Khao Yai reopens: waterfalls in full flow, but three spots and the Khao Khiao road stay closed
Khao Yai National Park reopened on 6 October after the floods, and the waterfalls are at their peak. What is closed, which falls to see and how to get there from Pattaya on a tour or in a rental car.
Khao Yai National Park is welcoming visitors again: on 6 October the park reopened most of its waterfalls, trails and campsites after the late-September floods. After the rains the waterfalls are at their peak, which makes now the best time for a waterfall trip from Pattaya.
Three spots remain closed for now:
1. Pha Trom Jai - a viewpoint above a sea of mist.
2. Pha Diao Dai - the park's best-known cliff on the Khao Khiao ridge. It usually reopens on 1 October after a seasonal break, but this year the opening has been postponed.
3. Kaeng Hin Phoeng - the rapids where rafting trips usually run.
The road up Khao Khiao is closed along its entire length: parts of it are damaged and have subsided. It will reopen after repairs, and the park has not given a date.
The main waterfalls are open:
1. Haew Suwat - the 20-metre waterfall from the film "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio, reached by a short trail. Swimming is not allowed here.
2. Haew Narok - the tallest and most powerful waterfall in the park. The flood on 26 September swept away the bridge to its viewing platform, so check with your guide or the visitor centre how far visitors can go right now.
3. Pha Kluai Mai - a cascade near Haew Suwat, named after the orchids on its rocks. A forest trail links the two.
The drive from Pattaya to the park takes about three hours, and roughly the same from Bangkok. The easiest way is a tour: Khao Yai - Land of Waterfalls leaves Pattaya on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The programme covers Haew Narok, Haew Suwat, lunch by a jungle river and a swim at Sarika Waterfall, from 2,600 baht. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays there is Khao Yai Wonderful Land - six waterfalls in a day plus a lake cruise, from 3,100 baht.
If you prefer to go on your own, a car is easiest: car rental in Pattaya starts at 1,250 baht a day, and you need an international driving licence. The park is open from 6:00 to 18:00, and entry for foreigners is 400 baht for adults and 200 for children. The park visitor centre can tell you on the spot which sections are closed.
What to bring:
1. Non-slip shoes - the rocks around the falls are wet after the rains.
2. Long socks or repellent - the trails are full of leeches in the rainy season.
3. A raincoat - mountain weather changes fast.
4. Cash - for the entrance fee and snacks.
Forward this to friends in Pattaya who have been meaning to see the waterfalls: they are at their fullest now, and with this list nobody will drive out to a closed cliff.
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