Thailand is a famous destination for travellers across the globe, popular for its lip-smacking dishes, beautiful temples, and beaches. However, the Land of Smiles is an amazing playground for people who want to love the wilderness too. In fact, there are nearly 130 national parks in Thailand that cover a total area of 1.5 times the actual size of Singapore.
Camping in the kingdom is an ineffaceable way to experience her spectacular landscapes. Read on to find everything you must know about navigating and camping in the national parks across Thailand.
Preparing for a camping trip and visit
- Where to go for camping
Provided that many of the national parks stretch across extensive areas, you should camp at the national park headquarters campgrounds. Why so? As the national park rangers are on a duty for 24 hours regularly at the park headquarters, so you can get help whenever required. Also, they can be hired as guides if you want to trek out in the wild.
Another benefit of camping at the headquarters is you can hire camping tools at a minimal cost. For example, you can hire a two-man tent for 150 THB per night, and accessories like sleeping bags for 30 THB per piece. This means you free yourself from the difficulties of packing and lugging the bulky tool all the way from Singapore.
Most of the national parks around the world charge an entry fee daily. However, you only must pay one time for making an entry to Thailand’s national parks. It does not matter how long you stay in the park if you have a ticket. Based on the park, the fee cost ranges from 200 THB to 500 THB. It is an affordable wilderness experience to board on!
Best time to visit
Situated at 15 degrees above the Equator, Thailand has a tropical climate with three different seasons- hot, cool, and humidity. Though camping can be done anytime, the best time is from November to March, as it is the coolest and driest time of the year. You must avoid camping during the monsoon season, i.e. from July to October, especially in southern Thailand.
Things to Carry
As camping equipment is available at most of the national parks at a cheap rate, you can save yourself from the trouble of packing things. High-quality equipment like sleeping bags, tents, kerosene lamps and gas stoves are available at all the major national parks in Thailand. If you still want to buy them, you can get them from Big C superstores or Tesco. Tents are available at a cheap price of 100 THB, which is worth the trip if you want to camp for two nights or more days!
Few best camping sites in Thailand
- Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi
Kaeng Krachan National Park is a must-visit for people who love birds. Over 500 species of birds have been found in this national park of Thailand. The park stretches across Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi provinces, sharing the western border of the kingdom with Myanmar. Have a look for the rare species like the White-fronted scoop owl and huge pitta while hiking the trails. The entry fee is 300 THB for foreigners and 100 THB for Thais. You can reach this place by renting a car and a guide.
- Khao Yai National Park, Ratchasima
Step into the first national park of Thailand which was established in 1962 with a 2-hour drive from Bangkok. Regardless of its proximity to the capital city, Khao Yai National Park is away from the congested city life. The pristine nature preserve is a popular UNESCO World Heritage site where assorted wildlife can be spotted easily. You will spot animals like black bear, pig-tailed macaque, and wild elephant here. Enjoy the unique experience of waking up in the early morning to the sounds of gibbons and trickling waters just next to your tent. The entry fee to the park is 400 THB. You can hire a single private car from your hotel or Bangkok airport.
- Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani
If you are planning to camp in the southern part, Khao Sok National Park is possibly your best bet. Situated in Surat Thani, Khao Sok is one of the most beautiful and famous camping sites in Thailand. The wild mountainous jungle has something for everyone if you love nature. You are lucky if you get the chance to see the rare bloom of Rafflesia flower, the biggest flower. Or you can also enjoy a boat ride in the traditional Thai longtail boat along the attractive Cheow Lan Lake. During the night, trek through the dark jungle to find a myriad of nocturnal wildlife like civet cat and tarantula. To enter, foreigners must pay 300 THB and people of Thailand must pay 40 THB.