National Parks in Thailand

There are about 48 national parks in Thailand, most of which can be easily reached and have good accommodation facilities. The beauty of these parks is enchanting and the nature is definitely at its best in this parks. Most parks charge an entrance fee of about 400 Baht.

Khao Yai National Park

This one is not only the oldest but also one of the best national parks in the whole world. Located in the north-east 205km from Bangkok, the park has large areas of rain forest, an abundance of wild life, and over 500 km of hiking trails. It has a wide choice of accommodation facilities and can be easily reached by bus or train.

Erawan national Park

Famous for its waterfall and the spectacular Phrathat cave, there is a lot of rush here on weekends and public holidays. Erawan can be easily reached with the help of buses which run daily from Kanchanaburi.

Sai Yao National Park

Located between Erawan and the Burmese border, the park can be reached by taking a bus from Kanchanaburi along highway 323. The bus drops at the park entrance.

Doi Inthanon National Park

This is Thailand’s highest mountain (2565 metres) and has many trails worth exploring, plus several impressive waterfalls. Tours are available from Chiang Mai.

Lansang National Park

With several trials leading to waterfalls and with a large hill tribe centre on the west side, this small park is located 18km along the road from Tak to Mae Sot.

Thaleban National Park

Located 90km south of Had Yai almost on the border with Malaysia, this park has unspoiled virgin forests which support a great variety of wildlife.

Phetra National Park

The park encompasses a group of islands off the south-west coast and offers beaches, coral reefs and rain forests. Turatao island has an outdoor museum and an aquarium. The visitors centre is located at Pak Bara.

Hat Nai Yank National Park

The park HQ is 1½km from Phuket airport. The main attraction of this marine park is the formation of turtles’ nest from November to February.

Phang Nga Bay National Park

This one shot to fame with the James Bond movie “Man with a Golden Gun”. Forested limestone pillars rise out of the sea like inverted mountains, while Tham Lot Caves provide plenty of scope for adventure. The offshore islands of Koh Thalu and Koh Tapu are major attractions, where small boats pass under magnificient natural rock formations.

The park is located 96km by road from Phuket Town and can be reached by tour bus or boat. You can take a day’s trip or opt for overnight stay.

Koh Chang National Park

Being the second largest island of Thailand, Koh Chang is located about 240km south of Pattaya and is endowed with dense tropical forests, white sandy beaches and spectacular waterfalls.

Go Golfing in Thailand

One of the most popular sports in Thailand is Golf, especially among the elite and fashionable class.  is one of the most popular sports in Thailand.  It arrived here a century ago and was quickly taken up by the elite and fashionable. The first international golf tournament hosted by Thailand was the 1975 World Cup.

The Armed Forces and government institutions are the first sponsors and the leading owners of the finest courses in the country. Now, the country has an array of golf courses in and within easy reach of all major cities. The relatively newer courses also offer accommodations on site or nearby, plus recreational facilities for the whole family. For the golfers who come to this country not only for a challenging course, but an exotically different one too, Thailand offers an unbelievable choice.

One of the best courses in the country within easy reach from Bangkok are the Navathanee Golf Course, which was created for the 1975 World Cup and the Ekachai Golf Club. Outside Bangkok, there are numerous courses offering high quality facilities, including The Rose Garden in Nakhon Pathom, the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, the Phuket Golf and Country Club on the lush island of Phuket, and the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, probably the oldest in Thailand.

For the golf lovers, the best time to visit Thailand is the cool season, from November to March. From April to October, it is very hot and wet. However, since all the golf courses have good drainage system and the pour here does not last for too long, even rainy months should satisfy for desire for the game. But a word here…. Book in advance for the weekends, for the courses go packed especially in the peak season December to February.

You can expect all the facilities at the courses- ranging from economical lodging to cozy, luxurious and grand stays. Also appreciable is the fact that the fees here are still quite reasonable. For the vacation with your family, or to fill a break in your golfing schedule, there is a diverse choice of culture, adventure, dining and shopping available wherever you choose to tee-off.