The Great Escape: From Beach to Forest

The recent unpredictable weather, with its sudden shifts between scorching heat and bone-chilling cold, left me in a state of indecision. Should I seek solace by the sea or venture into the depths of the forest? Ultimately, the allure of the forest prevailed, and I set my sights on the majestic Khao Yai National Park.

So, pack your bags and join me on this exhilarating journey into the heart of nature!

This is our first time writing a review, so please forgive us if anything is unclear. This trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision, as we had to start the new semester on Monday but still wanted to get away. We made the decision on Friday and left on Saturday morning. We traveled without a car. For our 2-day, 1-night trip, we opted for a relaxing train ride, enjoying the fresh air and scenery. Note: We brought a large camera but didn't use it. The attached photos were taken with an iPhone 7 Plus and the HUJI app.)

Embark on the Journey

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Train to Pak Chong from Bangkok

Train 135 (Express): Departs Bangkok at 6:40 AM, arrives in Pak Chong at 10:52 AM. Ticket price is 86 Baht per person.

2. Take a songthaew

Once you arrive at Pak Chong Railway Station, walk out to the front of the station. There will be a fixed-price car. If you go with a lot of people, it might be worth it, but we came with 3 people, so goodbye; then turn left, walk straight ahead, you will find Suphan red pork rice shop. It's almost noon, let's stop by for a bite to eat ><

Then walk into the alley next to the roast duck restaurant and continue straight until you reach a main road. At the corner of the road, there will be a motorcycle shop on the left and a fruit shop on the right. Cross the road to the corner of the motorcycle shop and walk straight until you see a 7-Eleven. A little past the 7-Eleven, you will see a van parked with a large blue songthaew parked next to it. That's the car we're going to take. The fare is 30 baht per person. You can press the bell or tell the driver where you want to get off, such as in front of the checkpoint. (On the way... Since it was Children's Day, I got free ice cream to eat. Yum, refreshing ~)

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Hello Khao Yai, we're here! But!! We haven't reached the spot where we'll be pitching our tent yet.

3. Hitching a Ride to Pha Kluai Mai

Upon arrival, we stood awkwardly at the entrance for a while. An officer approached and asked our destination. We replied that we were heading to the Pha Kluai Mai campsite. The officer then found a tourist vehicle heading up and entrusted us to them. Fortunately, there was no entrance fee on the day of our visit, although it typically costs 40 baht per person. With a ride secured, we were off!

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The first car that stopped was a tourist service center. Oh no! I had to hitchhike again. So, I mustered up my courage and stuck out my arm. I waved my hand and was lucky enough to meet a kind uncle and aunt who drove me to Pha Kluai Mai. Yay! On the way up to Khao Yai, please don't make loud noises as it will disturb the animals.

Along the way, there were many scenic spots to stop and take pictures. As someone who hitched a ride, I could only take pictures of the scenery while sitting in the car. T^T

We have arrived at the orchid cliff, the spot where we will be setting up our tents for the night.

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Equipment Rental and Camping

The park offers two designated camping areas for visitors to choose from. The entrance fee is 30 baht per adult, and visitors are welcome to bring their own tents. For those who prefer a more relaxed approach, the park also provides equipment rentals at affordable prices. This includes tents (available in two sizes: two-person and three-person), blankets, sleeping mats, charcoal stoves, and barbecue grills.

Adjacent to the rental service is a convenience store offering a variety of snacks, soft drinks, ice, coffee, instant noodles, canned fish, cups, spoons, chopsticks, flour, and other essentials.

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We then searched for a good spot to pitch our tent, but it seems we made a mistake... because we ended up in the middle of the bigwigs! They came in families, in gangs, with food galore. Some even brought huge pots with them. Meanwhile, we finished setting up our tent, unpacked a bag of snacks, and sat there staring at the trees (how sad!). Oh! There was also a restaurant nearby. The thing I want to warn you about is that we went there to eat. Feeling hungry, we bought some curry puffs to eat first. But our friend found one that was moldy, so we returned it. They gave us two new ones. Then we ordered papaya salad and chicken tom yum. It's not over yet. In the tom yum, there was a whole box of Knorr seasoning, not just a lump. So that day, we got free tom yum. It felt a bit rough on the throat because we had already eaten a lot, but we didn't think much of it. People make mistakes. Let's move on and have fun! ~

Unable to bear the high prices of top-tier restaurants, I decided to order a 400 baht pork hotpot set from my usual local eatery.

It is currently 9 pm, and the weather is starting to cool down. As someone who is sensitive to the cold, I couldn't resist the urge to go to bed. From someone who usually stays up until 3 or 4 am, I am now asleep by 9 pm. Haha!

It is currently 2:00 AM and we have just woken up because it is so cold! The later it gets, the colder it becomes. We have come out to sit by the fire in front of the tent. Since we can't just sit here and do nothing, we have decided to make some instant noodles to eat.

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A full stomach makes the eyelids heavy. Okay, I can go back to sleep now, feeling relieved. I was planning to wake up to see the sunrise, but I couldn't stand the cold, so I decided to sleep in. When I woke up, I packed my things and returned them to the service point (before 12:00 p.m.).

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After that, I tried to hitchhike, but no one stopped. Hello! Can I come with you? After a while, a kind family came up and asked where I was going. They dropped me off at the Prachin Buri intersection, and then I continued walking. I tried to look pitiful in case someone would take pity on me and give me a ride. After walking for a while, a car that looked like it belonged to an official came by. They picked me up and dropped me off at the checkpoint. I'm saved!

Then, wait for the blue songthaew at the front gate to go to Pak Chong. Walk back to the train station. On the way back, we got off at Bang Sue. Train number 136, express train; Departs Pak Chong at 2:00 PM and arrives in Bangkok at 6:40 PM. The ticket price is 1 baht cheaper than the way there.

Our recent trip to Khao Yai was a pleasant experience. The location was easily accessible and budget-friendly. As we had not planned extensively, the trip primarily involved dining, sleeping, and exploring the area's transportation options. Stay tuned for our next destination! #KhaoYaiLightningTrip