Khao Yai National Park: Curated Collection of Official Park Guides and Landscapes

Thailand's first national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting vast evergreen forests and diverse wildlife in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park stands as Thailand's pioneering protected area and a cornerstone of the nation's conservation legacy. Situated approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Bangkok in the Dong Phaya Yen mountain range, the park encompasses a remarkable diversity of habitats ranging from lowland evergreen forests to montane forest zones. The establishment in 1962 marked a transformative moment in Thai environmental policy, driven substantially by the advocacy of Boonsong Lekagul, whose vision for wilderness preservation shaped the nation's approach to protected area management. The park's UNESCO World Heritage inscription in 2005 under the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex designation reflects its exceptional ecological significance spanning multiple national parks within the same forest continuum. As adjacent lands face increasing development pressure from luxury hotels and golf courses, the park's ecological integrity faces ongoing challenges from encroachment and habitat fragmentation, making its conservation management increasingly complex.