The Best Things to Do in Khao Yai in Thailand: A Perfect Nature Getaway From Bangkok

Khao Yai is perhaps most famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Site Khao Yai National Park, the first national park in Thailand where more than 80% remains covered in evergreen or semi-evergreen forest.

But here is something you might not know: Khao Yai has so much to offer beyond the incredible wildlife and scenery.

Khao Yai is also home to some of Thailand‘s best and most prestigious wineries; incredible luxury and boutique hotels you won’t find anywhere else in the country; roaring waterfalls; sprawling flower fields; beautiful design cafés; and even strangely enough – some miniature towns designed to resemble European cities.

Wondering what to do in Khao Yai? Here are some Khao Yai sightseeing checkpoints to make the most of your time on this delightful nature-filled paradise.

Where is Khao Yai in Thailand and how to get there

Khao Yai is located 200 KM northeast of Bangkok, so you will need to first fly into Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport. The best way to get to Khao Yai from Bangkok is by rental car. We rented a car via Klook from Thai Rent-A-Car, a local car rental company. Their booth was conveniently located at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The car was practically brand new and we were able to rent a child car seat as well. I usually use Rentalcars.com for international car rentals but in Thailand we found Klook to be better with more car rental companies and vehicle options available.

You will need to have cash on hand for the tolls between Bangkok and Khao Yai. The route is relatively straightforward and you spend most of your time on huge multi-lane freeways. Though Google Maps says that the drive from Bangkok to Khao Yai takes approximately 3 hours, it took us closer to 4 hours as parts of the freeway were blocked.

Once you have arrived in Khao Yai there is virtually no public transportation so you will need to rely on either a private driver or drive yourself around. If you are not comfortable self-driving in Thailand there are also a number of private multi-day Khao Yai car charter options available where you can book a car and driver to chauffeur you to/from Bangkok and around Khao Yai.

Though it is possible to do a day trip from Bangkok to Khao Yai I would advise against it as it involves lengthy drive times each way. If you’re short on time you might want to look into one of these same-day Bangkok to Khao Yai day trip options led by local guides.

You might also like: Quick city guide to spending 1 day in Bangkok and how to plan a day trip to the ancient city of Ayutthaya

Quick logistics tips for visiting Khao Yai in Thailand

✈️ To get into Bangkok you can either fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). 

🛂 Thailand visa requirements: Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of nearly 100 countries. Visitors from ASEAN or Western countries, including most European, Commonwealth, and North American citizens, are not required to have a Thai visa for visits less than 60 days in Thailand. It is said an electronic travel authorization (ETA) will be required for anyone who is eligible for a visa waiver, but I will update as we find out more. Starting 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. This can be completed within 3 days before arrival.

💱 The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. The exchange rate is approximately US$1/Euro to approximately 32-35 Baht or 1 AUD: 22 Baht. Cash is king in Khao Yai and Bangkok so exchange some money when you arrive at the airport or withdraw cash from an ATM.

📱 Stay connected and buy a local SIM card at the airport. I usually go with DTAC and get excellent connectivity not just in Bangkok but throughout Thailand. You can purchase your DTAC SIM card ahead of time and pick it up at BKK or DMK airports. Get your 8-day DTAC SIM card here!

🌤️ The best time to visit Khao Yai is typically considered to be during the dry season between November to April. We visited in October and found it to be very hot with not too much constant rain.

🇹🇭 The main language spoken in Thailand is Thai: You may experience a slight language barrier in Thailand (less so in Bangkok but some in Khao Yai), though most people working in the hospitality sector will speak English.

🗓️ Wondering how many days to spend in Khao Yai? For a first time visitor I would recommend spending no fewer than 3-4 days in Khao Yai, and more if you actually plan on hiking in the national park as many of the trails require licenses and booking in advance.

Read more: head on over for all of my Thailand travel guides

Where to stay in Khao Yai in Thailand

There are several incredibly unique and whimsical hotels and resorts in Khao Yai – unlike anything you might find elsewhere in Thailand or even around the world.

We stayed 3 nights at the outrageously cool Bill Bensley-designed Intercontinental Khao Yai which pays tribute to train travel and railway journeys. The property has renovated heritage rail cars and converted them into guest rooms, although it also offers “regular” rooms located in a lakeside building that have been designed to resemble the interior of a train carriage. Even the kids club and the resort spa is located in a upcycled train carriage!

InterContinental Khao Yai is a “resort”, but it certainly doesn’t feel crowded as the grounds are sprawling and lush, there are only 65 rooms which means that even on the busiest of weekends it never feels crowded. Read my full resort review here, or click here to check rates and availability at InterContinental Khao Yai.

Next up, we moved onto Marasca Khao Yai, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. We absolutely adored the experience of luxury glamping in Khao Yai, however they have since announced that they will cease operations in September 2025.

We are so disappointed to hear that Marasca Khao Yai will no longer be open – we loved our stay in the converted Volkswagen camper van and luxury air-conditioned tent, and enjoyed the stunning food and views at the property.

