Introduction
Khao Yai National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, and for good reason. There are over 3,600 square kilometers of protected forest to explore and many ways to enjoy it, from wildlife spotting to hiking trails. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or an active adventure with friends or family, there’s something for everyone here!
Getting to Khao Yai
Getting to Khao Yai is simple. There are a few ways you can get there, but the easiest is by car. You can rent a car at the airport or take a taxi from Bangkok and make your way there. It’s about five hours away from Bangkok and costs about $200 USD for an entire day of sightseeing in Khao Yai National Park.
This method works best if you’re traveling with children because it allows them to sit comfortably in their seats while keeping their legs from dangling too long into the aisle of an airplane or bus seat.
When to go
It’s best to visit Khao Yai National Park during the rainy season, which is from May through October. The park receives an average of 2,941 millimeters (108 inches) of rain each year, and there are approximately 15 days with rainfall per month. During this time of year, the temperature averages 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit), the humidity is around 78 percent and the average rainfall is 1,275 millimeters (50 inches). The best month to visit Khao Yai National Park depends on what you want to do—if you plan on hiking or exploring caves in addition to seeing animals then June may be better for you because more trails will be accessible due to less rain along with lower crowds; however if all you want is wildlife viewing then September will be ideal since most animals have finished mating by this point and so should appear in higher numbers than some other months such as July when they tend not come out as much.
Where to stay
There are hotels near the park, so you’ll have to stay somewhere else if you want to experience Khao Yai in its entirety. In fact, if you’re not on an all-day tour of the national park, it’s probably best that you stay outside of it and explore the area around it instead. There are plenty of beautiful places nearby! Khao Yai is located about 40 minutes from Pak Chong town, which has a lot of great budget hotels as well as good restaurants and shops. You can also catch a train (or bus) from Bangkok or another major city like Hua Hin or Phuket.
What to do
- Visit the park. You’ve probably heard of Khao Yai National Park, but did you know it’s one of the only UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Thailand? It’s also home to nearly half of all mammal species in Southeast Asia, including elephants and tigers. The park is also known for its hiking trails and waterfalls—not to mention its temples, caves, viewpoints and butterfly farm!
- Go on a hike. Whether you’re looking for an easy day-hike or something more strenuous (there are plenty), there are tons of options throughout Khao Yai National Park. If you’re intimidated by nature or just need some inspiration before your trip, check out this list from Thailand Tourism Board: https://www.tourismthailandworldheritagefriendsbureaublog/khao_ya_national_park_day_trips/. Or if none of those strike your fancy…
- See the wildlife! Just because it says “national park” doesn’t mean there aren’t animals everywhere; specifically monkeys! There are plenty around so keep an eye out—and maybe even pack some bananas with you just in case they come running towards your car while driving through one of those ‘monkey crossings’…
How much it costs
You will need to budget for travel, food and accommodation. The cost of travel to Khao Yai National Park depends on the length of your journey, but it’s fairly affordable by Thai standards. The national park does not have any hotels or restaurants within its boundaries so you’ll need to stay at one of the nearby cities or towns (like Pak Chong or Nakhon Ratchasima).
There are plenty of great places to eat in these towns too, so that shouldn’t be an issue! You can find some cheap street food stalls as well as more expensive restaurants serving Western cuisine
Khao Yai is a great place to visit anytime of year
Khao Yai is a great place to visit anytime of year, and there are plenty of things to do. Whether you want to go hiking in the mountains, go on a wildlife safari, or just relax by the pool at your hotel, Khao Yai has something for you. Additionally, Khao Yai is one of Thailand’s most beautiful national parks and offers excellent value for money compared with other parks in Thailand or neighboring countries like Vietnam or Cambodia.
Conclusion
So we hope this article has given you a better idea of what to expect when going to Khao Yai National Park. It’s definitely worth a visit and can be done as either a day trip or an overnight stay. We also hope it gave you some ideas on how best to spend your time in this beautiful part of Thailand!
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