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The 10 Most Beautiful National Parks in Thailand | Untouched Wilderness

Thailand is a country with some amazing national parks. Visiting this diverse and beautiful country, Thailand's national parks provide a good contrast to the more built-up areas that are close to most hotels and resorts. These parks give you the chance to see some of Thailand's pristine wilderness and wildlife. Following are 10 of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand!

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1. Khao Sam Roi Yot

Located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, this national park is known for its limestone hills. The name of the park means "mountain with 300 peaks". Many visitors come here to see Phaya Nakhon Cave, a large cave with a Buddhist temple inside.

Also read: Thailand | 10 absolute must-sees!

Thailand Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Thailand Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

The park is also a popular destination for bird watchers, and you can see some 300 species of birds here. January and February are especially good for watching migratory birds. Staying in Hua Hin makes it easy to arrange a day trip to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.

2. Kui Buri National Park

Located near the Burmese border, Kui Buri National Park is recognized as one of the best national parks in Thailand for wildlife viewing, especially elephants. Herds of elephants can often be found bathing in the drinking ponds at Pa Yang which is equipped with wildlife viewing platforms.

Kui Buri National Park, Thailand
Kui Buri National Park, Thailand

Although visitors are allowed to drive into the park in their own vehicle, you must take a guided tour to explore protected areas of the park. Tours are given on pickup trucks or 4×4 vehicles. You can rent tents or bungalows if you want to stay overnight. If you come here between May and November, you can expect a lot of rain. The driest months are usually June and July.

3. Kaeng Krachan National Park

Kaeng Krachan is the largest national park in Thailand and is located on the border of the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve in Burma. Consisting of mostly rainforest, the park is known for the dense morning mist that covers the park with hilltops rising above the mist cloud around December-March, creating spectacular views. The park is also known for its diverse wildlife, especially birds and butterflies.

Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand
Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand

More than 400 species of birds have been identified here, including rare species such as giant pitta, great argus, and large-necked storks. There are also many mammals such as leopards, wild dogs, bears and elephants. You can take boat trips on one of the parks, two rivers or a large lake. Kaeng Krachan National Park is an exciting destination for a variety of activities, including hiking through forests, bird watching, boating or climbing one of the park's lofty peaks.

4. Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai is a National Park located in central Thailand. It was established in 1962 as the first national park in Thailand. This park is located in the Sankamphaeng Mountains, so it is a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers. You will also find other landscapes such as grasslands and tropical forests.

Khao Yai National Park
Thailand Khao Yai National Park

The park is also attractive to nature lovers. Some of the species you are likely to see here include gibbons, leopards, monkeys, and elephants. Although it is now rare, it is even possible to spot a tiger. You will also find many waterfalls in the park, the largest of which is Haew Narok.

5. Erawan National Park

Erawan National Park is located in western Thailand, in Kanchanaburi province. One of the main attractions of the park is the Erawan Waterfall, a seven-tiered waterfall named after an elephant from Hindu mythology. You can climb this waterfall and bathe in the pools.

Erawan is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand
Erawan is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand

This park also has several caves that you can explore. The easiest way to get to the park is to take a bus from Kanchanaburi, which takes about an hour and a half. There are several buses every day so it's an easy day trip. If you want to spend more than a day in Erawan National Park, you can camp or rent a bungalow.

6. Mu Ko Surin National Park

Mu Ko Surin is a protected archipelago in the Andaman Sea, 60 km (37 mi) from the mainland. These islands offer many great snorkeling spots, with clear waters, beautiful coral reefs and many species of fish, sea turtles and other marine life.

Mu Ko Surin, beautiful dive sites
Mu Ko Surin, beautiful dive sites

There are also some great places to dive, such as Richelieu Rock, a world famous dive site. You can take organized trips to this marine park or visit it on your own. Some islands offer camping pitches or bungalows for rent. This national park is the ideal destination if you want to spend time relaxing on the beach or snorkeling.

7. Khao Sok National Park

This national park in Thailand is located in Surat Thani province. It mainly consists of rainforest and jungle. In fact, it is considered the rainiest place in Thailand, which helps support a wide diversity of plants and animals. In addition to hundreds of bird species, the park has wild cats, deer, tapirs, elephants and boars.

Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park

You can also find one of the world's largest flowers here, the increasingly rare Rafflesia kerrii, which in Thailand only lives in Khao Sok. The dry season, between June and October, is the optimal time to visit. Between April and June is monsoon season, when floods are common and many trails are slippery.

8. Mu Ko Similan National Park

Mu Ko Similan National Park is one of Thailand's other marine parks. It is an archipelago of 11 islands, about 70 km off the coast of the Andaman Sea. These granite islands are just as beautiful above the water as they are below, covered in rainforest, fringed by white sands and fringed by coral reefs. Between December and April the water is very clear, making it a good time for snorkeling and diving.

Mu Ko Similan
Mu Ko Similan National Park

Some islands, such as Ko Miang and Ko Simlan, have hotels and restaurants. There are several companies that offer diving tours on the islands. On some of these you can stay several nights on board the boat and go on diving excursions during the day.

9. Ao Phang Nga

Ao Phang Nga is perhaps the most famous national park in Thailand. It is located in Phang Nga Province. There are quite a few things to see in this park, so it's good if you can spend at least a few days here. The park encompasses a bay of 42 karst islands, with some beautiful beaches, impressive limestone cliffs, caves and lagoons to explore.

Ao Phang Nga National Park
Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand

The most popular spot is James Bond Island, which got its name after part of The Man With the Golden Gun was filmed here. If you want to explore caves, you'll want to take a day trip to Koh Panak Cave, which can only be entered by boat.

10. Mu Ko Ang Thong

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, in the Gulf of Thailand, is a marine national park made up of 42 islands. The best way to see this park is to take a boat trip or rent your own boat. Speedboats and kayaks are both popular here. There are many places that are good for snorkeling and diving.

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, Thailand
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, Thailand

You can rent tents or bungalows if you want to stay one or more nights. Several islands have beautiful white sand beaches, while others have mountains where you can hike and enjoy beautiful views at the top. In addition to a wide variety of marine life, the islands are home to monkeys, otters, wild boars, dusty leaves and macaques.

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