Has Anyone Visited National Parks Lately?

[sbk]

I have some friends who wish to see some nature while in Thailand (guess the cobra in my kitchen wasn't wild enough ).

What are you favorite parks and why? What is the best run? Most wild experience? (ie wild nature not crazy )

[Birdman]

http://www.khaosok.com/ ...a nature lover's dream come true

but dangerous during the rainy season.

[Geekfreaklover]

khao yai is Thailand's number 1 national park and is a world heritage site

The first time I visited was lucky enough to see three types of Hornbill, two types of Gibbon (very close up) a Leopard cat (jumped out on the trail in front of us) Two types of monkey, two types of Deer. Giant Asian Squirrrel. Osprey. Over 30 different types of bird. Monitor lizard, cobra. Wild Elephant.

Tip. Don't go on the weekend - lots of people come over the weekend making it difficult to see anything. Go very early in the morning. The park opens at 6am. Try to get in first. The wildlife is up and about early in the morning.

I used these guys to arrange a tour

www.khaoyaitours.com

[pdavids]

I love Doi Phuka National Park and Khun Nan National park (Thailand's newest national park) in Nan province. Very remote - I take overseas friends there quite often and promise them they won't see another white face - which they don't.

Lovely jungle walks, waterfalls and remote hilltribe villages along the way. Doi Phuka is popular with Thais in the cool season, but very few people seem to even be aware of Khun Nan National Park, which has some very easy and scenic walking tracks. I usually base myself for a couple of days in Bo Klua which is only 20 minutes from Doi Phuka and 5 minutes from Khun Nan. There's a lovely resort there - Bo Klua View - only 10 bungalows or so and a bit like a private retreat. Plenty of other things to see and do in the area as well.

Only drawback with these national parks is the distance from Bangkok, but that is what keeps them so peaceful and devoid of tourists.

[hmj]

Beware, about 40 National Parks are permanently closed till the end of September because of flash flood danger . Other parks can be closed temporarily during and after heavy rains but opened again when the rivers normalize. A list is available from the National Parks Service.

The last remnants of lowland rainforest in Thailand can be found in the Khao Nor Chuchi Wildlife Sanctuary, Amphur Khlong Thom, Krabi province. Visitors are welcome all year but during the bird breeding season some trails can be closed. Special about this place is the Thung Tieo Nature Trail Network which consists of about 20 km of maintained and marked trails on level ground. You can wander through the forest without getting lost and without meeting another soul. Malayan Pit-vipers are common and not as tame as cobras.

Accommodation is available.

Following links can be helpful:

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/south/knc.htm

http://www.lanta-magazine.com/articles/chuchi.htm

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/ind...d=15128&m=0

[phetaroi]

I like Khao Sam Roi Yot NP south of Hua Hin. Beautiful beach, a few nice hikes, the tremendous caves where King Chulalongkorn often went, and easy to get to. I'd say a good day trip. My advice, take the boat from the main parking lot, then hike back to the parking lot.

[cmbe]

National park late in the night

Khao Yai national park is very nice nature, I sleep there for one night in a tent which you can rent there, also blanket and other things) then took a night tour go around to see wild animals, sitting behind pick up (from Khao Yai national park) with a flashlight.

Pu Kra Dueng national park is also very nice but have to walk up 9 km. to the top of moutain (approx. 1200 meters high) took time about 7-8 hours depend how long you stop on the way, can sleep there in a tent or renting a house (have to make reservation long time, mostly full during the end of the year), temparature approx. 0 degree celcious at night (1 January) but not always , wake up 04:00 then walk km. go to see sun rise (very nice), many nice places to see there but have to walk a lot (sure you need a good shoe )

[jitenshaman]

I have some friends who wish to see some nature while in Thailand (guess the cobra in my kitchen wasn't wild enough ).

What are you favorite parks and why? What is the best run? Most wild experience? (ie wild nature not crazy )

Khao Yai for wildlife and great nature, although guides are mandatory to walk on the trails...Khao Sok down south for variety and scenery (staying on the rafthouses in the Khao Larn Lake is a great experience and stunningly beautiful)...Mu Kho Surin Island for beaches and lack of development, and the same for Koh Tarutao if you want the Robinson Crusoe experience.

[Geekfreaklover]

I have some friends who wish to see some nature while in Thailand (guess the cobra in my kitchen wasn't wild enough ).

What are you favorite parks and why? What is the best run? Most wild experience? (ie wild nature not crazy )

Khao Yai for wildlife and great nature, although guides are mandatory to walk on the trails...Khao Sok down south for variety and scenery (staying on the rafthouses in the Khao Larn Lake is a great experience and stunningly beautiful)...Mu Kho Surin Island for beaches and lack of development, and the same for Koh Tarutao if you want the Robinson Crusoe experience.

I've had Koh Tarutao in my sights for a while now. But never been. Three questions for someone that has been before. Is it open all year? what is the boat service like? could you take children there?