Kaeng Krachan National Park is located in western / central Thailand, at the northern end of the Thai Peninsula. It is approximately 170 - 190 km from Bangkok. The park headquarters are located approximately 19 km from the entrance to the park.
The western side of the park forms the border with Myanmar.
The park was declared a reserve in 1964 and on 12th June 1981, it became the 28th national park of Thailand. In 2003, the park was designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park and in 2021 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kaeng Krachan National Park, is primarily composed of moist evergreen, dry evergreen, mixed deciduous, and dry dipterocarp forests. These forests cover over 97% of the park. There are a small number of grasslands, but these are off limits to visitors. The park is mountanous with elevations upto 1,207 m.
Kaeng Krachan is home to 91 mammal species, 461 bird species and 70+ species of reptiles. A number of endangered species are found in the park, including Indochinese Tiger, Indochinese Leopard, Banteng, Asian giant tortoise and Siamese crocodile.
Kaeng Krachan is the largest park in Thailand, covering an area of 2,915 km².
Kaeng Krachan is growing in popularity, with visitor numbers increasing each year.
Motorcycles are prohibeted.
There are two campsites inside the park, Ban Krang campsite, which is 15 km from the entrance (Dan Khao Sam Yot Checkpoint) and, Phanoen Thung campsite, which is a further 15 km beyond Bang Kran campsite.
Tents, basic mattresses and sleeping bags are available to rent. However, the tents may leak in heavy rain, the mattresses are too thin for many people and the sleeping bags well used. It is adviseable to bring your own, if possible. Another alternative is a hammock, these are not available to rent.
Facilities are good and cleaned regularly, with both traditional Thai style and western style toilets and showers at both sites. Please note the showers are cold water only.
Food and soft drinks are available at both campsites. Please check opening and closing times at the campsite. Just outside the entrance is a small village on the right hand side (exiting the park), where there is a small shop that sells snacks, drinks etc. There is also a nice restaurent on the outskirts of this village.
Sun Bears are frequent, if not daily visitors to both campsites. At Ban Krang, the bears are most active in the evening and will visit the campsite in search of food. At Phanoen Thung campsite, the bears are more active, occassionaly visiting the campsite during the day and regularly visiting throughout the night. These bears will break into a tent if it can smell food.
Occassionaly elephants enter Bang Kran campsite at night time, the park rangers are very good and are normally aware of the elephants before the visitors. If a ranger visits you during the night and asks you to leave the tent, please follow their instructions.
The park has a number of National Park houses, available to rent, around the headquarters. Most are next to the lake, the remaining are on the high ground overlooking the village and lake. The headquarters are approximately 19 km from the park entrance.
Rooms need to be prebooked and prepaid prior to arrival. To book a room visit the official Department of National Parks website at portal.dnp.go.th. After booking, you will be issued with a confirmation, which you need to take to a xxxxx bank and make the payment.
There are several resorts, small hotels and restaurents in the village, most with lake views.
There are resorts closer to the entrance, the most well known being Samarn Bird Camp.
