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Thailand National Park - Beautiful waterfalls

Khao Yai National Park: waterfalls and jungle trails

Khao Yai is the oldest of Thailand's National Parks and is THE place to see wildlife. Just four hours from Bangkok you'll find yourself in a natural jungle with wild elephants, tigers, bears, porcupines, gibbons, snakes and parrots.

On the first day of your Thailand National Park tour in Khao Yai, you'll take a sunset trip into the eerie bat caves. The next day your guide will take you in search of tropical wildlife, stopping at the waterfall which Leonardo DiCaprio dived into during a scene of ‘The Beach’. At the end of the day, you can relax with a swim at your jungle bungalow resort. Our Khao Yai Thailand National Park tour is also suitable for children as most of it is undertaken by safari vehicle through the jungle.

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Duration Three days / two nights
Departs daily from Bangkok, Ayutthaya or Korat.

Accommodation

Two nights in a comfortable bungalow resort with swimming pool. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation).

Price

£138 per person - based on 2 people sharing

Includes

Accommodation with breakfast, bat cave trip and a full day safari with an English-speaking guide.

Transport

Transfer from Pak Chong to the resort and vice versa. Paid locally, about £1.50 per person.

Excludes

Travel to Pak Chong. Entrance fee for Khao Yai National Park approx. £8pp. Drinks and other meals, excursions and entrance fees not listed in the daily itinerary.

Day 1: Khao Yai National Park - arrival and bat exodus

You'll make your own way to Khao Yai National Park by train or bus to Pak Chong. If you let the resort know your time of arrival, they'll send someone to collect you from the station. Alternatively, a taxi to the lodge takes only 15 minutes and costs approx £2.
 
During this Thailand National Park tour in Khao Yai, you will stay in a comfortable and spacious bungalow, set in beautiful gardens and surrounded by jungles and rivers. You could take a dip in the swimming pool or dine at the open air restaurant. After settling in and freshening up, you'll set off into the park at 3.30pm to catch sunset at the bat cave. You'll witness thousands upon thousands of bats swarm out in the light of the setting sun. Keep an eye out for the birds of prey as they try to intercept them. It really is a breathtaking highlight of this Thailand National Park tour. 
 

Thailand National Park - Enjoy the sunset
Thailand National Park - Beautiful hornbill

Day 2: Khao Yai National Park - tour and evening safari

On the second day of this Thailand National Park adventure, you'll make an early start with a wake up call at 7.15am. After breakfast, you'll set off at 8.30am in a small open bus (songthaew) with your guide and fellow travellers to seek out some wildlife on a Khao Yao National Park tour. The driver and guide are excellent at spotting the wildlife and the bus will stop often to observe the animals in the jungle. The anticipation is really exhilarating. Macaques (monkeys) will wander nonchalantly across the roads but you’ll need binoculars to study the toucans, gibbons or sloths high up in the canopy. You'll stop for some lunch and a quick swim at a waterfall you may recognise from a scene in ‘The Beach’, the rest of which was filmed on Krabi and Ko Phi Phi.

After lunch, you'll set off on a 2-hour trek through the jungle to get a view of the wildlife at closer quarters. The paths are all level but riddled with thick roots and low branches, so be sure to watch your step and wear sturdy shoes. Your Thailand National Park trek in Khao Yai will cover part of the 50km network of tracks that crosses through the park, mostly over elephant trails. In the dry season, you'll be given special long socks to keep out the ticks and leeches and in the wet season you'll be given a poncho. Your guide will explain everything you see along the way, pointing out edible leaves and creatures that your untrained eyes may have missed.

Following the trek, you'll take a slow drive up to the viewpoint, 1300m high, giving fantastic views over the thick jungle canopy. As dusk arrives, you'll notice the sights and sounds of the jungle beginning to change. The noise of crickets will become deafening, and now is your best chance to see elephants, wildcats and porcupines during this Thailand National Park adventure.
 

Thailand National Park - Swim in a waterfall
Thailand National Park - Herd of elephants

Day 3: End of Thailand National Park tour - Departure

Today, your Thailand National Park tour in Khao Yai ends. So after breakfast and a quick swim, you'll be transferred to the train or bus station for your next module. We can suggest that you follow your Thailand National Park trip to Khao Yai with a wonderfully rural adventure where you can really experience Thailand with our module, 'At home with the Thai.'

Tips
During our Thailand National Park trip you'll need good hiking boots (sandals are unsuitable), a torch (to use at the bat cave), and good binoculars.

Best time to go
Between November and February, you will need to take a sweater or jacket - especially for the evening wildlife drives. Between June and October, it can rain for up to 3 hours a day. Ponchos will be provided for your Thailand National Park tour, but you might consider bringing your own waterproofs. In the rainy season the jungle is at its wildest and best. The best time to see wild elephants is during the winter, from November to February. This Thailand National Park is very popular with Thais at the weekend, and we're careful to avoid the local rush by booking the park on weekdays only.

Food and drink

You really are buried in the jungle during this Thailand National Park adventure. There are no convenience shops or restaurants nearby. You'll take your meals in the resort, which serves tasty local dishes. Breakfast is included and during the bat tour you'll be provided with water and fresh fruit. On Day 2, you'll be away for most of the day, so you'll be provided with water and fruit. Our advice is to stock up on extra snacks before entering the park.
Thailand National Park - Panoramic views

Thailand National Park - Accommodation (click to enlarge)


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