Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [217]
To the north of Prachinburi, Rte 3077 leads to the southern entrance of Khao Yai National Park (Click here). The Palm Garden Lodge (below) runs daytrips (1700B per person) from Ban Kon Khuang to Khao Yai; the lodge is only 7km from the park entrance.
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Sleeping
In Nakhon Nayok, Thai tourists pack the family-run bungalows along Soi Suan Lung Nai off Rte 3029 on weekends, but on weekdays these establishments are very quiet. There are misty views of nearby mountains and a network of pretty streams. Most places hire mountain bikes and kayaks. Not much English is spoken and there’s no public transport, but a taxi from the Nakhon Nayok bus station can be found for around 200B.
Near the quieter, southern border of the national park, the village of Ban Kon Khuang on Rte 33 includes some good accommodation and is close to the park entrance.
Mai Ked Homestay (08 1458 9531; Nakhon Nayok; s from 100B) This friendly home is on a small farm, with a dozen different types of fruit trees as well as a fish pond. Breakfast, lunch and dinner cost an extra 50B, 80B and 100B, respectively. Beds are mattresses on the floor in a shared room. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (0 3731 2284) in Nakhon Nayok can assist with booking, as not much English is spoken.
Palm Garden Lodge (08 9989 4470; www.palmgalo.com; Moo 10, Ban Kon Khuang, Prachinburi; r 400-650B, bungalow 1200B; ) Set in a leafy garden and featuring fan and air-con rooms, the Palm Garden Lodge is run by a friendly family. The food’s exceptional and they’ve got loads of ideas for seeing the area. Motorcycles are available (250B per day) and they can arrange transport to Prachinburi’s excellent night market and the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr hospital (around 300B). Be sure to say hi to the pet iguana.
Getting There & Around
Frequent buses run to Nakhon Nayok (75B to 95B) from Bangkok’s Northern (Mo Chit) bus terminal. Buses along Rte 33 to Aranya Prathet from Mo Chit stop in Ban Kon Khuang on request. Palm Garden Lodge (www.palmgalo.com) can arrange private transport and also hires out motorcycles (250B per day).
The area has excellent roads and is good to explore with a private car.
THAP LAN & PANG SIDA NATIONAL PARKS
At 2235 sq km, the Thap Lan National Park (0 3721 9408; reserve@dnp.go.th; 400B; 8am-5pm) is Thailand’s second-largest national park. Well known as a habitat for the abundant and gracefully impressive ôn lahn (talipot palm), the park is also home to elephants, tigers, gaur, sambar, barking deer, palm civets, hornbills and gibbons. It is hoped that the kouprey, a rare species of primitive cattle, still lives here, though it’s been more than 30 years since the last official sighting. Illegal logging has damaged the park, but tree-planting programs are redressing the imbalance.
Facilities are minimal. To explore the interior contact the rangers at park headquarters (0 3721 9408) in Thap Lan village. They can arrange a tour of the park and provide camping permits (50B per person). There are also three six-bed bungalows (1500B) available – book through the Thap Lan National Park email address.
There is no public transport to the park entrance, which is 32km north of Kabinburi via Rte 304 (the road to Nakhon Ratchasima).
Approximately 30km southeast of Thap Lan close to Sa Kaew, Pang Sida National Park (0 3724 6100; reserve@dnp.go.th; 200B; 8am-5pm) is smaller and hillier than Thap Lan. There are several scenic waterfalls, including Nam Tok Pang Sida and Nam Tok Na Pha Yai near the park headquarters, and the more difficult to reach Suan Man Suan Thong and Nam Tok Daeng Makha. From the bus terminal at Sa Kaew, you can catch a minibus to the park for 50B.
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ARANYA PRATHET
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