Khao Yai National Park is situated in the western part of the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, at the southwestern boundary of the Khorat Plateau. The highest mountain in the area of the park is 1,351 m high Khao Rom.

Guests are highly suggested to spend ½ day to explore the park for fresh air and by-the-nature experience.

The park is the third largest in Thailand. It covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers, including evergreen forests and grasslands. Its altitude mostly ranges from 400 to 1000 m above sea level. There are 3,000 species of plants, 320 species of birds like red junglefowl and Coral-billed Ground-cuckoo and 66 species of mammals, including Asiatic black bear, Asian elephant, gaur, gibbon, Indian sambar deer, pig-tailed macaque, Indian muntjac, dhole, and wild pig. Although evidence of tiger presence has not been recorded recently, monitoring by FREELAND Foundation in collaboration with Department of National Park rangers has discovered tigers (the Indochinese tiger subspecies) in other parts of Eastern Thailand where they were previously thought to have been completely extirpated. Its waterfalls include the 80 metre Heo Narok, and Heo Suwat made famous from the film The Beach. Namtok Sarika is popular with the Thais..


Khao Yai National Park has three main seasons, with an annual mean temperature of 23° Celsius, though this varies greatly with the seasons.

• Rainy season (May–October): Most days have high rates of precipitation. The atmosphere is humid with average temperatures of 27° C during the day dropping to 13° C at night. Streams at peak flow.
• Cold season (November–February): Clear skies, sunny and cool. Average temperatures of 22° C during the day and 10° C at night. Good time for hiking.
• Hot season (March–April): Humid with daytime temperatures of 20–30° C and 17° C at night.

The park is often visited by travelers from Isan, Bangkok and beyond. There are per-day fees for visitors and vehicles with concessions for Thais or Thai residents.

• Food is available from private concessions within the park.
• Kayaking and rafting services are available in Prachinburi, in the far southeast of the park.
• Night-time "wildlife spotlighting" is available via pick-up trucks in the early evening. Possible animal sightings include deer, civets, night jars, porcupines, and occasionally even elephants or other more rare nocturnal creatures.
• Slide shows at the visitor center are available on weekends and public holidays.
• Meeting rooms are available with audiovisual equipment for seminars and workshops.
• Camping is permitted in camping zones.
• Lodges and cabins are available for singles and groups. Reservations are required.
• There are over 50 km of hiking trails. From easy to hard, one hour to three days. The trails on the map from the visitor center will only have the easier trails. Maps do come with English instructions. A guide is recommended for most trails if the tourist has no experience.
• Kayaking and rafting.
• Night time wildlife spotlighting.
• Observation towers at Nong Pak Chee or Mo Sing. Early morning is the best time to view the Great hornbills, gaur, and sometimes elephants. Gibbons are most active in the early morning.
• At about 17:30 thousands of wrinkled lipped bats emerge from a cave 3 km outside the northern gate to begin night time feeding. The bats fly in a ribbon pattern across the sky.
• Klong Pa Kang-Wang Haew-Dinosaur Footprint. Four-day trek to see a dinosaur footprint.

Haew Narok Waterfall - The Haew Narok waterfalls are the largest waterfalls in the park. It is a three-tiered structure that extends 150 meters from the top tier to the basal lake. The waterfall is located about 10 kilometers from the south gate along the central road through Khao Yai.

Haew Suwat Waterfalls - This waterfall runs over a 20-meter cliff into a large pool below. It is located about 8 km to the east of the visitors center and can be visited easily by car along one of the main easterly roads. It can also be reached by an 8 km hike from the visitor center (walk number 4) which takes about 4–7 hours. It is made up mainly of multiple layers of sandstone conglomerates with large interbeds of basalt.

Haew Sai Waterfalls - Haew Sai Waterfalls are located 700 meters north of the Haew Suwat Waterfalls. It is 8 km east of the visitor centre and can also be reached via car or hiking.

Haew Pratoon Waterfalls - Smaller waterfall that is about 1 km north of Haew Sai waterfall.

The entry fee is paid for the day entering the park.
No extra entry fee is charged for re-entering the park on the same day.

Trail 1. Visitor Center – Kong Kaew Waterfall | 1.2 Km | 1 Hr walking time
Trailhead starts near the swing bridge behind the visitor center. It is a concreted trail with interpretation boards. The terrain is slightly steep but safe to trail without guide.

Trail 2. Orchid Campsite – Haew Suwat Waterfall | 3 Km | 2 Hrs walking time
From the campsite, the trailhead is located at the end of the parking lots. Arriving Haew Suwat Waterfall, the finishing point is near the restaurant and souvenir shop. It is a concreted trail, easy to follow and safe to trail without guide.

Trail 3. KM 33 – Nong Pak Chi wildlife watchtower | 3.3 Km | 2 Hrs walking time
The trailhead is next to the park main road at Km 33 (7 Km from the Head Quarter). There is a small car park. The end of the trail passing is about 200 meters along the dirt road back to the main road again. The trail is good for impressive big trees and wildlife.

Trail 4. Dong Tiew – Mo Sing To (Sai Sorn Reservoir) | 2.7 Km | 1.30 Hrs walking time
The trailhead is located across the road just south (uphill) from the Head Quarter’s main restaurant. At the first intersection, turn left to follow the trail down through a mosaic of scrubby secondary forest and grassland to the dam wall of Mo Sing To or Sai Sorn Reservoir. Cross the dam wall to return to the park main road.

Trail 5. Dong Tiew – Nong Pak Chi wildlife Watchtower | 5 Km | 3 Hrs walking time
The trailhead is located across the road just south (uphill) from the Head Quarter’s main restaurant. After about 2.5 Km reaching an area of grassland and secondary forest overlooking Khao Keow mountain. There is junction here. Take the left down through the forest to Nong Pak Chi Watchtower. From this point, walk about 1 Km along the dirt road to the card park. Walk or hitch hiking about 2 Km to the visitor center. This trail is good for wildlife gazing.

Trail 6. Visitor Center – Haew Suwat Waterfall | 8 Km | 5 Hrs walking time
The trailhead is located either by the swing bridge behind the visitor center or by the swing bridge above Kong Kaew Waterfall. The terrain is steep in some places. Falling trees and streams provide obstacles to cross. Arrange pick up by car from the car park at Haew Suwat Waterfall or hitch hiking back to the Head Quarter.