If I hadn’t been there myself, I’d say Khao Yai is too good to be true. Lush rainforests, wild elephants, towering waterfalls, cool breezes, cool coffee shops, and breezy vineyards are just some of the things I found during my time here. And yet, I barely scratched the surface.
I was trying to find a weekend escape from the city, and logistically packing up all of our luggage and hopping on a plane yet again just didn’t seem like much fun. I was thrilled to discover a getaway that was not only a short drive from Bangkok, but also bursting with natural beauty and unexpectedly stylish digs – a wonderful contradiction of the wild and refined.
The Khao Yai National Park itself is huge, spanning the length of four provinces all the way to the Cambodian border. The area most people will refer to as Khao Yai, and the one I visited, is located around the main national park entrance in Pak Chong province.
One of the things that I loved most about visiting, is that it seemed to cater more towards actual Thai people than foreign tourists. Almost all of the businesses I encountered were independent and family run, meaning all of the money spent truly impacts and stays within the local economy, something that I try to be conscious of in my travels.
So if you’re looking classically cool Thai destination to enjoy, check out the guide below to plan your trip to Khao Yai.
What To Know Before Visiting Khao Yai
Best Time of Year to Visit Khao Yai
I visited during the dry season, which lasts from November to April, and was nice for hiking during the day without becoming ridiculously overheated. For those interested in birds, the migration that occurs during the last two months of dry season is meant to be spectacular. The rainy season lasts through the other half of the year, and you’ll find far fewer tourists and better hotel rates during this time. The heavy rains make everything lush and fills the waterfalls to their spectacular brim, but also makes encounters with snakes much more likely if you’re concerned about that.
Amount of Time in Khao Yai
You could easily see the ‘biggest hits’ on a weekend trip with just three days and two nights as we did. If your goal is wildlife viewing, you’re obviously much more likely to see rarer creatures the longer you spend. Because so many aspects of the region interest me (wildlife, hiking, waterfalls, wine), I plan to spend at least five days here on my next visit.
How to Get to Khao Yai
Generally, Khao Yai is about 180km and a three hour drive from the capital. The nearest airport is actually in Bangkok, so there’s really no way around that. We prebooked a luxury sedan which cost 3500 THB in each direction, exclusive of tip, and stopped at Bang Pa-In Palace on the way there and several vineyards on the way back. You’ll want to make sure you plan to avoid major holidays and rush hour in general, where I’ve heard stories of the road back becoming gridlocked for hours on end.
What to Wear in Khao Yai
Outside of the national park, you’re fine to wear resort casual. Due to the mountains and abundance of foliage, the region is noticeably cooler than elsewhere. Once the sun sets, you’ll be happy to have a jacket to layer. Inside of the park, make sure you protect yourself by wearing tall socks and lightweight long pants. While hiking, our ranger guide brought us leech socks for extra protection, which I strongly recommend investing in.
Where To Stay in Khao Yai
The Series Resort — Phenomenal second generation family run hotel with a strong design element. This is where I chose to stay during my trip – the service and attention to detail was some of the best I experienced, and was quite frankly much nicer than a handful of ‘five star’ hotels I’ve stayed at. This is also the closest of the bunch to Bangkok, and was just minutes away from Khao Yai’s wine region.
Muthi Maya — The more contemporary, boutique sister to Kirimaya, located at the opposite end of the expansive property. This is the closest of my picks to the national park entrance, so would be ideal for multiple days of exploring.
Roukh Kiri — Discrete getaway with just twelve bespoke villas and an excellent dining program that’s a bit further out from most of the main attractions. The simple lines and neutral palate let the surrounding nature stand out, and is a perfect place for a truly peaceful reset.
Kimpton Khao Yai — This hotel technically isn’t open yet at the time I’m writing, but after experiencing the Kimpton Maa-Lai’s superb design and hospitality in the capital, I cannot imagine that this venture will be anything less.
Where To Eat in Khao Yai
Acala Restaurant — Elegant restaurant overlooking the romantic grounds of Kirimaya that features a selection of both Thai and Western dishes.
El Café Khao Yai — Modern little cafe with phenomenal views, creative coffee beverages, and great waffles for breakfast.
Kham Resort — Simple rooftop bar and restaurant with beautiful views overlooking the hills of the national park.
Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank — Extremely contemporary coffee shop in a swanky new build with a great selection of desserts.
The Birder’s Lodge — Another cosy cafe close to the national park with a pretty greenhouse style dining area and a large selection of Thai and Western dishes. Get the cotton candy affogato and thank me later.
Top Things To Do in Khao Yai
Visit the National Park — This is actually one of the best places in the world to see elephants in the wild! Spanning over 2000 km across four provinces, you could spend weeks exploring and still not see it all.
Go Wine Tasting — I was totally surprised to find that Khao Yai is actually a burgeoning center of what is known as new latitude wines. I wrote about my experience visiting these vineyards here.
See Contemporary Art — Khao Yai National Museum showcases contemporary art and sculptures from private collections in a beautiful, design-forward building. It’s open to visitors free of charge, and is definitely worth stopping by to enjoy both the art and the gorgeous natural surroundings.
Play a Round of Golf — The region also surprisingly has a phenomenal collection of golf courses – both Kirimaya and Khao Yai GC were designed by Jack Nicklaus! Panorama, designed by Dean Refram, is also recommended.
Experience Bats — Every evening at Khao Luk Chang, two million bats emerge from the cave to take flight at dusk like ribbons streaming through the sky. The exact timing depends on the time of sunset that day, so double check and planning on arriving at least thirty minutes before then.
Swim in a Waterfall — Located a short hike inside of Muak Lek Arboretum, this little waterfall is popular with locals. Bring your swimsuit and a good book, pack a little picnic, and spend the day recharging in nature.
