Holiday in Khao Yai

About Khao Yai

Khao Yai is Thailand's oldest and most famous national park — a UNESCO World Heritage site that spans 2,168 square kilometers and is one of the most biodiverse rainforests in Southeast Asia. Located just three hours northeast of Bangkok, Khao Yai is the country's most popular nature destination, offering a surprising wilderness in accessible Central Thailand. The park is home to over 3,000 plant species, 320 bird species, and an impressive megafauna: wild elephant herds (about 300 animals), black bears, gibbons, hornbills, and even tigers roam the dense forests. The chance of seeing wild elephants is high — especially at the salt licks and waterholes known to rangers, for which guided tours are offered. The Haew Narok waterfall — at 150 meters, the highest in the park — dramatically cascades into a jungle-covered gorge. The Haew Suwat waterfall became famous through the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Night hikes reveal a completely different world: glowing eyes of civets, flying foxes, and slow lorises in the beam of a flashlight. The area around Khao Yai has developed into a gourmet region: wineries like PB Valley and GranMonte produce surprisingly good wine in a tropical climate, while Italian restaurants and chic boutique hotels line the access roads. The combination of wilderness and culinary delights makes Khao Yai unique in Thailand.