Day 1 – Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park is Thailand’s first national park. It is also recognized as the National Park Heritage of Asian Group Countries. The park covers an area of more than 2,000 sq. m. It stretches over four provinces, such as Saraburi, Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, and Nakhon Ratchasima. The park is a mixture of rainforest, grasslands, and wide plains. It holds a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is usually popular for bird and butterfly watching, animal watching, and trekking.
Highlights of the Day
- Reach Pak Chong and Check in at Guesthouse
- Tour Nearby the National Park
- Swimming in a Natural Spring
- Visit a Buddhist Cave Temple with Stalactites and Stalagmites
- Watch Around 3-Million Bats Coming Out of Their Cave
Bangkok to Pak Chong
Train No. 71 leaves Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 10.05 AM and reaches Pak Chong at around 01.25 PM.
Pak Chong is a small town located close to Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province. It is easily accessible by bus (Mochit Bus Station) or train (Hua Lamphong Railway Station) or car from Bangkok.
Bobbys Apartment and Jungle Tours
The best way to explore this park is to book with one of the guesthouses. They also offer organized group tours to the national park along with guide.
Most of the guesthouses will arrange for free pick up and drop from and to railway/bus station of Pak Chong if you book jungle tours with them.
You can also decide to stay in the national park and get a guide from there and explore the jungle. In that case, you have to arrange for your own transport from Pak Chong to the national park. There are public minibuses that goes to the gate of the national park from Pak Chong.
I chose to stay with Bobby’s Apartments and Jungle Tours – it was very easy to book with them. Mike is a German owner of this property, and is very warm and welcoming. You can either call or mail him to book. I booked a bed in the mixed dorm for a night.
Tour Around Khao Yai National Park
I booked 1.5 day Jungle Tour – which was well laid out.
Today’s tour included few interesting sites near the national park, which included a natural spring, a Buddhist cave temple with stalactites and stalagmites, and watching millions of bats coming out from a cave. The tour included transport, tour guide, drinking water, fruits, and snacks.
I took an hour’s rest at Bobby’s before I got ready for today’s tour. We left at 3 PM from Bobby’s Apartments.
Our tour guide Ben was very jovial and without him, this tour would not have had been so interesting – he spoke English well and was very informative. I should not forget to mention he offered us snacks like wafers and also bananas while we were waiting to watch the bats fly.
Back and Dinner and Sleep
We reached by 7 PM today, and I rushed to the on-site restaurant to have some delicious dinner – and yes, it was so delicious!
It was a lovely half-day tour near the national park. Tomorrow I have to wake up early as the tour for exploring the national park would start at 7 AM. So today I had to hit the bed early.
Day 2 – Khao Yai National Park
Apart from animal watching and trekking, Khao Yai National Park is also popular for its waterfalls – especially Haew Suwat Waterfalls where some scene of Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie “The Beach” was shot. Our trip included that waterfall. You can always make your visit more interesting by staying back at any of the campsites of the park by contacting the park ranger as there is a limited number of people they allow to stay overnight in the park. There are park bungalows for rent too. I had to go back to Bangkok the same night – so that was not an option for me.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY
- Spotting Wildlife Within Khao Yai National Park Using Bobby’s Transport
- Hiking Through Evergreen Forest
- Have Lunch near Haew Suwat Waterfall
- Visit Haew Suwat Waterfall
- Drive Magnificent Viewpoint at Mountain Top
- More Wildlife Spotting on the Way Back
- Bus to Bangkok
CHECK-OUT FROM BOBBY’S APARTMENTS
Mike asked me to come for breakfast at 6.30 AM as we leave for the tour at 7 AM.
I already arranged my bag last night – all I had to do now is check out from the dorm and leave my bag at the restaurant before I leave for the tour.
TOUR INSIDE KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK
Today’s tour included the entrance fee into Khao Yai National Park (which is 400 ฿/adult and 200 ฿/child), transport, tour guide, leech socks, and raincoat if needed. The tour also included lunch at a park restaurant near the waterfalls, drinking water, fruits, and snacks.
We reached the cafeteria at around 10 AM – it is recommended to use the toilet there as next is hiking through the forest, and all you would get is nature toilets
Our lovely guide – Anon – took us to a part of the evergreen forest from where we started our hiking that continued for around 3 hours.
I had hot rice with sweet and sour vegetables for lunch at a restaurant near the parking area of the waterfall site.
After this, we walked to the car which was parked a few meters away from the watch tower. Then we headed to the waterfall for lunch – all of us were hungry. Though I must mention that Anon offered us little snacks like wafers while we were hiking through the forest.
