Khao Yai is a popular national park in central Thailand, located just 140km north east of Bangkok. This area is known for its diverse range of wildlife, lush forest, and beautiful waterfalls. It is a great destination for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.
In this article, I will cover the best things to do and see in Khao Yai and Pak Chong. We will look at the best guided tours, top attractions inside Khao Yai National Park and around Pak Chong.
Pak Chong is often known as the gateway to Khao Yai National Park. It has a train station, connecting Khao Yai with other parts of Thailand. Many long distance buses also stop in Pak Chong. The town center is home to a small night market. You can stay in Pak Chong and take day trips to the National Park.
Khao Yai National Park is one of the largest parks in Thailand, It covers an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers of mountainous terrain, forests, and grasslands. It is home to hundreds of species of birds, such as hornbills, as well as animals like wild elephants, gibbons, snakes, and deers.
You can go trekking at the national park visiting viewpoints and waterfalls. Major waterfalls are Haew Suwat Waterfall and Haew Narok Waterfall. For a unique experience, you can consider taking night safari tours to see wild animals at night.
If you need recommendation on itinerary and how to get to/ get around Khao Yai and Pak Chong, you can read these articles:
- My 2-3 Days In Khao Yai National Park Itinerary
- How to get to Khao Yai National Park & Get Around
- Where to Stay in Khao Yai National Park
In addition to attractions inside Khao Yai National park, you can check out several other attractions near the national park such as Ban Tha Chang Spring, Bat Cave Khao Yai, Wat Sa Nam Sai, or PB Valley Khao Yai Winery.
Here are the top things to do in Khao Yai:
14 Best Things to Do and See in Khao Yai
Top Guided tours
I recommend Taking a guided tour because it is the most convenient way to explore the best Khao Yai has to offer. The local guides know about the best wildlife spotting spots and help you to spot wild animals (elephants, gibbons, snakes) from a distance.
Additionally, Khao Yai does not have many public transport options. There was no Grab or Bolt in Pak Chong and Khao Yai at the time I visited in late November 2024. You can rent a motorbike, but I only recommend it for an experienced and confident driver.
There are two famous tour operators in Khao Yai: Green Leaf tour and Bobby’s Jungle Tours. The most popular tours in Khao Yai are the full day trip to the National Park and the half day trip to the bat cave.
#1. Full day Tour Khao Yai National Park
The full day tour will include the round trip transportation from your hotel in Pak Chong to Khao Yai National Park. It is usually a long day with lots of drive on the road and inside the national park. My tour operator picked up at my hotel around 7.30am and dropped me off around 7pm.
It is around 30 km from Pak Chong to the North Entrance to Khao Yai National park. They will first stop at Coffee Km 30 where you can enjoy the views, order a cup of coffee, spot monkeys or snakes.
Then the tour will head to Haew Suwat Waterfall and Haew Narok Waterfall. Along the way, the local guide will stop and point you at many animals such as snakes, squirrels, gibbons, deers, or hornbills. You will do short trek to the waterfalls, and spend some time enjoy the views, no swimming allow.
You can see wild elephants crossing the road in the late afternoon. I saw two groups of elephants in different locations in the park. One is in the very close distance while the other is far away.
#2. Half Day Tour Khao Yai Bat Cave
This half day tour usually starts at 3pm. So, it is a perfect trip to take if you arrive in Pak Chong midday and not sure what to do in the afternoon.
I arrived at my hostel in Pak Chong at 2pm, and my hostel helped me to book the trip at 3pm. I dropped my suitcase in the room, and the driver took me to the tour’s office.
In this tour, I visited a small spring for swimming, then an underground cave, and finally stopped at a bat cave at sunset to see millions of bats flying out of their cave for night hunting.
Inside Khao Yai National Park
#3. Wild Animal Spotting
Wildlife spotting is one of the top things to do in Khao Yai National Park. The park is home to a wide range of wild animals. You can see wild elephants crossing the road, different types of snakes, gibbons, monkeys, spiders, hornbills, and deers.
Watching the elephant in the wild is the most exciting experience that everyone in my group is looking forward to. We were lucky to see elephants on the road and walking into the jungle in the late afternoon at the end of the tour.
#4. Night Safari
Night Safari is an interesting thing to do in Khao Yai. You can see the park’s nocturnal wildlife for a couple of hours. The park rangers will drive around the park and show you the animals.
If you are lucky, you can have a chance to see animals that are rarely seen during the daytime. While you’re on the tour, you’ll be able to hear the sounds of the jungle at night including the rustling leaves, animal calls, and the chirps of insects.
