TH · Nakhon Ratchasima · 14.35°N 101.44°E

khao yai national park

Wild elephants, waterfalls and vineyard cafés a short drive from Bangkok.

Best time
November to February is cool and dry, the best time for viewpoints and wildlife. The waterfalls are fullest at the end of the rainy season, around September to November. Long weekends get very busy.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 3 hours by road north-east. You really need a car or a driver to get around.
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TH · Nakhon Ratchasimakhao yai national park14.35°N 101.44°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Wild elephants, waterfalls and vineyard cafés a short drive from Bangkok.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKhao Yai National ParkTH, Nakhon Ratchasima
KLkhao yai national park
≈ 1,247 km from KL, as the crow flies
Haew Suwat Waterfall

Photo: Nawit science · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Thailand's first national park, about three hours from Bangkok and part of a UNESCO World Heritage forest. Wild elephants wander the roads, the waterfalls are big, and the countryside around it is full of farm stays, vineyards and cafés.

Makan

  1. Isaan foodSom tam, grilled chicken and larb from roadside shops around Pak Chong.Map ↗
  2. Farm dairyFresh milk and ice cream from the dairy farms around Pak Chong, such as Farm Chokchai.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Spot wild elephantsHerds often cross the park roads, especially late in the day.Map ↗
  2. Haew Narok WaterfallA tall, multi-tiered waterfall reached by a short walk and a lot of stairs.Map ↗
  3. Haew Suwat WaterfallThe waterfall from the film The Beach, with a pool at the bottom.Map ↗
  4. Night safariPark-run truck rides after dark with a spotlight, looking for deer and civets.Map ↗
  5. Vineyards and farm staysOutside the park, long-running wineries like PB Valley and GranMonte offer tours, and farm cafés line the roads.Map ↗

Good to know

  • If elephants are on the road, stay in the car, keep your distance, and don't honk or feed them.
  • Don't feed the macaques at the checkpoints and viewpoints.
  • Avoid long weekends if you can. The roads into the park jam up.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.