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bird watching and visiting parks have become part of the "city" life of modern urbanites, but have you ever thought aboutcan visiting a park also be the theme of a trip?

for example, thailand, where we often fly, is a good place to practice. as a tropical country, thailand has a unique natural environment and rich biological ecosystem.deer, monkeys and even wild elephants can be encountered in the national park.

image source: thainationalparks.com

in addition, thailand's national parks have long become an important destination for ecotourism for tourists from all over the world, and the government has also strictly managed and protected its natural environment.whether it is chiang mai in the north or bangkok in the south, there are many large natural parks worth a special trip!

instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

in this article, we will focus on the destinations in thailand that we visit most often, and if the theme is the botanical garden, how to get there and how to play.

01

national parks worth adding to your bucket list

from north to south, the destinations we often go on vacation are nearlush nature, and they each have their own "specialties" to meet everyone's preferences.

near chiang mai

doi suthep national park:only 16km away from the center of chiang mai, it is suitable for hiking and stargazing, and you can also visit the magnificent suthep temple at night.

doi inthanon national park:home to thailand's highest mountain, you can also visit thailand's hmong community

mount charoen national park:go to the mountains to soak in hot springs!

near bangkok

khao yai national park, thailand:thailand's first national forest park, only 3 hours drive from bangkok

erawan national park:swim in a cool pool under the waterfall, family-friendly

near phuket and krabi

khao sok national park:known as the "little guilin of thailand", you can not only go boating in the "karst" wonders, but also see elephants up close.

02

tips for travel preparation

thailand's tropical rainforest climate allows plants to grow luxuriantly, but it also means unpredictable weather. the tropical regions do not have distinct four seasons like the temperate regions we live in.thailand's seasons are mainly divided into rainy season and dry season. at the same time, even in the same month, the climate in the north and south may be different.

instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

for example, the rainy season in northern thailand is generally from may to october each year, while in the south, especially on the east coast, it rains from september to december.those who plan to hike in the national park should avoid the rainy season.

in northern thailand, such as near chiang mai, the temperature is relatively low in winter. at the same time, if you go deep into the mountains, the temperature will drop as the altitude increases.don't take it for granted that you don't have to worry about staying warm when you go to a tropical destination.

photo｜ instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

03

national parks

☞khao yai national park, thailand

Khao Yai National Park

#depart from bangkok

instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

if your travel destination is bangkok, don’t miss khao yai national park.it is only a 3-hour drive from downtown bangkok.you can take a day off your trip to go back and forth.thailand's first national forest park, and is listed by unesco asworld heritage。

photo｜ instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

in addition to its scenery, waterfalls and hiking, khao yai is also a great place for bird watching - there are more than 320 known bird species, and there is even abirdwatcher inn cafe。

instagram @ khaoyainationalpark

deer and monkeys are the most common animals in khao yai national park.even if you travel by yourself, it is not difficult to encounter them, but if you want to see other wild animals, such asencountering a herd of asian elephants, you need a guide with sufficient experience who is familiar with the habits of these animals. this is also the advantage of traveling with a group.

photo｜instagram@khaoyainationalpark

booking a trip on a professional platform not only saves you the trouble of arranging your trip and time, but also allows you to enjoy the trip with a professional guide.waterfalls, bird watchingand other important experiences are not missed, more importantly,when you encounter a herd of elephants, the guide will give you professional advice.so as not to harm the elephant while also avoiding getting hurt yourself.

instagram@khaoyainationalpark

📒TIPS：

opening hours:6am~6pm, open to the public all year round

about accommodation:①there are many hotels available for reservation outside the national park parking lot ②accommodation in the park can be booked through the official website: https://nps.dnp.go.th/reservation.php?option=home ③there are also fixed locations in the park that support camping

erawan national park

Erawan National Park

#depart from bangkok

erawan national park is anotherthis national park is a good choice for a day trip to bangkok.if khao yai national park is a well-rounded player in terms of wildlife viewing and forest hiking, then erawan national park is a national park that everyone willcome to see the waterfallplace.

instagram@malenadhm

under the shade of the forest, there is enoughthere are 7 waterfalls to hike to.each layer of the waterfall looks different in color, ranging from dark blue to milky white, as it reflects sunlight from the forest. no wonder some people call this place the thai version of jiuzhaigou.

if you are worried that the special waterfall itinerary is a bit monotonous, in addition to the experience in the national park,you can also go to jeath museum and the bridge on the river kwai along the way.learn about the tragic history of building thailand's railways under japanese occupation.

instagram@tatiana._.nechaeva

📒TIPS：

opening hours:8am~4:30pm, open to the public all year round

about accommodation:usually tourists choose to play in the form of a day trip, but if you want to stay overnight in erawan park, the park itself also provides camping tents and sleeping bags rental services (tents vary in size, about 150 ~ 250 baht / night), you can consult the staff at the entrance

*official website information tips:erawan falls to be closed for one month in september 2024

☞bangkok safari park

Safari World

#depart from bangkok

although it is not a national park,Safari Worldthe popularity is so high that it is worth coming to check in.they are among the top zoos in asia.

unsplash@Zi Yuan Chan

safari world is located in kanchanaburi, a mountainous area in western thailand. it is very close to bangkok and is known as the "world of safari" because of its beautiful natural scenery.bangkok's backyard。

@klook user

there are many kinds of animals here, and you can observe various wild animals up close.during the tour, tourists can sit in the jeep and take photos with zebras and giraffes.it is known as the tanzanian alternative.

@klook user

next to the wildlife park is the ocean park, and people usually spend a day there.

