The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Thailand is Bangkok city, followed by its amazing beaches. However, Thailand is not just about its cities, beaches and of course, food. On the other hand, the country is home to some amazing national parks, and the most visited of them all is the Khao Yai National Park. The third largest in size, the Khao Yai National Park is the first national park of Thailand, established in 1962. Although there is no public transportation to this national park, Khao Yai remains the most popular because of its beauty and the amazing number of attractions and activities it offers. Just 3 hours away from Bangkok, the best way to visit the place is to hire a private car along with a driver. Guided tours are provided by tour companies, giving you the chance to enjoy the national park without any worries.
1.What to do in Khao Yai National Park
This national park is spread around 2168 square km area. Complete with mountains, forests, waterfalls and grasslands, this is surely a haven for nature lovers. But this is not the only thing that you would be able to see here. On the other hand, you would be able to have some unique experiences too. With this note, let us take a look at some of the exciting things to do in Khao Yai National Park.
2.Hiking and Trekking
A trip to a national park cannot be complete with hiking and trekking. Khao Yai National Park has hiking and trekking trails for everyone, from a novice to an expert. Ranging from one hour to half an hour, there are several hiking trails to choose from at this national park. Moreover, you can go for overnight trekking tours where you explore the national park for 2-3 days, along with a forest ranger. Your hiking trail would take you through lush jungles, two amazing waterfalls, tall mountains, picturesque grasslands, etc. The national park is home to a great variety of wild animals and birds, making your hiking tour interesting as well as exciting.
3.Night Safari Tour
If you are not too keen to hike or trek but still want to see the wildlife of the place, a night safari tour would be great for you. The chances of viewing wild animals are also better when you are on a night safari tour. Hop on to the vehicle and get ready to be driven into the inner jungles of the national park by your expert driver. If you are really lucky, you would get the chance to see wild elephants, gibbons, otters, deer, etc. Even if you do not see any animals, you would surely enjoy the vibe and the sounds of the jungle during the night. To book your seat on the night safari vehicle, visit the Visitor Centre of the National Park or online.
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4.Italian Holiday
Yes, you can visit Italy when in Thailand’s Khao Yai. Primo Piazza is a replica of an Italian square complete with Italian architecture, cobbled streets, greenery and even animal farms. One of the main activities here is to pet the farm animals which include alpaca, sheep, donkeys, etc. Of course, you cannot ignore the food. The Piazza has some of the best and the most unique cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious dishes from the Italian cuisine. Apart from this, you would also find an Italian themed village, Palio here. It is a typical Tuscan village where you can walk around the alleys on cobbled roads and admire the architecture of the place. There are several photo spots that would be perfect for your Instagram pages. You can also grab Italy’s famous gelato here. If you want to spend a night or a few days in Italian style, you can book a room at one of the quaint hotels here.
5.Flower Gardens
Beautiful flowers can surely make anyone’s day. Better still is a flower garden where you can see stretches of land with different types of colourful flowers everywhere. The best part is that Khao Yai has not one but several beautiful flower gardens that can mesmerize anyone. One of the most popular is The Bloom, which is a flower garden spread around 100 acres land. You would find 30 species of different coloured flowers here, making it a haven for horticulturists and nature lovers. Another flower garden that would not fail to melt your heart is the Saraburi Sunflower Field, where you get acres of land filled with the yellow blooms. If you want to witness this splendour, you must visit the place between November and January.
6.Chokchai Farm
The Chokchai Farm can be called a cowboy or cowgirl themed farm, where you can enjoy an agro tour. This is something you should do if you are travelling in Khao Yai with your family, especially young children. At the farm, you would get to learn about the different processes and activities that happen at the farm. You would also get the chance to put them into practice. Take this opportunity to milk a cow, ride a horse or a horse-driven cart or drive ATV bikes around the farm. You would also get to see some exciting rodeo and cowboy shows at the farm. One of the best things to do in Chokchai farm (especially for children) is to learn to make their very own ice cream (using the farm’s milk brand) and have it too!
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7.Vineyard Tour
Khao Yai is home to several sprawling vineyards, but PB Wine Valley is the best and the most popular one too. Right from checking out the different types of grapes grown at the valley to watching the grapes harvest, visiting the cellars and enjoying some wine tasting, the PB Wine Valley tour is quite exciting. The winery tour happens five times during the day, lasting 75 minutes each. You would also get the chance to visit fruit orchards and indulge in fruit picking. The winery has some great restaurants too where you can enjoy delicious food along with a glass of your favourite wine.
It is obvious that Khao Yai National Park is not your typical national park. The experiences are unique and something that you rarely find anywhere. Be it a day trip or a holiday for several days, exploring Khao Yai National Park would be nothing less than delightful.