Thailand · City Guide
Khao Yai
Khao Yai is one of Thailand's most accessible and beautiful national parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of dense jungle, waterfalls and abundant wildlife including wild elephants and gibbons, combined with a remarkable emerging wine region producing surprisingly excellent Thai wines, boutique vineyard resorts and outstanding farm-to-table dining. Just three hours from Bangkok, Khao Yai provides a complete change of pace combining nature, wine and countryside relaxation.
Elect's take
"Khao Yai surprised me twice — first with the quality of the national park wildlife, and then with the quality of the wine. The combination of jungle trekking in the morning and vineyard tours and tasting in the afternoon creates a genuinely unusual Thai experience."
Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering over 2000 square kilometres of rainforest, provides outstanding wildlife viewing including wild Asian elephants, gibbons, hornbills and the chance to see the Haew Narok waterfall, one of Thailand's most spectacular. The Khao Yai wine region, centred around vineyards like GranMonte and PB Valley, has developed a genuinely impressive wine industry in an unexpected tropical setting, with vineyard tours and tastings now an established part of the region's appeal. The countryside surrounding the park has developed an excellent farm-to-table dining scene and boutique resort culture, with European-style architecture in places reflecting the area's popularity as a weekend retreat for Bangkok residents.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Khao Yai National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage rainforest with wild elephants, gibbons and spectacular waterfalls.
Thai Wine Country
An emerging and surprisingly excellent wine region with vineyard tours and tastings.
Haew Narok Waterfall
One of Thailand's most spectacular waterfalls within the national park.
Wild Elephants
Excellent chances of encountering wild Asian elephants within the park.
Farm-to-Table Dining
An outstanding countryside dining scene using fresh local produce.
Boutique Countryside Resorts
A popular weekend retreat destination with European-influenced architecture.
