A three-hour drive northeast from Bangkok, Thailand’s oldest national park is 2,168 square-km of mountainous jungle which has UNESCO Natural World Heritage status.

Khao Yai means Big Mountain and its peaks reach up to 1,351 metres. Several viewpoints, such as Pha Diao Dai, are accessible by road. The largest waterfall is the 150-metre Haew Narok, which is reached via a long, steep stairway. It has been somewhat overshadowed by the graceful 20-metre Haew Suwat since Leonardo DiCaprio plunged over it in the 1999 film The Beach.

The teeming wildlife includes elephants and wrinkle-lipped bats. You might also take a spin outside the park to see the many vineyards and sunflower farms, and some of the nearby resorts offer such activities as waterslides and go-karting.

National parks & wildlife

Best places to see Thailand's nature & wildlife

Thailand has more than 150 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, but tourism is often an afterthought. Many are difficult to reach and explore without a vehicle or guide. Only a handful of Thai national parks have the facilities and attractions that visitors from Europe and North America might expect...read more