Khao Yai National Park

Waterfalls, gibbons and wild elephants in a World Heritage forest about three hours from Bangkok.

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Khao Yai National Park is a forest reserve in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand, about three hours by road from Bangkok. It forms part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage site in 2005. The park is a highland of evergreen forest, grassland and streams, home to gibbons, hornbills and wild elephants. Waterfalls and short forest walks are the main reasons day visitors make the trip.

A day trip from Bangkok covers the waterfalls and the main forest walks. Staying one or two nights gives time for wildlife viewing early in the morning and near dusk, when animals are most often seen. The cooler, drier months from about November to February are the best time to visit, with easier walking conditions. The rainy months from May to October bring heavier rain and fuller waterfalls.

Khao Yai National Park in five

Book a ranger or guide for wildlifeGibbons, hornbills and elephants are easier to spot with a guide who knows the trails and the roads. Take the park's own night safari or a recommended operator, and ask about group size.
Give elephants and all wildlife distanceWild elephants cross the roads and campgrounds. Stay in your vehicle, keep a safe distance, never feed any animal, and follow the rangers' instructions on the day.
See the bats at dusk outside the gateA huge colony leaves a cave near the park at dusk, a well-known evening sight. Check the time, bring a camera and do not enter the cave area.
Rent a car or hire a driver in Pak ChongThe park is large and spread out. A rental car or driver from Pak Chong lets you reach waterfalls and viewpoints, while the train and songthaew only get you to the town.Rental cars and transport
Go in the cool, dry monthsFrom about November to February the weather is cooler and drier, with clearer skies. The rainy season brings leeches and muddy trails but fuller waterfalls.Best time to visit Thailand

Things to do in Khao Yai National Park

See all attractions in Khao Yai National Park

A dirt path leads through a lush green field

Museum · Khao Yai National ParkKhao Yai Art Museum

Sight · Khao Yai National ParkNam Tok Haew Suwat

Park · Khao Yai National ParkKhao Yai National ParkWatch for unmarked speed bumps on the park roads and drive slowly.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Khao Yai National ParkPut the places you like in Khao Yai National Park on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Entrance: Park fee for visitors; check the official rate on the day
Permits: None for day visitors; camping and lodges are booked separately
Season: Open year-round; coolest and driest roughly Nov to Feb
Nearest town: Pak Chong, about 30 to 60 min from the main gate
Getting there: Train, bus or car from Bangkok, about 3 hours to Pak Chong

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh33°Low22°Cool, dry
FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh34°Low23°Cool, dry
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh35°Low25°Warm, dry
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh36°Low26°Hot, Songkran
MayRain26 rainy daysHigh34°Low26°Rain starts
JuneRain27 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Green, wet
JulyRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Green, wet
AugustRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Green, wet
SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wettest
OctoberRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, easing
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Cool, drying
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Cool, dry

Average daily high and low in Khao Yai, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Khao Yai National Park

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 25°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 71%

Khao Yai National Park

04:22 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+7

Today28°20°71%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 71%.
Wed27°20°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu27°20°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 100%.
Fri27°20°90%Friday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat26°20°92%Saturday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 92%.
Sun27°20°48%Sunday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 48%.

Updated 12:46 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB

Amount

Converted to

THB · Thai Baht

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Pak Chongabout 30 to 60 min by road from the gateThe service town with food, shops and rental cars.
Northeastern Thailandabout 1.5 to 2 hours by road to the next big townA long drive into Isaan if you continue east.Read the guide
Bangkokabout 3 hours by roadA long day trip back to the capital.Read the guide

Before you go to Khao Yai National Park

Rental car from BangkokDrive to Pak Chong and into the parkCompare rental cars

Khao Yai guided tourWildlife walk and night safariCompare tours

eSIM for a park tripMap signal on forest roadsRead the guide

Cover for wildlife areasMedical cover and trip cancellationRead the guide

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Rules for Khao Yai National Park, checked

Do not feed or approach wildlife. Khao Yai has wild elephants on roads and trails. Check the park rules with the Department of National Parks (dnp.go.th).
Drive on the left, as Thailand does, and watch for animals on park roads, especially at dusk and after dark.
Foreign visitors pay a higher park entrance fee than Thai nationals. Check the current rate and how to pay on the DNP website before you go.
Thai drug laws are strict and apply in the park. Penalties include long prison sentences. Check your embassy's advice on Thai law before you travel.

Plan around Khao Yai National Park

All of Thailand

Regions, islands, entry rules and the season map

Read the guide Central Thailand

Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and the plains

Read the guide Northeastern Thailand

Isaan, the region the park borders

Read the guide Ayutthaya

A ruin-and-river stop on the way

Read the guide Bangkok

The usual starting point

Read the guide Getting around Thailand

Rail, buses and flights compared

Read the guide Best time to visit Thailand

Which coast is dry in which month

Read the guide

Khao Yai National Park FAQ

Is Khao Yai worth visiting?

Yes for forest, waterfalls and a real chance of wildlife not far from Bangkok. Go with realistic expectations: sightings are not guaranteed, and a guide helps.

Can you do Khao Yai as a day trip from Bangkok?

Yes, but it is a long day of driving. A night in Pak Chong or a park lodge lets you see the bats at dusk and the animals at dawn, which is when they are most active.

How do you get to Khao Yai National Park?

By train or bus to Pak Chong, then a taxi or songthaew toward the park; or drive from Bangkok in about three hours. A rental car is the most flexible way inside the park.

When is the best time to visit Khao Yai?

November to February is cool and dry, with clear trails. The rainy season is green and the waterfalls are full, but leeches and mud are common.

Is it safe to see elephants in Khao Yai?

Keep distance, stay in your vehicle and obey rangers. Never approach, feed or block an elephant, and do not stop on the road if one is crossing.