Khao Yai National Park
Thailand's first national park: 2,168 square kilometres of rainforest, waterfalls, gibbons and wild elephants.
Khao Yai is Thailand's first national park, 200km north-east of Bangkok, with 2,168km² of forest and wild elephants, gibbons and hornbills. Entry is 400 baht plus 50 baht per vehicle. A full day with a guide is the right way.
Open Khao Yai National Park in Google Maps14.4383, 101.3722
Park fee THB 400 + THB 50 per vehicle; night safari THB 200 extra
Entry fee checked against operator or park publication, October 2026. Hours can change without notice — confirm on the day.
Thailand's first national park: 2,168 square kilometres of rainforest, waterfalls, gibbons and wild elephants.
The park was declared in 1962 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 for its monsoon forest and the wildlife corridors it protects. It is one of the few places in Thailand where wild Asian elephants still move in herds, and the park's night safaris are the best chance to see them along with civets, porcupines and sometimes a sun bear.
It is the closest real jungle to Bangkok and the only place many visitors will hear gibbons calling at dawn. The night safari is the best wildlife experience within reach of the capital.
What you’ll actually see
- Haew Narok waterfall, a three-tier 150-metre drop reached by a 1km trail
- The grassland at Nong Pak Chi, where elephants come to graze at dusk
- Gibbons calling at dawn from the trail near the park headquarters
- A night safari by pickup, spotlighting civets, owls and porcupines
How to visit it well
- Hire a park ranger for the night safari; it is worth every baht.
- Leeches are real in the wet season — wear long socks.
- The Haew Suwat waterfall is the one from The Beach.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Driving yourself without a guide — you will see trees, not animals
- Coming on a weekend when Bangkok arrives en masse
- Expecting to see elephants guaranteed; it is a forest, not a zoo
Is it worth it?
Worth a full day with a guide and the best wildlife park in Thailand within reach of Bangkok. Book a guide with a truck and go at 6am plus a night drive. Two days is better than one.
Common questions
About 200km, 2.5 to 3 hours by car via Pak Chong. There is also a train to Pak Chong then a songthaew.
400 baht for foreign adults plus 50 baht per vehicle. Night safari is an extra 200 baht.
Yes, around 300 in the park. They are seen most often at the Nong Pak Chi grassland in the late afternoon or on night drives.
Strongly recommended. Guides know the watering holes and the fruiting trees and will find far more than you will alone.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Tom Whitfield