Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Outdoor enthusiasts come to the park to explore its beaches, caves, and marshlands; where an estimated 300 species of birds make their home for all or part of the year. While well worth an overnight excursion, the park is most often visited as a day trip from Hua Hin. These itineraries typically give travelers enough time to see the famous cave, do some bird watching along the coast, and enjoy a local Thai lunch. Opt for a private tour to explore the park at your own pace.

• Park admission tickets can be purchased at each of the park’s attractions; keep your ticket with you throughout the day.
• Mosquitos can be a nuisance in the park, particularly during the rainy season, so don’t forget to bring bug spray.
• Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and loose-fitting clothing, as conditions are often hot and humid.

There’s no public transport to the national park, so visitors will need to hire a car and driver from Hua Hin or Prachuap Khiri or visit as part of a guided day trip. Accessing the cave involves a boat ride followed by a rather steep trail up a hill.

The best time to visit the park is first thing in the morning, giving yourself enough time to reach the cave in time to see the Khuha Kharuehat Pavilion bathed in the morning light (around late morning). The best season for bird watching is between November and March, when both resident and migratory species are around.

This national park is well known for its stunning biodiversity, particularly its 355 recorded bird species (half of them migratory). Other park residents include crab-eating macaques, barking deer, Malayan pangolins, dusky leaf monkeys, fishing cats, wild elephants, and gaur. Keep an eye out for Irrawaddy dolphins near the park’s coastline.

It’s all about nature at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Visit Phraya Nakhon Cave, Bueng Bua Nature Observation Center, Laem Sala Beach, or other beaches in the area. If you’d like a dose of culture, visit Tan Chet Yot Temple. This is a relaxed part of Thailand, so take it slow.

Aim to visit Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in the wintertime, when the weather is dry and warm, and when you’ll see the most migratory birds. The park is open year round, but by spring you’ll be getting into the rainy season, which makes some outdoor activities less accessible

It’s easy to get to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, since it’s just around four hours from Bangkok, or an hour taxi ride from Hua Hin. If you don’t have much time in Thailand, and don’t want to waste it getting to the southern beaches, put Khao Sam Roi Yot on your itinerary.

It depends on you, really. If you want a quick trip to the National Park, it’s doable, since it is just around four hours from Bangkok. But if you want to relax, unpack, and get settled into the slow pace of Thai life, then stay for up to a week. There’s plenty to explore.

Yes, you can go to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park on your own. You just need to organize your own transportation and accommodation. Guided tours can be great for exploring more of the area that you might not discover on your own, but solo touring can be an adventure in itself.

Yes, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is worth it. The caves, beaches, and jungle are fun to explore either by yourself or with a group. It doesn’t take long to get there from Bangkok, so if you want a bit of relaxed Thai life, away from the city, this could be the ticket.