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Khao Yai is Thailand's oldest National Park. In 1982 it was enlisted as an ASEAN heritage site due to its variety of flora and fauna, and is now world - famous. Khao Yai has also been nominated as a World Heritage Site. It is Thailand's third largest Nation Park, covering an area of 2,165.55 sq.km. and its highest peak, Khao Rom, reaches an elevation of 1,351 m. above sea level. Khao Yai is part of the Dongrak Range, which forms a mountainous wall fencing the northeast plateau form the central plain of Thailand. Park headquarters are situated roughly 200 km northeast of Bangkok. The park extends across four provinces: Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachinburi. Khao Yai has many attractions, including waterfalls, a rich diversity of plants [approx. 2,000 species], plentiful wildlife and an interesting cultural history. It is easy to understand why Khao Yai is Thailand's most popular National Park.
Khao Yai National Park is one of six related areas under the management of National Parks, Wildlife and plant Conservation Department, which together constitute Queen sirikit's dong phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex, in recognition of Her Majesty the Queen's 72nd birthday anniversary. The other five areas are Pangsida National Park; Ta Phraya National Park; Thap Lan National Park: Phraputtachai National Park; Phraputtachai National Park and Dongyai Wildlife Sanctuary. See the relevant brochures for more information on each area.
Khao Yai National Park consists of complicated mountains such as Khao Rom, the highest about 1,351 meters, Khao Lam about 1,326 meters, Khao Keaw about 1,292 meters, Khao Sam Yod about 1,142 meters, Khao Far Pha about 1,078 meters, Khao Kampang about 875 meters, Khao Samor Poon about 805 meters and Khao Kaew about 802 meters above sea level. Moreover, the area has vastly grassy field alternating with productive forest. The north and the east part are smoothly sloping down, while the south and the west part are rising up. The area is the source of five main rivers as follows: Prachin Buri River, Nakhon Nayok River, Lam Ta Kong River, Praplerng River and Muag Lek Stream.
Chao Por Khor Yai Shrine
Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine, built in 1962, is located on Thanarat Road Km. 24 from Pak Chong District. Traveler, who passes this way before entering the park, regularly stops by to worship and ask for one's wish there.
Animal Observing
in the park aid visitors in sighting animals at nigh, and animal watching with parks staff at night is also possible.
Animal Observing Tower
Observing Tower is a place for travelers hiding themselves for observing animals. There are two towers enable from 06.00 a.m. to 06.00 p.m. as follows
Nong Phug She Tower Locating near Nong Phug Shee pond which is the source of water for many kinds of animal, and walking about one kilometer from Km. 35-36 Thanarat Road, Nong Phug She Tower has vastly cogon grass field and salt lick for animal.
Mo Sing To Tower Locating near Mo Sing To pond which is the source of water for many kinds of animal, opposite reservoir up the hill from the headquarters and restaurants between 500 metre.
Birding Trail
Khao Yai is one of the best birding places. These all leave from around the park headquarters. Bird watching can also be done on the sides of the road and around the old golf course.
Heaw Narok Waterfall
Heaw Narok Waterfall, the biggest and highest waterfall in this area, is situated in the south part of Khao Yai National Park. The waterfall is a three-level cascade, its water drops step by step from 60-meter high of first level to the second and third level with about 90 degrees, approximately 150 meters, to its very deep abyss which is very fearsome when the water falls heavily in the rains.
Heaw Pratoon Waterfall
Heaw Pratoon Waterfall is a waterfall of Lam Takong Stream like, and two kilometers from Heaw Sai Waterfall. Traveler can walk from Heaw Suwat Waterfall or about 8 kilometers, on a pathway Kong Kaew-Heaw Suwat, from Khao Yai National Park Office. Te waterfall consists of beautiful cliff which is large and high.
Heaw Sai Waterfall
Heaw Sai Waterfall is a waterfall about 700 meters south of Heaw Suwat Waterfall. There is a 5-meter-high cliff spreading over the stream which, in the rains, has heavy water flowing on the rock surface beautifully. Traveler can walk about 700 meters from Heaw Suwat Waterfall or about 8.3 kilometers, on a pathway Kong Kaew-Heaw Suwat, from Khao Yai National Park Office. There are many interesting things along the pathway, for examples, herb and wild mushroom.
Heaw Suwat Waterfall
Being well known by many people, Heaw Suwat Waterfall is situated at the end of Thanarat Road and three kilometers from Pha Kluy Mai Waterfall by walking. There is water dropped from 20-meter high cliff onto a pond below which is appropriate for playing water but not in the rains because there are very much cold and heavily flowing water.
Hiking trail
There are 6 Hiking Trails which are about 2-8 kilometers and 1-5 hours of walking. Travelers have to ask for permission from the park's officer before taking a trip.
Kang Hin Perng
Kang Hin Perng, five kilometers from Khao Yai Forest Reservation Office 2 (Pha Kradart), is a big rapids water which drop down looks like stair, and famous place for shooting the rapids by boat.