If you are looking to try glamping in Khao Yai I have also heard good things about Sala Khao Yai, Te Mata and Hidden Valley. You can explore even more unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.

🛏️ Booking hotels in Thailand: We love to use Booking.com to find and book accommodation in Thailand as it has a huge range of options and the review system makes it easy find out what previous guests liked (or disliked). From luxury hotels with rooftop pools to boutique guesthouses, you’ll have no problems finding something that fits every budget. Explore the huge range of hotel options in Thailand here.

What to do in Khao Yai in Thailand

Planning your Khao Yai trip? There are tons of places to visit including driving through the Khao Yai National Park to see the monkeys, deer and if you’re lucky – a wild elephant. Here are some other ideas for where to go and places to visit in Khao Yai.

1. Go wine tasting in Khao Yai

I’ll bet you didn’t know that Thailand’s Khao Yai region is home to award-winning wineries! This region is perhaps the country’s most well-known wine growing region thanks to its unique climate which allows growers to plant a wide variety of grapes.

We checked out two Khao Yai wineries, which were absolutely fantastic and offer a great value for money with their premium wines. They also offer a range of amazing souvenirs to take home to friends and family such as organically-grown raisins, wine, salt, mango jam and so on. Here are some fantastic wineries in Khao Yai to visit:

Alcidini – a family-owned organic and sulfur-free boutique winery. Super lovely owners with lots of farm animals and a fun giant swing if you’re traveling with kids. Alcidini produces mostly tropical red wines that pair well with Asian food. There is a small tasting fee which can be used towards any purchases. I especially liked the light and fruit rosé as well as the 2016 Shiraz.

Granmonte Estate – one of the more famous marquee-level Khao Yai wineries, Granmonte grows a huge variety of wines and has a lovely cafe onsite as well as a restaurant. They operate scheduled vineyard tours as well as tour + wine tasting + lunch packages throughout the day, bookings are essential. You can also walk in for white tasting at their cellar tour.

PB Valley Khao Yai – in operation since 1998, PB Valley is one of the larger wineries in Khao Yai and one of the first in the area. You can book a guided tour and lunch combo ahead of time here.

Issara Estates Winery – Issara Estates is a family-owned boutique Khao Yai winery set on beautiful, dreamy grounds that is often used for weddings. Unfortunately we didn’t make it here but hear good things about the Chenin Blanc.

Ready to book your Khao Yai holiday? For a luxury resort option check out the Bill Bensley-designed InterContinental Khao Yai which pays tribute to train travel and railway journeys. The property has renovated heritage rail car guest villas as well as “regular” rooms designed to resemble the interior of a train carriage. Even the kids club and the resort spa is located in a upcycled train carriage! Click here to check rates and availability at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

You can explore even more unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.

2. Visit Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park is one of the last remaining places with wild elephants in Thailand (though we didn’t spot one), but you are also likely to see wild deer, monkeys and plenty of birds. The best way to get to and around the park is by self-driving during the day, and the roads are very well paved with plenty of road signs. You can’t really get lost within the park as there is one main road through.

Points of interest in Khao Yai National Park include the several viewpoints where you are allowed to step out of your vehicle, as well as a number of waterfalls – Haew Suwat is one of the most easily accessible (especially if you’re traveling with kids) and just a short walk down a few flights of stairs next to the car park. You will need to hike to most of the other waterfalls.

If you are a hiker you will love Khao Yai National Park – you can apply for a license to embark on a few of the trails through Khao Yai. Some trails will take you around 45 minutes to an hour to hike like the short trail to Kong Kaew Waterfall, but some trails require a park guide to accompany you like the 6-hour hike from the visitor center to Haew Suwat Waterfall which takes you through foraging trails for wild elephants.

Not all trails in Khao Yai National Park are open year-round, so you will need to plan ahead. Contact the visitor centre at Khao Yai National Park to register and request permission to trek your chosen nature trail.

You can also opt to go on a night safari in Khao Yai National Park, organized by the official National Park rangers, for a chance to spot deer, porcupine, civets, wild elephants and owls. The best way to book your Khao Yai night safari is to inquire and reserve a time slot in person at the Khao Yai Visitor Center before 6 PM.

Unlike visiting Khao Yai National Park during the daytime, you are forbidden from self-driving in the park at night. National Park Rangers organize a high bed pick-up truck with a guide and high-powered flashlights (you are not permitted to use your own) to see the animals, along a route specified by the National Park. The journey is 10 km and takes about one hour with two time slots per day from 7-8 PM and 8-9 PM.

As of October 2024, entry fees into Khao Yai National Park cost 30 THB for your vehicle, 400 THB for non-Thai resident adults and 200 THB for non-Thai resident children – the ticket is good for a single day.

There are two entrances – the Visitor Center at the Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine (Pak Chong Entrance) in Pak Chong District and Nakhon Ratchasima and Noen Hom Visitor Center (Noen Hom Entrance) in Meuang District of Prachinburi province – we used the latter.

