Khao Yai National Park Waterfalls & Hiking Day Trip from Bangkok
- Duration11 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This day trip takes you from Bangkok's traffic into Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first national park and a UNESCO-listed forest. You hike nature trails with a professional park ranger guide, visit waterfalls and look for wildlife such as gibbons, hornbills and deer. The default option is a small group with park entrance fees and hotel pickup, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a glass bottle of water and insurance. It suits nature lovers, families with active children and anyone needing a green break from the city.
Highlights
- Hike forest trails with a professional park ranger guide
- Visit waterfalls set deep in the tropical jungle
- Look for gibbons, hornbills, deer and other wildlife
- Cooler mountain air only a few hours from Bangkok
- Park entrance fees and hotel pickup in the default option
- Small group in an air-conditioned vehicle, with insurance
Full Description
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first national park
Khao Yai National Park was established in 1962 and is the oldest national park in Thailand. Its forested mountains and grasslands form part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and cover an enormous area in the highlands of northeastern Thailand. The elevation keeps the air cooler than Bangkok, which is one reason a Khao Yai day trip from Bangkok is such a popular escape.
The park shelters wild elephants, gibbons, macaques, barking deer and hundreds of bird species, though sightings depend on luck and season. A ranger guide reads the trails and animal signs for you, so you are far more likely to notice hornbills, monkeys or fresh tracks than if you walked alone.
Hiking the jungle trails with a ranger
Trails at Khao Yai range from easy forest loops to longer, tougher hikes, and your guide selects a route to suit the group and the weather. Walking through the shade of tall trees and vines, you learn about plants, insects and the animals that live in the park, and you stop to listen for gibbon calls or the rustle of deer.
For anyone asking what hiking in Khao Yai is like, expect gentle to moderate walking on uneven ground. Wear closed, grippy shoes and long light trousers, and carry water and insect repellent. In the rainy season, leeches can be present on wet trails, so leech socks are a good idea if you have them.
The waterfalls of Khao Yai
Waterfalls are one of the park's great draws. Haew Suwat, a wide, two-tier cascade dropping into a green pool, is famous in Thailand as a film location, and Haew Narok is one of the park's tallest falls, dropping in several stages through the forest. Water volume changes with the seasons: the falls are most impressive from the rainy months into the cooler season and may run lower in the dry months.
Whether you swim depends on park rules and current conditions, so follow your guide's advice. Stairs and platforms lead to viewing points, and the mist from the falls is refreshing on a warm day. Bring a small towel and a waterproof bag for your phone.
Getting to Khao Yai and how the day works
Khao Yai lies roughly two to three hours northeast of Bangkok. The default option collects you from your hotel, and other options use a meeting point in the city. The whole day lasts about eleven hours including travel, and the small group means your guide can adjust the pace.
Meals and other drinks are not part of the price, so bring cash for lunch. Park opening hours and some trails change with the season and after heavy rain, and the ranger has the final say on which routes are open. Many people ask about the best time to visit Khao Yai: the cooler, greener months are usually the most rewarding, while early mornings give the best chance of wildlife.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickup or meeting pointEarly departure from Bangkok; the default option includes hotel pickup.
- Drive to Khao YaiAbout two to three hours northeast in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- Park entrance and ranger briefingEnter the national park and meet your ranger guide for the day's plan.
- Jungle trail hikeWalk forest paths and look for wildlife; about two hours depending on the route.
- Waterfall visitVisit one or more waterfalls such as Haew Suwat, depending on conditions.
- Lunch stopHave lunch at a local restaurant or the park (meals are at your own cost).
- Return to BangkokDrive back and drop-off at your hotel or the meeting point in the evening.
What's included
- Tour guide and professional park ranger guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottle of drinking water
- Insurance
Not included
- Meals and other drinks
- Personal expenses
- Khao Yai National Park entrance fees (pay on the day)
- Hotel pickup
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Nature and wildlife lovers
Think twice if
- You prefer short outings — this takes about 11 hours
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- Walking is difficult for you — expect active parts
Not suitable for
- Travellers with mobility issues, because trails and steps are uneven
- Anyone who cannot spend a long day travelling
- People who dislike insects or humid forest conditions
Meeting point
With the default option we pick you up from your Bangkok hotel early in the morning and confirm your exact time before travel. The other options use a meeting point in the city, and the private option collects you from your hotel. Check the option you select in the booking panel, as pickup and entrance fees differ between them.
Important information
- Wear closed, grippy shoes and light long trousers for the trails
- Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat and a light rain jacket
- Bring swimwear only if the guide confirms swimming is allowed that day
- Meals, other drinks and personal expenses are not included
- Options without entrance fees require you to pay the park fee yourself
- Trails and waterfalls can close after heavy rain; routes are decided by the ranger
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife and never feed animals
- Leeches are possible in the wet season; leech socks are helpful
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Khao Yai National Park day trip cost?
The price depends on the option you select: with or without park fees, and with hotel pickup or a meeting point. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes in the default option. The other options use a meeting point, and the private option includes hotel pickup and drop-off.
How long is the tour?
The day lasts about eleven hours including the journey of two to three hours each way.
Are the park entrance fees included?
In the default option, yes. Some options do not include them, so please read the option details before you book.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes for active children who can walk on forest trails. Bring water and snacks, and keep them close to the group.
What should I wear and bring?
Closed walking shoes, light long trousers, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, water and a small rain jacket.
What is the difference between the options?
The options differ by park fees, by hotel pickup or meeting point, and by whether the tour is shared or private. The park and trail programme is similar.
Will I see wild elephants?
Sightings are never guaranteed. Khao Yai has wild elephants, but the ranger will focus on safe routes and the wildlife you are most likely to see, such as gibbons and hornbills.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes. Use the booking panel to select your date and see current availability.
When is the best time to visit Khao Yai?
The cooler months from about November to February are pleasant, and the rainy season gives fuller waterfalls but wetter trails.
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