Most people associate Thailand with Buddhist temples, friendly people, and delicious food. And all of this is true. However, no vacation to the Land of Smiles would be complete without seeing magnificent National Parks that the country has to offer.
Thailand is home to a plethora of stunning national parks. The national parks in Thailand provide a nice contrast to the more populated regions that are near to most hotels and resorts if you visit this diverse and lovely country. You can see some of the country’s untouched landscapes and animals in these parks.
The following are a few of Thailand’s most amazing national parks.
Ao Phang Nga National Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park, situated in Phang Nga province, is another must-see site in Thailand for nature enthusiasts. This park is well-known for its spectacular limestone cliffs and mangrove forests, which offer home for a wide variety of animals.
In fact, Ao Phang Nga protects one of the largest mangrove forests in the country. This forest is important to the coastal environment because it acts as a breeding ground for many marine creatures.
James Bond Island is where most tourists go since it was used in the film The Man with the Golden Gun. If you have a passion for cave exploration, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to spend the day in Koh Panak Cave, which can only be accessed by boat.
Mu Ko Similan National Park
Mu Koh Similan National Park, which includes all eleven of the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, is a fantastic place to go scuba diving or snorkeling. The clean seas, abundant marine life, and healthy coral make this national park off the southern Thai coast an excellent spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Beautiful white beaches, a green forest, granite rocks, and a clear night sky may all be found on the land portions of Mu Koh Similan.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province is the place to go if you want to see Thailand’s forests at their wildest. Many of the jungles and rainforests in this vast national park in southern Thailand are thought to be among the world’s oldest evergreen rainforests.
Khao Sok has a lot more to offer than only forest hiking, such as cave exploring, elephant sightings, and kayaking on Cheow Lan Lake. The park also provides unique accommodation choices, such as the floating bungalows beside the lake.
Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai has the title of being Thailand’s first national park, and ranks as the third biggest in the country. The park is located in the western Sankamphaeng Mountains in Thailand’s northeast. When you go, you may anticipate seeing high mountain peaks, meadows, waterfalls, and tropical rainforest. Numerous plant and animal species have flourished here because of the diversity of the landscape.
The red junglefowl, the Asian black bear, the Indian elephant, the gibbon, the sambar deer, the barking deer, and the wild pig are just few of the animals that live there. Visitors are only permitted to roam freely on designated small trails inside the park, despite the fact that it may be tempting to go around the park.
The ideal way to see the area is on a guided trip, during which you will have the opportunity to get very close to the many waterfalls and animals.
Kui Buri National Park
Kui Buri National Park, located in southern Thailand not far from the border with Burma, is widely regarded as one of the greatest places in Thailand to see animals, particularly elephants. Elephant herds may regularly be seen swimming in the watering ponds at the Pa Yang substation, which has wildlife viewing platforms.
Those looking for ethical animal adventures in Thailand will be satisfied with the arrangement of this park.
Namtok Phlio National Park
Namtok Phlio National Park is located in eastern Thailand, near the border with Cambodia. It has mountains, waterfalls, natural lakes, tropical rainforests, and archaeological sites. The primary attraction to see is the Phlio waterfall, which falls into clear pools of water full of soro brook carp.
You will also encounter numerous other species of fauna, including sunda pangolin, pig-tailed macaques, and northern red munjac. The majority of tourists come to Namtok Phlio for the peaceful nature hikes, scenic views, and opportunities to see local species. The main waterfall is approximately a twenty-minute walk from the parking lot and provides wonderful opportunities for taking photographs.
Mu Ko Lanta National Park
Mu Ko Lanta National Park, located on the Andaman Coast in the southern section of Krabi Province, is made up of 16 islands dispersed over an area of 134 square kilometers. Ko Lanta Yai, the largest island in the park, has the region’s largest rainforest. Smaller islands are popular for diving and snorkeling.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, islets, and underwater caves, Mu Ko Lanta is also home to a group of nomadic sea gypsies known as the Chao Le. These people are famous for their modest way of life as well as their habit of letting their boats go adrift under the full moon in the months of June and November.
Kaeng Krachan National Park
If you wish to observe a wide variety of Thai wildlife, you should go to Kaeng Krachan National Park. Kaeng Krachan National Park, located on Thailand’s western border with Myanmar, is the country’s biggest national park and home to some of the country’s most diverse fauna. You may witness leopards, elephants, gibbons, and a variety of birds when touring around Kaeng Krachan. The environment of Kaeng Krachan is also intriguing, with areas of rainforest peeping through clouds of mist.
Kaeng Krachan is not a place that is simple to visit without a vehicle, unlike many of Thailand’s National Parks. The park doesn’t have a lot of tourist infrastructure, and the only places to stay are two campgrounds: Phanoen Thung at the summit of a mountain, 950 meters above sea level, and Ban Krang in a valley.
Erawan National Park
Every traveler to Thailand should make a point of visiting Erawan National Park, which is home to one of the country’s greatest waterfalls.
Erawan National Park which is situated in Kanchanaburi Province about 190 kilometers west of Bangkok and less than 70 kilometers from Kanchanaburi town. The park’s main attraction is the enchanting seven-tiered Erawan Waterfall with emerald-colored plunge pools.
Aside from the seven-tiered Erawan Falls, make sure to check out the park’s four caves and walking routes through its beautiful forests.
Pang Sida National Park
This expansive reserve, located approximately 90 minutes west of the Cambodian border, and is home to some of Thailand’s most endangered native species, including Siamese crocodiles, dholes, Asian elephants, and lar gibbons.
While there are many birds, reptiles, and animals to be found throughout the park, Pang Sida is most known for its invertebrate species, with hundreds of beautiful butterfly kinds flourishing along the park’s rivers and streams.
To get a glimpse of one of the park’s most remarkable natural attractions, visitors may go on a relaxed walk around one mile north of the reserve’s headquarters to discover Pang Sida waterfall. This captivating waterfall is characterized by its unhindered flow, surrounded by lush green vegetation.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park in the province of Chiang Mai is a must-visit if you desire magnificent natural grandeur and wildlife encounters. The park is named after Thailand’s tallest peak, Doi Inthanon, and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding environment.
Numerous species of animals and birds, some of which are endangered, make their home in the park. You can explore the park’s numerous trails and observe these incredible creatures up close.
There are many beautiful views, climbing trails, rivers, and small towns in the park that show a different side of Thailand.
Summing Up
The national parks in Thailand are regarded as hidden treasures inside a nation that offers a diverse range of attractions. This list of remarkable national parks in Thailand demonstrates just how different and amazing this country can be.
Given the abundance of stunning national parks in Thailand, why not add seeing them all to your travel bucket list?
