Self-drive to Khao Yai

[PersisGal]

Anyone who drove to Khao Yai and also went to the national park ? How is driving within the national park? Is it easy to drive within the National Park? Like to look for places and will there be signs or animals on the road?

We drove to Khao Yai last year and went to the National Park as well. We didn't self-drive to the National Park as we hired a tour guide to bring us around. The roads are pretty well paved, and winding as you ascend up the hill. Just gotta avoid the massive lumps of elephant poo on the ground everywhere. You might encounter wild elephants as you drive along, but its a custom for the locals to wait for the elephants to finish their business before they pass the animals. There has been cases where the wild elephants were frightened and tried to 'fight' the passerbys.

Some videos from Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuaomQ-kutU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NVBNC37V90

May I know how is the weather there in Khao Yai? Heard that the weather is pretty much cooling there. Is it true? Will be travelling in June.

Khao Yai is on a higher sea level. It can get pretty cooling at night, but it can get even hotter during the day. June period is as hot (or even warmer) then Singapore.

May I know which company you rented the car and pick up from? You mind to reveal the cost?
Using your own cell phone Google map to guide you or you'd a reliable GPS device?
Any problem finding parking and location to those places of interest?
Plan to go Pak Chong night market thus was still figuring out where to park...
Had shortlist a transport company with Driver at $700+/- using a Gasoline minivan.

We rented the car from Hertz. Price wise, I would recommend you to rent the car online before travelling to Thailand. The prices online would be cheaper then walking-in. Costs can differ now and then when they have promos. We bought a thailand sim card from Qoo10 and used that as our GPS. Google map works pretty well, though you gotta constantly check your destination just in case.

 

[PersisGal]

any recommended rest stops between BKK and khao yai along the highway?

and how to refuel? will they do it or i DIY? i noe how to refuel on my own but duno the practice there. how to tell them pump full tank? payment directly at the pump?

You'll pass by a fast food area (Mac, KFC etc). That will be the only place for you to rest if you want to grab something to eat / restroom. Otherwise, look for petrol stations.

Refuel is usually done by the service attendants. They will ask you which petrol you want. After filling up, you pay to the service attendant directly. Don't need to go counter. And oh, different petrol stations may have different pricing.

Thai language for pump full tank - "Term tem khaa / krap".

 

[schnauzerpck]

Oh thanks for the reply.
Ya will likely to engage driver if the cost is not too much of a diff.
Coz bringing old folks along already,don't want to stress over navigation .....and finding parking etc....

 

[jamie19]

I'm travelling in June to Khao Yai too. Will hotels provide free parking?

 

[PersisGal]

I'm travelling in June to Khao Yai too. Will hotels provide free parking?

Different properties provide different services. Best to email them and check whether if they have parking lots for their guests.

 

[Claireee]

Our plan as follow by tour guide. Can anyone advise if below is ok and worth?

Day 1 - PB Valley, The Bloom, Primo Pizza, Palio, Baan Mai Chay Num (For Dinner)

Day 2 - Khao Yai Panorama, Midwinter (For Lunch), Hobbit House, The Chocolate Factory, Night Market (Not sure which one is he referring to)

Is there any other recommendations? Or we should just follow the above plan?

We will be staying at the Lala Mukhar Tented Resort. I heard we can also do BBQ. Anyone experienced staying there before and also did BBQ? Btw, is there any massage area just nearby the resort? Because I heard they don't provide this service.

Thanks!

 

[jamie19]

Different properties provide different services. Best to email them and check whether if they have parking lots for their guests.

Thank you!!

 

[jamie19]

Our plan as follow by tour guide. Can anyone advise if below is ok and worth?

Day 1 - PB Valley, The Bloom, Primo Pizza, Palio, Baan Mai Chay Num (For Dinner)

Day 2 - Khao Yai Panorama, Midwinter (For Lunch), Hobbit House, The Chocolate Factory, Night Market (Not sure which one is he referring to)

Is there any other recommendations? Or we should just follow the above plan?

We will be staying at the Lala Mukhar Tented Resort. I heard we can also do BBQ. Anyone experienced staying there before and also did BBQ? Btw, is there any massage area just nearby the resort? Because I heard they don't provide this service.

Thanks!

The Bloom is the flower garden? Is it open in June?

 

[tang_tang]

Our plan as follow by tour guide. Can anyone advise if below is ok and worth?

Day 1 - PB Valley, The Bloom, Primo Pizza, Palio, Baan Mai Chay Num (For Dinner)

Day 2 - Khao Yai Panorama, Midwinter (For Lunch), Hobbit House, The Chocolate Factory, Night Market (Not sure which one is he referring to)

Is there any other recommendations? Or we should just follow the above plan?

