Thailand's National Parks
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To date there are some 148 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Thailand. Of this figure 30 of them are marine national parks including world famous dive sites such as the Similan Islands (Mu Ko Similan), the Phi Phi Islands (Koh Phi Phi) and Racha Island (Koh Racha). There is also the Mu Ko Surin and Koh Tarutao(Mu Koh meaning a group of islands and Koh just meaning island)which are said to have some of the whitest sand in the world.
Thailand's first national park and probably the most famous National Park in Thailand is Khao Yai National Park in Nakhorn Ratchasima Province. Khao Yai National Park was established in 1962 and became an ASEAN heritage site in 1982. It is also Thailand's largest national park and covers an area of 2,165.55 km2. This provides enough viable habitat for wild Tiger, Bears, Elephant, large numbers of Hornbill and much much more! Other famous and popular National Parks include Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's highest mountain in Chiang Mai Province, Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi Province and Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province.
Combined with this wealth of natural beauty some of Thailand’s famous holiday destinations are only a stone’s throw away; Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Bangkok and Khao Lak all offer great opportunities to visit these national parks. Tours are available from various companies in each of these locations (check out who we recommended) or if you are feeling particularly adventurous you can arrange your own transport or head there with public transportation, of which there are plenty of options within Thailand. The infrastructure of roads and railways in Thailand is great so if you need more information on this check out Thailandecoportal.com’s travelling in the kingdom.
Among the activities available in Thailand’s National Parks are trekking on foot, bird watching, swimming at waterfalls, canoeing, cycling and just experieincing nature! The National Park headquarters offer basic facilities for all to use with many offering basic amenities such as Toilets, showers, accommodation, camping grounds, restaurants, guides / rangers and more. However, please be aware that some national parks have very basic amenities and the amount and quality can vary between different locations. Examples of where amenities are of a very good standard are Doi Inthanon & Erawan National Parks.
If on your trip to one of Thailand’s National Parks you wish to undertake one of the many trekking trails available please note that most National parks will have "interpretive" trekking trails that have some kind of information available for trekkers. Signs and markers are posted along the way and it is usually easy to follow. Bear in mind that some have only Thai text whilst others have both Thai and English. Trekking paths are of different lengths and difficulties ranging from a few hundred meters up to 20 km’s for tougher hikes!! Please make sure that you choose the right trail for your own personal ability and if you are unsure hire a guide otherwise you could find yourself spending an unexpected night in the jungle! Be sure to inform the national park staff when you plan to be back and don’t forget to let them know that you have returned so they don’t go looking for you when you are nicely tucked up in your hotel bedroom or relaxing with a beer around the camp fire!
Before visiting any national park and starting your trek, find out about local national park rules, read thailandecoporta.com’s eco codes of conduct and make sure you are well prepared for your visit.
So what can you expect to see? Well, most wild animals are nocturnal. During the day time however you will defiantly see some reptiles (small agamid lizards, geckos and maybe even monitor lizards – check out our natural wonders for more info on lizards), maybe you will be lucky enough to see wild monkeys and if you are a birdwatcher, the birds here are spectacular so don’t forget your binoculars. There are also over 200 plant species per hectare in tropical forests so you will be amazed by the differing flora all around.
A small point on local guides, these people have been trained to show you the wonderful diversity of their country, they have a vast knowledge of the natural world and the different cultural traditions of the area which is not available in the guidebooks and offer great companionship on a trek. Please make sure that you use official park rangers or TAT licenced guides, the National Park headquarters will be able to arrange one for you normally on site.
Entrance fees. For Thai National’s national parks are normally free. Bigger and better maintained parks can charge 10-40 baht for Thai Nationals covering park upkeep; however tourists have to pay a higher entrance fee. This is because tourists do not pay tax within Thailand. Entrance fees for tourists range from between 100 -200 THB but this can change between the high and low seasons and between different parks. Be prepared to pay anything from between 100 to 400 THB. If you are a foreigner with work permit for Thailand you normally can get 50% discount or at certain national parks pay the same amount as Thais. If you are entering national park with a vehicle, you normally have to pay extra.
We hope you enjoy your stay in this beautiful land and look forward to hearing your National Park stories on our Forum soon. Happy responsible traveling !!!