#5. Haew Suwat Waterfall
This is a popular waterfall in Khao Yai National park. You can do a short trek from the parking area to get to the waterfall. It is a 10 minute walk through the jungle and a steep staircase.
At the waterfall, you can take photos and chill. We are not allowed to swim at Haew Suwat Waterfall.
#6. Haew Narok Waterfall
Haew Narok Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Khao Yai National Park. It is located at the southern zone of the park, 30 km from the park’s main entrance.
The trail to Haew Narok Waterfall is around 1 km but quite steep at some sections. It took us 45 minutes walking through the jungle and steep stairs to reach the waterfall. The trail is well-marked, but be prepared for a moderate incline and sometimes slippery conditions.
Along the trail, we spot spiders, hornbills, snakes, lizards, monkeys, and butterflies. At the waterfall, there is a viewing platform where you can take photos and enjoy the views of the waterfalls.
There were several monkeys at the viewing platform and they were very aggressive. Be sure to take care of your belongings.
#7. Jungle Trekking
There are many hiking trails inside the Khao Yai National Park. I took a guided tour and had a short hike to two waterfalls: Haew Narok Waterfall and Haew Suwat Waterfall.
Other trekking trails inside the National Park include:
- The 1.2 km circular trail from visitor center to Kong Kaew Waterfall
- The 3 km trail from Pha Kluai Mai Campground to Haew Suwat Waterfall
- The 4 km trail from Km. 33 to Nong Phak Chi
- The 3 km trail from Dong Tiw to Sai Sorn Reservoir
- The 5 km trail from Dong Tiw to Nong Phak Chi
- The 8km trail from Visitor Center to Haew Suwat Waterfall
#8. Km. 30 Viewpoint
This viewpoint is located 7km from the northern entrance gate of the national park. It has beautiful views of the mountains and the valleys. There are many monkeys at the viewpoint. It has a cafe where you can have a drink and enjoy the views.
Other attractions
#9. Pak Chong Night Market
This is a small night market near the train station in Pak Chong. It is a good place to try some local food such as Pad Thai, fried rice, and fried chicken. The market is open every evening from 5pm but closes quite early around 9pm. There are clothing and souvenir zones in the market.
I was a bit concerned about the food poisoning at the market, so I just had a look. I had dinner at a local restaurant on the main road near the night market.
#10. Bat Cave Khao Yai
The bat Cave is located just outside of Khao Yai National Park and is 40 km south east of Pak Chong. It is a popular place to visit, especially at sunset when millions of bats fly out of the cave to find food.
We took a guided tour and arrived at the cave around 5.45pm, the bat started coming out of their cave around 6pm. It was quite dark when we visited in late November.
It was quite a nice experience. We sat on the mat on the grass, ate snacks , and watched a million bats coming out of the cave. The tour guide also provided us binoculars to get a closer view of the bats.
#11. Ban Tha Chang Spring
This is a small and peaceful natural spring located 20 km south of Pak Chong. It is a good place to swim, kayak, and relax. I visited this spring as a part of the half day afternoon tour to the bat cave.
The spring has clearwater and is surrounded by big trees. It is a great place for nature lovers. We spent 30 minutes in the spring swimming, chilling, and wandering around.
#12. Wat Sa Nam Sai
This temple is located 30 km south of Pak Chong. It is known for its underground cave temple and the Big Buddha with stunning views. I visited this temple as part of the half day tour to the bat cave.
I didn’t go to the underground temple because I was scared of the bat fungus. While others checked the underground cave, a driver took me up to the top temple to see the Big Buddha and views of the surrounding countryside and mountains.
#13. PB Valley Khao Yai Winery
Other than the natural attractions inside Khao Yai National park, Khao Yai is also known for its vineyards. If you love wine, you can take a visit to PB Valley Khao Yai Winery. It is located 35 km south west of Pak Chong. You can hire a private taxi or take a guided tour to the Winery.
#14. The Chocolate Factory
The Chocolate Factory is a popular place to visit located right on the main road between Pak Chong and Khao Yai national park. It is 18 km south of Pak Chong. If you love chocolate, you must check out this place. You can try different kinds of chocolate, and bring some back home as a gift.
So, you have it, my list of the top things to do and see in Khao Yai and Pak Chong. You can spot wild animals, check the viewpoints, visit the waterfalls, and jung trekking. Additionally, you can visit a small natural spring, the underground temple, a winery, and a bat cave.