When we were back to our car, we found fresh watermelons arranged for us – thanks to the driver!
BACK AND BUS TO BANGKOK
It was already 7 PM when we reached Bobbys Apartment. I picked up my bag and Mike arranged my drop to the bus station, from where I took the 8 PM bus to Bangkok. Remember this was the last bus to Bangkok. It took around 3 hours to reach Mochit Bus Station, Bangkok.
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 1-2 in Thailand – Khao Yai National Park.
- Bangkok to Pak Chong (round): 350
- Hostel in Pak Chong (1 night): 250
- 1.5-day jungle tour: 2500
- Food: 200
Total expense (roughly): 3300 THB
For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
I love those cabins at Bobby’s apartments, so cool. The National Park looks really nice; I would love to swim in those beautiful blue spring pools and explore those dark caves. What Fun !
The spring pool was so cool. The cave was interesting as well.
I didn’t visit here when I was in Thailand, so it’s interesting to see. Your photos are lovely, especially of the Banyan tree. 500 years old is historic!
Right?? It’s so huge!
This national park looks great, I wish I knew about it when I was in Thailand. Your’re not the only one who likes Thai trains, I loved the scenic rides and like you said wide open windows, the only problem I had with them was when they didn’t turn up haha. Those cabins remind me of holiday cabins they used to have in England in places like Butlins, So cool you got to explore the cave and I have had a field day in the forest 😀 – Next time I go Thailand I’ll have to check this out 😀 😀
Yayyy, this one you must visit Amit.
Bobby’s apartments dorm didn’t look so comfy to my liking…. Glad you enjoyed it though! Having authentic Thai rice and stir fried veggies though was something I am jealous of!
Yes, it was just for a night stay, not very comfortable, but was apt for my budget that time.
Ok, I have to confess – I hate spiders! Brr, they are creepy. However, the perfection of the spider web on your photo is absolutely stunning. Truly, it looks like beautifully intricate lace. And the wild spider itself looks like a jewel. Just out of curiosity, were leech socks really needed or was it more for a precaution (or even to make the whole trip sound more adventurous)?
Leech socks are needed.
Ahh the Natural Springs in Khao Yai National park sound so much fun. I wouldn’t mind a dip in there today! I wouldn’t fancy bumping into a stick insect that size though haha it’s almost as big as his hand!
You will see many such kinds in the forest.
I keep lovely memories of Khao Yao NP and therefore I am so happy I have found your post.
I have visited Khao Yai NP and Ayutthaya in a day tour from Bangkok and I would recommend that trip to everyone!
Waterfall of Khao Yao is simply amazing. I still have photos of me bathing under the waterfall. 🙂
That’s great to know.
I did not know that Khao Yai National Park was Thalland’s first national park. Good to know it is accessible from Bangkok by a couple of different ways. I would probably visit for the day. But it was nice to read that there are guesthouses too. Khao Yai National Park looked like a great spot to enjoy the outdoors. I hope your sunglasses were safe from the monkeys.
Yes, doable from Bangkok though spending a night or two is preferred.
I didn’t realise Thailand had such a big national park. This is a great introduction to Khao Yai. The swim in the natural pool looks divine and so does everything else you can see and do in the park. And I love the look of the guesthouses.
You would love Khao Yai!
I’ve never heard of Khao Yai National Park before, what a great tour find! Did you just get lucky or did someone recommend it to you? Looks super well organized and interesting. I’d love to take this tour, thanks for the info. (Bobby’s looks quite awesome too.)
I found about it in random blogs.
Sounds like a nice little get away to Thailand’s first national park.Good to know how accessible it is from Bangkok. Thanks for the providing the details. The natural springs look amazing. So clear and blue. Stunning views from the mountain top at the end.
Yes it’s so pretty. Isn’t it?
Wow Khao Yai National Park looks so amazing. I love hiking and this place looks kiek a great place for it. And after a long day hike its nice to cool down and swim at the natural spring.
Yes, it’s really beautiful.
I didn’t know about Khao Yai National Park when I was in Bangkok. It is interesting to know that it was the first national park in Thailand. It looks you can have real fun in the park. I wish I knew when I was there and I would have taken the tour. But I added it to my list for the next trip to Thailand
Khao Yai is super fun, you cannot miss this when in Thailand.
The spring and waterfall look incredible! I think I could have spent the entire there but wouldn’t want to miss out on the bats!
True, the bat flying out of cave is worth watching.