Ready to book your getaway to Khao Yai? For a luxury resort option check out the Bill Bensley-designed InterContinental Khao Yai which pays tribute to train travel and railway journeys. The property has renovated heritage rail car guest villas as well as “regular” rooms designed to resemble the interior of a train carriage. Even the kids club and the resort spa is located in a upcycled train carriage! Click here to check rates and availability at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

You can explore even more unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.

3. Frolic among the flower fields in Khao Yai

So you want to visit the flower farms of Thailand? Some of the best flower farms are in the Khao Yai region. We visited in mid-October and were fortunate that the flower fields had bloomed – I had heard that a week prior the fields were still looking pretty bare. The best time to visit this region is typically between mid-October to April during the dry season.

Most flower farms charge a small entrance fee where a portion can be used towards spending at their on-site cafes. Expect to pay about 100-120 Thai Baht (about U$3) per adult, children under a certain age (typically 6) enter for free.

We visited floryday and Hokkaido Flower Park but there are many more including Manee Soren Sunflower Field and Flowers Village Khao Yai. Visiting one of these dazzling flower farms is one of the best things to add to your Khao Yai itinerary – for adults and children alike.

The Jim Thompson Farm (seasonal) is also a 90-minute drive from Khao Yai if you are interested in visiting their flower field and checking out their artisanal craft workshops – it typically only opens from December to January each year (in 2025/26 it will be open from December 5th-January 4th).

4. Go café hopping in Khao Yai

Café-hopping in Khao Yai is a must-do not only for coffee lovers, but also travelers who have an appreciation for curated design. Many of these boutique coffee shops are surrounded by views of rolling hills – we found ourselves at a new one every day!

Some standout coffee shops in Khao Yai include Timber Tales which features my dream lush tropical garden bursting with giant monstera deliciosa, koi-filled ponds and even a manmade waterfall. The food was also very tasty, all-in-all a must-visit cafe in Khao Yai.

OLNA x PY Roasters is a charming cafe in Khao Yai that looks like it was transported over from the French countryside. Located just a short drive from InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, we loved the outdoor seating and cappuccinos.

The best place to stay in Khao Yai: there are some truly special hotel options in the Khao Yai region. For a luxury resort option check out the stylish train-themed InterContinental Khao Yai Resort which has renovated heritage rail car guest villas as well as “regular” rooms designed to resemble the interior of a train carriage. Even the kids club and the resort spa is located in a upcycled train carriage! Click here to check rates and availability at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.

You can explore even more unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.

5. Swim in a natural spring water pool

Ban Tha Chang Spring is a hidden natural spring pool tucked away in the Khao Yai region of Thailand. We spent a lovely morning here swimming in the crystal-clear (and freezing) flowing spring water. I can’t quite describe the unreal translucence of the turquoise waters.

Entry is free, however, you should make sure you bring your own towels and leave no trash behind. As far as I could tell, there were no changing facilities. I was also demolished by lots of midges while getting change in/out of my swimsuit, so highly recommend bringing along some bug spray!

We loved being able to spend the morning immersed in nature, you can also rent kayaks if you want to embark on a little adventure. The crowds were very manageable – we visited on a weekday so I imagine the weekends would be far busier than this.

Visiting Khao Yai with kids

In general, Thailand is an outrageously family-friendly travel destination. But Khao Yai blew me away in terms of how child-friendly it is (especially for younger kids). Were there meltdowns and tantrums? Yes. Did we have to resort to screentime to get through dinner? Also yes. But if you’re looking to make some core family travel memories then I highly recommend heading from Bangkok to Khao Yai for some wholesome family fun.

Our little one was devastated when we eventually had to check out of the glamper van at Marasca Khao Yai! Khao Yai may not offer golden sand beaches or flashy, gigantic theme parks and play areas, but it more than compensates in pristine nature and activities that kept our toddler entertained endlessly.

The caveat is that you have to be somewhat comfortable with self-driving a rental car to Khao Yai and around, otherwise you may want to consider hiring a private driver and car for your Bangkok to Khao Yai trip.

Where to stay in Khao Yai: We loved our stay at the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort (train-themed luxury resort with a pool, kids club, spa, multiple restaurants and even an afternoon tea and cocktail bar located in upcycled train carriages). You can explore other unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.

Headed back to Bangkok and looking for the best places to stay in the city? I’ve stayed at some incredible places and would recommend the following: check current rates at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, head on over here to check current rates and availability at Ad Lib, look into staying at the fabulous Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort or check out some other highly rated hotels in Bangkok!

Looking for more ideas of things to do in Khao Yai in Thailand? You might also consider stopping by to visit the animals at Primo Piazza, a faux Italian-style village, or checking out the somewhat out-of-place replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at The Toscana Valley resort in Khao Yai. I hope you’ve found this Khao Yai travel guide helpful!

You might also find these guides helpful:

• Head on over here for my 10 Day Thailand itinerary that will take you beyond the beaches
• Check out my easy, relaxed Bangkok city guide
• Explore the fantastic ruins of Ayutthaya on a day trip from Bangkok
• Not sure what to expect in Southeast Asia? Read these 10 essential Southeast Asia travel tips
• Click here for even more Thailand travel guides and tips

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