Home › Itineraries › Weekend
Weekend in Khao Yai

Weekend in Khao Yai

Trip Overview

This two-day loop through Khao Yai stitches Thailand's oldest national park to its youngest wine trail. Dawn delivers elephants against misty grasslands. Dusk ends with glasses chiming above rolling vines. You'll bite into smoky gai yang grilled roadside, catch wild-ginger scent on waterfall trails, and feel the 1,000 m night air slide across your skin. The rhythm is moderate, early starts, lazy afternoons, generous evenings.

Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
November to February
Ideal For
Nature photographers, Couples, Weekend escapees from Bangkok, Wine curious travelers

Day-by-Day Itinerary

A complete plan for every day of your trip

1

Elephant Encounters & Waterfall Mist

Khao Yai National Park
Dawn safari for wild elephants, midday jungle trek to Haew Narok Falls, sunset at the park gate.
Morning
Wildlife safari from Pak Chong gate to Nong Phak Chi watchtower
Leave at 5:30 AM to watch elephants trundle across gold grasslands. Gibbons whoop from the canopy while sambar deer freeze in the headlights. Stop at the salt lick where wild boar rake the earth and hornbills shuttle between fig trees.
3 hours $25 including park fee and guide tip
Book the 4×4 jeep the evening before at Greenleaf Guesthouse
Lunch
Krua Khao Yai near the visitor center
Isaan grilled chicken with sticky rice
Afternoon
Haew Narok Waterfall trek and bat cave
Drop 600 m through vine-draped forest to Thailand's tallest waterfall, 150 m of white water hammering into mist. Hear it slam against rock. Smell damp moss under your boots. On the way back, drop by Khao Luk Chang bat cave as thousands spiral into the dusk sky.
3 hours $10 for ranger escort
Sign up at the visitor center by 1 PM
Evening
Dinner at The Hill Hotel terrace overlooking jungle canopy
Order the green curry with park-grown bamboo shoots and a cold Singha

Where to Stay Tonight

Pak Chong (north gate) (The Nara Residence)

Five minutes from the park gate with free bicycles for evening spins

See all Khao Yai accommodation options →
Bring a light jacket. Mountain air drops below 18 °C after dark.
Day 1 Budget: $140
2

Vineyards & Sunflower Fields

Khao Yai wine route
Morning cycle through yellow sunflower fields, afternoon wine tasting, roadside sunset dinner.
Morning
Sunflower field cycling from Ban Tha Chang to PB Valley
Pedal past ten-foot sunflower stalks tracking the sun. The air carries pollen and wet earth after sprinklers shut off. Pull over for photos with Mount Pha Sadet rising behind the golden rows.
2 hours $12 bike rental including helmet
Pick up bikes at 7 AM before tour buses arrive
Lunch
Midwinter Green café inside PB Valley vineyard
Thai fusion with glass of shiraz
Afternoon
GranMonte vineyard tour and tasting
Stroll between chenin blanc vines while the winemaker talks tropical viticulture. Sip rosé chilled by mountain breeze and nibble fermented-sausage canapés under shady lamyai trees. Bottles clink inside the cellar walls.
2.5 hours $18 for tour plus three wines
Email ahead, tours run at 1 PM and 3 PM
Evening
Dinner at Ribs Mann, roadside grill with vineyard views
Share pork ribs glazed with tamarind and a pitcher of lemongrass soda

Where to Stay Tonight

Muak Lek (Baan Suan Noi)

Hobbit-themed bungalows 20 minutes from the highway back to Bangkok

See all Khao Yai accommodation options →
Fill up at the PTT station opposite GranMonte, cheapest fuel before hitting Mittraphap Road.
Day 2 Budget: $160

Practical Information

Everything you need to know before you go

Getting Around
Hire a car in Bangkok (2.5-hour drive via Highway 1). Inside Khao Yai, use hotel shuttles to the park then rent scooters for the wine route, Helmet House in Pak Chong rents reliable 125 cc bikes.
Book Ahead
National park 4×4 morning safari, GranMonte vineyard tour, The Nara Residence
Packing Essentials
Light jacket, insect repellent, closed shoes for trails, swimsuit for hotel pool
Total Budget
$300-340 for two days including car rental

Customize Your Trip

Adapt this itinerary to your travel style

Budget Version
Take the Bangkok-Pak Chong minivan ($6), stay at Greenleaf dorm beds, eat at roadside som tam stalls, and skip paid tours, just walk the park's shorter trails.
Luxury Upgrade
Overnight at InterContinental Khao Yai with lake-view suites, private park guide, helicopter vineyard hop, and dinner at Prime 19 steakhouse.
Family-Friendly
Swap the bike ride for a tractor tour at Jim Thompson Farm, shorten waterfall hike to 1 km, book adjoining rooms at Thames Valley with sheep-feeding for kids.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Khao Yai

Didn't see anything interesting yet?

Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Khao Yai.

See All Khao Yai Tours on Viator

Already found your activities?

Let us help you find the best accommodation in Khao Yai.

Accommodation Guide Search Hotels on Trip.com

Continue Planning Your Trip

Things to Do

Top attractions and activities for Khao Yai

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Khao Yai

Getting Around

Transport options and tips for Khao Yai

Where to Stay

Accommodation guide for Khao Yai