong Pha Phum National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติทองผาภูมิ
Enter Thong Pha Phum National Park: pay the entry fee (check), drive the 3‑hour road from Kanchanaburi, hike Khao Chang Phueak early in the cool season, and stay in Ban I‑tong village.
- 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
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,120 km² (432 sq mi)432 sq mi (1,120 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
Nov–Feb
UNESCO
None
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
- 1,120 km² (432 sq mi)432 sq mi (1,120 km²)
- The park spans roughly 1,120 km² across Thong Pha Phum and Sangkhlaburi districts; figures may vary by source (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kanchanaburi
Thong Pha Phum National Park, established in 2000, protects mountainous forest, caves, waterfalls and the Khao Chang Phueak summit in Thailand's western forest complex near the Myanmar border.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
1,120 km² (432 sq mi)432 sq mi (1,120 km²) · national park since 2000
The park spans roughly 1,120 km² across Thong Pha Phum and Sangkhlaburi districts; figures may vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kanchanaburi.
Why go
- Mountain trails, caves and waterfalls in a remote western forest complex.
- Khao Chang Phueak summit with ridge views, limited to 60 hikers per day.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, dry; peak open.
- FebCool, dry.
- MarWarm, start of hot season.
- AprHot, low rain.
- MayHot, beginning of wet season.
- JunWet, frequent rain.
- JulWet, possible storms.
- AugWet, heavy rain.
- SepWet, decreasing.
- OctTransition to cool, less rain.
- NovCool, dry; peak open.
- DecCool, dry.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephants, serow, barking deer, sun bears, tigers, clouded leopardsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds and reptilesAll 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 Kanchanaburi town
Drive Route 323 then 3272, which becomes Route 4088 to the park gate; approx 120 km (75 mi), 2–3 h.Drive Route 323 then 3272, which becomes Route 4088 to the park gate; approx 75 mi (120 km), 2–3 h.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Bangkok
Bus or train to Kanchanaburi, then follow the above road.
3–4 h total
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Park headquarters (Ban I‑tong) | Gate, visitor centre, cabins, trailhead for Khao Chang Phueak. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Khao Chang Phueak area | Summit ridge, viewpoint, limited campsite. | Permit required; limited to 60 hikers per day. |
| Waterfall sites | Chokkradin Waterfall and others. | Open to visitors; no fee. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 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 from park centre and main attractions; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | THB 200–300 (≈ US$7–10) | person | Check latest rate at headquarters. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Khao Chang Phueak summit permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Only at Chang Puaek campsite with summit permit; no other backcountry camping.
- Permits
- Entry ticket required; summit permit required for Khao Chang Phueak.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use designated stoves only.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
- Vehicle
- Drive carefully on Route 4088; many curves.
Where to stay
In the park
Ban I‑tong cabins
Two‑person cabins at headquarters, book online.
Near the park
Ban I‑tong guesthouses
Small hotels and guesthouses outside the park.
Safety
Steep ridge on summit high
Road twists 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
- Headquarters area reachable by car with short walks.
- Summit trail steep and narrow; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use the designated campsite only and pack out waste.
- Support local guesthouses and cabins.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Thong Pha Phum National Park?
The entry fee is about 200–300 THB per adult; check the latest rate at the headquarters.
What are the best hikes in Thong Pha Phum National Park?
Khao Chang Phueak summit (8 km round‑trip, hard) and the waterfall trail to Chokkradin (easy).
When is the best time to visit Thong Pha Phum National Park?
Cool, dry months November to February; the summit is open only then.
Can I camp anywhere in the park?
Only the Chang Puaek campsite near the summit is permitted, and only for hikers with a summit permit.
How do I get to the park from Bangkok?
Take a bus or train to Kanchanaburi (≈3 h), then drive Route 4088 to the park gate (≈1 h).
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go