Khao Khaew View Point
Khao Khaew View Point (Pha Trom Jai), looks like Nok Kao Cliff in Phu Kra Daung, is a place for enjoying scenery and famous for traveler. Traveler on the location can see Rom Mountain crossing the forest very long from left to right and beautiful scenery of the dawn, in Prachin Buri Province, which has the beautifully red sunrise on the ridge of Rom Mountain.
Km. 30 View Point
At Km. 30, Thanarat Road, traveler can enjoy seeing scenery in the north part of Khao Yai National Park which is very broad and beautiful.
Kong Kaew Waterfall
Kong Kaew Waterfall is a quite low waterfall, caused by Huy Lam Takong (Lam Takong Stream), the border between Nakhon Nayok Province and Nakhon Si Thamarat Province, which is beautiful and suitable for playing water especially in rainy season. The waterfall is situated 100 meters from Khao Yai National Park Office and Traveling Service Center.
Krang Kritsana, Heaw Jukjun Waterfall
They are big and small waterfall which are as beautiful as others, especially about-25-meter Heaw E-um Waterfall. The area is suitable for camping and enjoying sceneries.
Mai Plong Waterfall
Mai Plong Waterfall has been known for a long time, and improved to be a new traveling place. It is a five-level cascade, like Heaw Suwat Waterfall and Heaw Narok Waterfall, with its highest level is not more than 12 meters. Traveling to this place, traveler can find beautiful sceneries of rock and stream along the walking way 24 kilometers from Wang Ta Krai. For more information and guidance, please contact officer of Khao Yai National Park Office 9 (Nang Rong).
Nang Rong Waterfall
Nang Rong Waterfalls, situated in Nakhon Nayok Province, is the huge waterfalls very famous before the area has been declared a national park.
Natural Trail
This trail, leading to Kong Kaeo Waterfall, includes interpretative information for those wishing to understand more about the forest they are visiting.
Pha Kluy Mai Waterfall
The waterfall is a medium-size waterfall, also caused by Huy Lam Takong (Lam Takong Stream), which has Wai Dang (Red Orchid) grow on its cliff and be the symbol of its area. The waterfall is situated seven kilometers from Khao Yai National Park Office and can be reached by car and walking.
Pha Sai Khul, Pha Krachai, Pha Dang Chang, Pha Ma Nao Pee Waterfall
The medium-size waterfalls, in Khao Lam Mountain in the north part of Khao Yai national park, are caused by Krokde Stream dropping from 15 meters and flowing on rock surface. The waterfalls, which have unique beautifulness. There are suitable for camping lover.
Pha Tabak Waterfall Group
Pha Tabak Waterfall Group is a group of not very small waterfalls coursed by Huy Num Sub (Num Sub Stream) which its water drops step by step with about five levels. The pathway, provided by Khao Yai National Park, to enter the area is at Km. 6.5-7, Khao Yai-Prachin Buri Road. Traveling on the pathway 500 meters, traveler can find the first waterfall called Pha Krajai Waterfall, and go further for Pha Hin Kwang Waterfall, Pha Raksai Waterfall, Pha Chompu Waterfall and Pha Tabak Waterfall, all the distance is approximately three kilometers.
Sarika Waterfall
Sarika Waterfalls, situated in Nakhon Nayok Province, is the huge waterfalls very famous before the area has been declared a national park.
Takro, Salad Dai, Sompoi Waterfall
They are beautiful waterfalls, near ranger station 7 (Prachanta Kham), which are suitable for playing water. Every day, there not only are many local travelers coming to enjoy and play water, but also faraway travelers especially on weekend.
Tat Manow Waterfall
Manow Waterfall is a small and beautiful waterfall on the southwest part. Traveler can set off walking from the back yard of Khao Yai TAT Food Building through rain forest, which has many kinds of plant and herb interesting for studying along the pathway, about 5-6 kilometers.
Tat Ta Kong Waterfall
Tard Ta Kong Waterfall is a very beautiful waterfall next from Tard Taphu Waterfall about four kilometers. Traveler can set off from the back yard of Khao Yai TAT Food Building with about 15 kilometers, or start from Khao Yai-Prachin Buri Road Km. 5.5 with about six kilometers to the waterfall.
Tat Ta Phu Waterfall
Tard Taphu Waterfall, in the southwest part of Khao Yai National Park, is caused by Huy Raya (Raya Stream) flowing step by step on rock surface sloping down about 100 meters long. The area is suitable for camping lover. And about 10 kilometers nearby, there are grassy fields alternating with forest which is the habitat for many kinds of animal, for example, barking deer, deer, wild elephant, seladang and many kinds of bird.
Tran Tip Waterfall
They are beautiful waterfalls, near ranger station 10 (Prachanta Kham), which are suitable for playing water. Every day, there not only are many local travelers coming to enjoy and play water, but also faraway travelers especially on weekend.
Wang Heaw Waterfall
Wang Heaw Waterfall, a huge waterfall about 40-60 meters wide, in the middle of the eastern forest of Khao Yai National Park, is situated about 17 kilometers from Khao Yai National Park Office 6 (Sai Yai) and has more and heavy water in the rains. The area is suitable for adventuring and camping lover because traveler has to spend about two days of walk to travel there. Along the trek, traveler can see many kinds of plants, naturally beautiful rock and scenries. This is one of the beautiful waterfalls.
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