Khao Yai Hotels, Guesthouses and Resorts

There are two options for those who want to spend more than just one day in the area. You can choose between staying inside the National Park or outside it in the close proximity.

Inside the park

If you’re planning to spend more than one day in Khao Yai National Park, sleeping inside the park is probably the best thing to do; you’ll have the possibility to join the night safari, you’ll be able to wake up early and increase your chances to spot elephants and other animals at dawn and you’ll save money on the ticket since with a single entry ticket you’re allowed to stay inside as long as you want.

Campgrounds

There are 2 main campgrounds located within few km from the visitor centre, Lam Takong and Pha Kluai Mai. Lam Takong has a more scenic location, close to the river, but sometimes it can be quite busy since it’s the one normally used for school trips; Pha Kluai Mai instead is a lot quieter and give you the feeling of privacy. Both of them are equipped with shower facilities and toilettes and there are restaurants and small shops on-site. If you have your own tent the fee is THB30, otherwise you can rent a small one for THB150 or a bigger one for THB225. Mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows are also available for rent.

Cabins and lodges

Four different zones have more comfortable cabins and lodges varying in prices which depend mainly on the size. None of them have air-con but you’re not going to need it as the night temperatures are not high.

Zone 3 and 4 are located quite far from the visitor centre and don’t have a restaurant, so choose one of the two others if you don’t have a car.

Prices start at around THB2000 for a cabin big enough to accommodate 6 people. In zone 3 and 4 smaller bungalows for 2 people come at THB800. Sometimes if the park is not busy, even in zone 1 and 2 they will let you use only one room instead of the whole cabin for the same price, but this option cannot be booked in advance. Reservation is a must on weekends and public holidays. The official park’s website is a bit of a nightmare to understand but it’s the only way to book.

Outside the park

If you sleep outside the park there are plenty of options in Pak Chong and along Thanarat Road (the road that goes from town to the park entrance). If you take an organized tour to the park, the driver will usually pick you up for free from any of these places.

In town the best choice for budget traveller is the newly opened At Home Hostel (Tesaban 18, Pak Chong) which offers clean and not too crowded dorms (4 or 6 people) for THB300. They also have nice double air-con rooms either with or without private bathroom at respectively THB790 and THB640.

The long time running Greenleaf Guesthouse and Tours (52 Thanarat Rd) is located along the way to the park, 10 km south of Pak Chong. They offer basic but clean single and double rooms (THB200/THB300) with attached bathrooms. They don’t have anything more than a bed and a fan but the setting is nice and the prices are unbeatable. They also offer a day tour to Khao Yai which is super popular among backpackers; for THB1300 you’ll see all the major attractions in the park.

A five minutes’ drive from the entrance of the park, Baan Saranya (298 Moo2 Thanarath Road, Tambon Moos) offers beautiful wooden bungalows with air-con, Wi-Fi, private toilette with hot shower starting at THB800. The location is really nice and relaxing with all the bungalows surrounding a garden and a spectacular view on the mountains of Khao Yai. The on-site restaurant serves Thai and international food and they also organized the same day tour as Greenleaf.