Khao Yai National Park 2-Day Hike & Elephant Watching Tour

Hike the forest floor and watch elephants come to the salt licks at dusk

A 2-day guided tour from Bangkok into Khao Yai National Park where you hike through dry evergreen forest, swim at Haew Suwat waterfall, and spend the evening watching for wild elephants at the salt licks. The tour includes hotel pickup, a live English-speaking guide, small-group hiking, breakfast and lunch. You stay overnight at Eco Valley Lodge inside the park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and afternoon tour

• Meet driver at Bangkok hotel
• Drive to Eco Valley Lodge
• Meet and greet guide
• Visit Buddhist cave temple
• See bats flying at dusk
• Visit viewpoint overlooking park
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2: Hiking and wildlife viewing

• Start tour at 8 AM
• Stop at viewpoint to stretch
• Hike through dry evergreen forest
• Drive to Haew Suwat waterfall
• Lunch near waterfall
• Swim in natural pool
• Visit second-highest mountain viewpoint
• Evening wild elephant stakeout
• Return to Bangkok

The experience

Your driver picks you up at your Bangkok hotel around 9 AM and drives you to Khao Yai National Park. A 3-hour transfer that gets you to Eco Valley Lodge by early afternoon. After meeting your guide, the first day takes you to a Buddhist cave temple where you'll watch millions of wrinkle-lipped bats stream across the sky in a snake-like formation, then climb to a viewpoint overlooking the park. You're in a small group for both stops, so the pace stays manageable and the guide can point out what moves in the canopy.

Day two starts at 8 AM with a leg-stretching stop at the park viewpoint, then you head into the dry evergreen forest on foot with your guide. This is where gibbons, monkeys and hornbills show up. The guide knows where to listen and look. After the hike you drive to Haew Suwat waterfall, swim in the natural pool below it, and eat lunch nearby. In the afternoon you climb to the second-highest mountain in the park and rest at another viewpoint. The evening is the draw: you stake out the salt licks where wild elephants come to feed, especially as light fades. The tour ends at 7:30 PM in the park, and your driver takes you back to Bangkok, arriving around 10:30 PM.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Bangkok and return transfer.
• overnight stay at Eco Valley Lodge.
• live English-speaking guide.
• small-group hikes and cave temple visit.
• breakfast and lunch.
• swimming at Haew Suwat waterfall.
• evening elephant stake-out at the salt licks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amazing Asia Tours Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want hiking, wildlife watching, and a mountain viewpoint in one day: the guide positions you at salt licks for evening elephants and knows where gibbons call in the forest.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What animals am I most likely to see on the hike through Khao Yai's forest?

Gibbons, monkeys and hornbills are often spotted in the dry evergreen forest during the guided hike on day two. The guide knows the trails and can point out movement and calls in the canopy.

Do I swim at Haew Suwat waterfall, or just see it?

You swim in the natural pool below Haew Suwat waterfall after the morning hike. Lunch is served near the falls before you head to the afternoon viewpoint.

When do I have the best chance to see wild elephants?

The evening stake-out at the salt licks is when wild elephants are most likely to come and feed. This happens on day two after you've rested at the mountain viewpoint.

What time does the tour end and when do I get back to Bangkok?

The tour finishes at 7:30 PM in Khao Yai National Park. Your private driver then takes you back to Bangkok, with an expected arrival around 10:30 PM.

Is breakfast and lunch included in the price?

Yes, both breakfast and lunch are included. Lunch is served near Haew Suwat waterfall after the morning hike.

Do I need to be very fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The hike is guided and paced with a small group, and there are viewpoint stops to rest.