We will be staying at the Lala Mukhar Tented Resort. I heard we can also do BBQ. Anyone experienced staying there before and also did BBQ? Btw, is there any massage area just nearby the resort? Because I heard they don't provide this service.

Thanks!

For Day 2: Suggest u go Farm Chok Chai. can join their Day tour. Can make advance booking like PB Valley. Not worth to go Hobbit house unless u are staying there for a night. It is quite far from the places you are going.

 

[jamie19]

For Day 2: Suggest u go Farm Chok Chai. can join their Day tour. Can make advance booking like PB Valley. Not worth to go Hobbit house unless u are staying there for a night. It is quite far from the places you are going.

Is the farm tour chok chai tour worth it?

 

[tang_tang]

Is the farm tour chok chai tour worth it?

It depend. I think is worth if you are bringing young children.

 

[Jordan]

I would say worth it, for my children who enjoyed the day at farm chok choi

Sent from OnePlus ONEPLUS A3000 using GAGT

 

[Claireee]

The Bloom is the flower garden? Is it open in June?

I am not sure about this. Our tour guide actually gave us this itinerary to follow. So I guess it is a yes?

 

[Claireee]

For Day 2: Suggest u go Farm Chok Chai. can join their Day tour. Can make advance booking like PB Valley. Not worth to go Hobbit house unless u are staying there for a night. It is quite far from the places you are going.

Thank you for your kind suggestion!

How about National Park? Is there anything to do over there? Anyone went here before?

 

[PersisGal]

Our plan as follow by tour guide. Can anyone advise if below is ok and worth?

Day 1 - PB Valley, The Bloom, Primo Pizza, Palio, Baan Mai Chay Num (For Dinner)

Day 2 - Khao Yai Panorama, Midwinter (For Lunch), Hobbit House, The Chocolate Factory, Night Market (Not sure which one is he referring to)

Is there any other recommendations? Or we should just follow the above plan?

We will be staying at the Lala Mukhar Tented Resort. I heard we can also do BBQ. Anyone experienced staying there before and also did BBQ? Btw, is there any massage area just nearby the resort? Because I heard they don't provide this service.

Thanks!

I don't think there's massage services (unlike other parts of Thailand) at Khao Yai. Its literally like a small town and people usually go there for their tourist attractions.

The Bloom is the flower garden? Is it open in June?

The Bloom is actually a garden where they have lotsa different flora in bloom. Imagine something similar like our Gardens by the Bay, but its outdoors and no airconditioner. It can get quite warm if you go later in the day. Good place for lotsa photo taking.

Thank you for your kind suggestion!

How about National Park? Is there anything to do over there? Anyone went here before?

The National Park is literally a hill / mountain that is brimming with the original rainforest and its wild animals. The place is guarded by national guards (they have guns). If you want to visit the National Park, I recommend you to get a tour guide. They will bring you up and around the park, looking for its wild elephants. Letting you hear the gibbons howling across the forest before you get to see them up on the tree tops. Trekking through the forest floors and allowing you to experience Nature. There's also a waterfall within
the park itself.

 

[jamie19]

It depend. I think is worth if you are bringing young children.

Oic. Haha it's just a trip for me and my husband. So I guess it will be quite boring?

 

[jamie19]

I am not sure about this. Our tour guide actually gave us this itinerary to follow. So I guess it is a yes?

Oic! Okay thanks!

 

[martintylor]

For massage in khao yai, mostly only provide by hotel and resort which is very very expensive. we only manage to find one when drive back to our resort in Mar.
We decided to try out after reading the review here http://eatprayflying.com/massage-super-value-for-roadside-massage/

Price wise was slightly cheaper than Bangkok. And the massage was decent. The aunties are experience but don't know how to speak much English as I think they stay nearby just ride their bike to work part time. When I was there during the weekday, their customer are all local. Also do note that it is open concept where everyone do at the hall so maybe inconvenient for girls who want to do body massage


You can see a sign board "Thai Massage" along the road side
https://www.google.com/maps/dir//14.534336,101.374365/@14.5343291,101.3705153,17.52z

 

[kurtgoh]

Me? Or u quote wrong?

yeah you,

why never consider khao kho drive up?

 

[BlackCube]

yeah you,


why never consider khao kho drive up?

Supposedly this trip is to drive up to Chang Mai Chang rai. But due to time constraints, had to abandon the plan. So went down instead to rayong, chantaburi etc.

Next time then plan for North trip. Left North part haven't go yet.