Hi, 

 

What National Parks near or ~ max 5 hour drive from Pattaya would you recommend a novice 'camper'? 

 

Perhaps where you can rent tents locally or where there atleast are tent-areas. Would be great to hear some personal feedback. 

 

Thanks! ?

Khao Yai National Park is about 4 or 5 hrs away.

You can rent everything: tent, sleeping bag, pillows..

Or take a cabin and enjoy the indoor plumbing.

I second the Khao Yai recommendation.    I would advise not to visit the park over the weekend as it can get very crowded at that time.

Do they have aircon in the cabins ?  how can you cool the tent ?...maybe a "naturist" park would be a bit cooler at least in the neither regions.

Foreigners camping in Thailand, like driving RVs is "illegul"

 

Or do the Park Rangers send a TM 30 to the local immigration office?

 

34 minutes ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Foreigners camping in Thailand, like driving RVs is "illegul"

 

Or do the Park Rangers send a TM 30 to the local immigration office?

 

 

No it isn't. Up here in the Mae Wong may people camp out using their own or rented gear. There are cabins available with a/c for the hot season both lower down at the Mae Wong base and up at Chong Yen though there is only solar power up there so no a/c. On the other side of Mae Wong is the other end of the park and similar facilities are available at the base camp there as well.

 

Thais and farangs do get booked in but I don't think a TM 30 is sent in. Different department with different rules.

 

At over 1,000 metres amsl you don't need to a/c your tent. In the cold season they even have frost at times.

 

We are not talking about Big C parking lot. A national park would prohibit foreigners camping there?

 

On high altitude you need blankets not A/Cs.

 

There are food vendors in the park, you don't even have to cook. Buy a whole gai yang ( Thailand KFC) and your dinner is ready.

 

If you are into jungle trekking, you can hire a guide to take you through the jungle.

 

 

Go to Kao Chamao.  They have bungalow's as well as two story cabins for rent.  There is a grassy area for tents but not sure you can rent camping gear there.  Great hiking, great waterfalls.  Depending on traffic usually not more than 2 hours by car.