📒TIPS：

opening hours:tuesday to friday: 09:00~16:30/weekends: 09:00~17:00

☞suthep mountain national park

Doi Suthep-poi National Park

#depart from chiang mai

suthep national park is the most accessible national park, only 16 km from the center of chiang mai.you can even reach the foot of the mountain by riding a motorcycle.

instagram@mo_rangsan

the attractions of suthep national park include the rich flora and fauna of northern thailand.you can also overlook the entire chiang mai city from the observation deck on the top of the mountain.at the same time, suthep temple along the way is also a stop not to be missed.

the most beautiful time to visit suthep temple is at night.you can consider going up the mountain in the afternoon to enjoy the natural scenery, overlooking the chiang mai city at sunset from the observation deck at dusk, and then go to wat phra that doi suthep to admire the magnificent buddhist temple in the night sky.

although riding a motorcycle is very convenient in thailand, the mountain road of suthep mountain is rugged.there are many sharp turns in succession, so it is not recommended to ride up the mountain alone.especially if you stay until night, riding in the dark is more dangerous, it is recommended to choose to charter a car or take a taxi for better safety.

📒TIPS：

opening hours: the park does not have specific entry and exit and time restrictions, but if you want to visit the waterfalls, visitor center, etc., it is open to the public from 8am to 4pm every day.

dressing reminder:doi suthep mountain itself is located in the north of thailand. due to its high altitude, the temperature is between 20-23℃ all year round and can drop to 6℃ in winter. it is recommended to prepare appropriate warm clothing according to the actual season you are going to.

☞ doi inthanon national park

Doi Inthanon National Park

#depart from chiang mai

doi inthanon national park is about 70km from chiang mai, so it is suitable to take a day off during your chiang mai trip.the highest peak in thailand——it is famous for being the location of inthanon peak, which is 2,565 meters above sea level.

instagram@rungsitoguapito

similarly, as a mountain national park, there is no shortage of rich flora and fauna, bird watching experiences, etc., but what is unique is that this is also a gathering place for the miao people, one of the few homestays in northern thailand.at the foot of the mountain or between the forests, you can also visit ethnic minority villages.see their unique architectural style and handicrafts.

@klook user

we recommend a one-day trip to doi inthanon national park, where you can experience waterfalls, forest hikes, and the hmong community market in one day.

📒TIPS：

opening hours:5:30am~6:30pm, all year round. the park's main trail, kew mae pan trail, is closed to visitors from june to october due to annual forest restoration.

accommodationyou can rent a tent at the visitor center or make a reservation on the park’s official website (https://nps.dnp.go.th/reservation.php?option=home)

☞ chalong mountain national park

Chae Son National Park

#depart from chiang mai

compared with the two national parks mentioned above, charoen national park is relatively far away, about 85km from chiang mai and about 75km from nan bang ancient city.it can be considered as a stop in the itinerary connecting chiang mai and nan bang ancient city.

instagram@jp_mini

the characteristic of charen mountain national park is its natural hot springs, combined with its deciduous forest ecological landscape.let you experience the postcard-like scenery in the water vapor.

📒TIPS：

opening hours:7:00~18:00; open all year round

the tourism development of mount chalen national park is relatively weak compared to other parks. the dining options in the park are limited. it is recommended to bring your own dry food.

stay:as it is far from downtown chiang mai, you can consider staying in the ancient city of nan bang.

about transportation:you can charter a car to get there, or you can take a songthaew in lampang from 8am to 6pm (you can take the local train from chiang mai to lampang)

☞khao sok national park

Khao Sok National Park

#depart from phuket or krabi

khao sok national park is the highlight of any trip to the south! different from the above mountain forest national parks, here there arethe rainforest ecology has a longer history than the amazon rainforest.moreover, because of the karst landform, you will feel as if you have traveled to guilin in an instant, which is why it is called "thai little guilin".

unsplash@Colton Duke

the rich landscape also makes the experience options in khao sok national park very abundant: hiking through the jungle, exploring khao sok through the waterways, venturing into the many channels and mangrove swamps by canoe or kayak, and boating on cheow larn lake in the center of the national park.it makes you feel like you have traveled to different continents in one day.

instagram@woutervanstokkum

in addition, there are special floating hotels available for reservation in khao sok national park. after all, it takes about 4 hours to charter a car from phuket to khao sok national park one way. staying overnight can not only relieve the fatigue of the journey, but also allow you to have more time for sightseeing.explore this southern treasure to its fullest!

📒TIPS：

opening hours: 6 : 00 ~ 18:00

instagram@nest_cape

04

responsible travel

etiquette for encountering wild elephants

going to thailand to see elephants is a unique travel experience. in some national parks, such as khao sok national park, it is even more likely to encounter "wild elephants".if we encounter an elephant in the wild, what kind of etiquette should we follow?

instagram@khaoyainationalpark

here, we also give some tips. it is not only about protecting wild animals, but more importantly, elephants are aggressive animals. when we encounter elephants alone, inappropriate close behavior may bring us personal danger.

things to note when encountering wild elephants:

stop the car at least 30 meters away from the elephant. if the elephant approaches, back up and drive away until the elephant leaves the road.

the use of horns is prohibited. wild elephants have very sensitive hearing nerves and the sharp sound of horns can scare them and anger them.

do not use flash photography, as it may scare the elephants and attract their attention, leading to an immediate attack.

keep the engine on at all times so that the vehicle can be moved in time. the noise of the running engine will not scare the elephants;

if you encounter an elephant at night, always turn on your car lights to observe the elephant's movements and the distance between your vehicle and the elephant. be careful not to turn on the double flash, as the flash light will irritate the elephant's eyes and attract the elephant's attention;

do not stop to look at the elephants, and do not stop to take close-up photos of the elephants, because there may be other cars following behind, and the stopped vehicles will block the view of the vehicles behind, causing the elephants to be hit.

🌲🐘

the above is about thailand from the perspective of "national park".

next time i go to thailand, i have a new theme~