Step into the wild heart of Thailand, where cascading waterfalls, jungle trails, and the calls of roaming elephants await in Khao Yai National Park.
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s oldest and most popular national park, is an extraordinary destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Spanning 2,158 sq km and located approximately three hours from Bangkok, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Its mountainous terrain, dense forests, and stunning landscapes make it one of the best places in Thailand to experience the country’s rich flora and fauna.
The park is home to a wide variety of animals, including elephants, monkeys, bears, deer, and squirrels, as well as snakes, spiders, rodents, and countless insects. Birdwatchers will also delight in the more than 400 species of birds that inhabit the park.
We take one of the trekking trails in the park for a hike through the nature while enjoying the beautiful mountainous landscape. During this jungle hike you learn more about the flora and fauna of this beautiful wilderness. Even if you're not lucky with wildlife encounters, the massive strangler fig trees make it all worthwhile.
Khao Yai is also famous for its waterfalls. Haew Suwat is popular for its cinematic fame as the filming location for Leonardo DiCaprio’s waterfall dive in The Beach (2000). Haew Narok, the highest waterfall in the park, cascades over three tiers, with the final drop plunging 80 meters into a deep pool. Visitors can enjoy a safe hillside viewpoint for incredible photos, particularly spectacular during the rainy season.
One of the park’s highlights is the chance to see Asian elephants in the wild. Many visitors are lucky enough to spot them grazing peacefully in their natural habitat, though sightings cannot be guaranteed.
With its rich biodiversity, dramatic landscapes, and unforgettable wildlife experiences, Khao Yai National Park offers a perfect escape into Thailand’s wild heart, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking adventure and natural beauty.
Important notes:
- Please note that during the dry season the water flow at Haew Suwat and Haew Narok waterfalls may be lower than usual.
- For your comfort and safety, we recommend wearing hiking-appropriate clothing: lightweight but covering (to protect against insects and leeches), along with sturdy walking shoes.
- Khao Yai is a vast national park with many wild animals, reptiles, insects, and birds. Remember, this is not a zoo; the animals roam freely in their natural habitat, and spotting them can be challenging due to the dense vegetation.
- This tour also includes sections of hiking, so please ensure you are fit for this level of physical activity before booking.
Pick up/Meeting point:
We provide hotel pick-up only from accommodations located on/near Khao San Road and on Siam Square.
If you are not an actual guest at one of the hotels in our pick-up area, the designated meeting point will be our office on Chao Khamrop Road in Chinatown. Our office in Chinatown is just a short 5-minute walk from Wat Mangkon MRT (metro) station.
For the exact location of our WanderSiam office on Google Maps, please click HERE.
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155 Comments
5
Waterfall tour
Had a great time and the guide surima was wonderful. It was a hike so be prepared to walk . The monkeys were really friendly and would walk right up to you
5
Very good experience!
Really enjoyed our trip into the jungle. Surina was a fantastic guide and was very knowledgeable, would definitely recommend this experience!
5
A great tour of the national park
Lots of leeches if you go during the rainy season. The steps in some parts are steep. It’s an enjoyable tour but you need to be careful of your every step in the trek its definitely not smooth sailing.
5
Amazing experience
This was a phenomenal day trip, and I would recommend it to anyone able to complete the hike. The guide and driver were both amazing and committed to helping us see the most we possibly could – and, in fact, about as excited as us when we had the luck to spot an elephant near the end of our time in the park!
The small group format was ideal, and this company should be recognized for transparency, value, and ethics. I have come across other guides in the area who don’t show you what was advertised and instead redirect you to try to sell you (overpriced) things you don’t need. With Wander Siam, we went where we expected, were charged what we expected, got back when we expected, and received no upsale whatsoever, much less high-pressure tactics. Couldn’t ask for more, especially when combined with the genuinely friendly and knowledgeable employees!
What to expect: A long-ish drive out and back, depending on traffic conditions. Many very steep stairs to the first waterfall, sometimes slippery, and sometimes without handrails. A hike of about 3.8km to the second waterfall that will require you to climb over and under barriers such as trees in the path, sometimes in muddy conditions. More stairs and a climb over some rocks to the second waterfall. Be prepared to pay for your park ticket and lunch in cash, as advertised. Time driving around the park where your guide and driver will use their experience to give you the best shot at seeing some animals. Breathtaking scenery. And, of course, the wildlife. We saw an elephant (apparently very lucky, during the day time), monkeys, deer, a snake, and monitor lizards. We also encountered leeches, but at least they don’t transmit diseases.
Overall this will be one of the best memories from my time in Thailand, and I sincerely recommend it to anyone who feels capable of the slightly challenging (to an inexperienced person) hiking and climbing.
4.5
Amazing trip to Khao Yai Park
It was well organized trip. Surina and Frank took good care of us. It is approx 3 hours to reach the park. The waterfalls were amazing. We saw deers/monkeys and trails of elephants. Also did 5km hike in the park. It was worth it to get away from busy bangkok.