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Khao Yai National Park travel guide

Khao Yai, Thailand's first national park, covers forested mountains about 200 km north-east of Bangkok and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage forest complex. Most visitors sleep outside it in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, where resorts line Thanarat Road (Highway 2090) between the town and the northern gate. Inside, the park's own lodges and campsites are few and must be booked online.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • By car from Bangkok: The park recommends Motorway 6, leaving at the Pak Chong toll plaza for Thanarat Road. A car makes the biggest difference here: the visitor centre and trailheads are well beyond the gate and there is no public transport inside.
  • Pak Chong railway station: Trains on the north-eastern line stop in Pak Chong, and songthaews run from the town market to the northern gate. Without your own vehicle, a hotel in town that rents cars or motorbikes is the practical choice.
  • Southern entrance at Noen Hom: The Prachinburi side is reached from Bangkok via Nakhon Nayok. A single winding road of about 50 km crosses the park, so you can enter at one gate and leave by the other.

Areas to consider

Inside the park

The choice for dawn birdwatching, night-time wildlife spotting and the trails, with lodges and the Lam Ta Khong campsite. Lodges are let as whole buildings, some sleeping eight, so check the capacity before paying for more beds than you need.

Thanarat Road (Highway 2090)

Popular with Bangkok weekenders and families who want resort pools, cafés and a short drive to the northern gate. Addresses are usually given by kilometre marker; use it to judge how long the drive to the gate will take.

Pak Chong town

Practical for travellers arriving by train or bus, with markets, a night market and the cheapest rooms. Most hotels sit on or just off Mittraphap Road; check how you will reach the park each morning before booking several nights.

Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok side

Fits visitors combining the park with rafting or kayaking near Prachinburi. The best-known viewpoints and trails are spread along the park road, so check the drive from the southern gate to the places you want to see.

When to go

The cool season from October to February is the most popular time, with misty mornings and nights that can drop below 10°C in December and January. Rain falls mainly from June to September, when the waterfalls are at their fullest but some viewpoints and trails close; in 2026 the park closed the Pha Diao Dai viewpoint and trail from June to September. Pak Chong is busiest at weekends and on long holidays, and park lodges are discounted Monday to Thursday.

Before choosing a room

  • In December and January, check for hot water and extra bedding; park lodges have fans rather than air-conditioning.
  • If you stay outside, the park fee is charged for each day you enter, so plan full days inside rather than several short visits.
  • Wild elephants and macaques use the park road. If you will be driving back after dark, ask the hotel about the route and the gate's closing time.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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