Thailand

Khao Luang National Park is a popular trekking destination in southern Thailand, known for its rivers, wooded mountains, and impressive waterfalls.

A mountainous green paradise in Nakhon Si Thammarat

The southern region of Siam is renowned for the beauty and richness of its natural resources. Khao Luang Park, located in the Tenasserim Hills mountain range west of Nakhon Si Thammarat, is a perfect example. The motif for a road trip within the park is twofold: to experience the joys of hiking, exploring waterfalls, traversing bamboo forests, and ascending to the summit of Khao Luang Mountain, where the breathtaking view leaves you speechless. But also to embark on an extraordinary ecotourism circuit, as the park is a sought-after playground for orchid and bird enthusiasts. As an appetizer, no less than 300 varieties of wild orchids grow in this protected area. Visiting Khao Luang Park is to experience the authentic atmosphere of a Thai tropical jungle.

A bit of history

Mount Khao Luang, after which the park is named, is a popular hiking destination. Rising to 1,835 meters above sea level, it is the highest peak in southern Thailand. However, the park's highlight is to be found elsewhere.

Established on December 18, 1974, Khao Luang National Park is the ninth of its kind in Thailand. The government wasted no time in declaring it a "protected site," given the density of evergreen and deciduous forests that make it a biodiversity hotspot. Moreover, the park provides valuable hydrological services through its waterfalls. The irrigation of surrounding agricultural villages depends on the Krung Chin River, Klai River, Tapee River, and Pakpoon River, which themselves originate from the reserve.

The park covers a total area of 570 km2. Due to intensive hunting, many animal species were critically endangered in the 1970s. The sanctuarization of the site was deemed necessary as part of the fight against deforestation. Thailand's environmental legislation thus transformed Khao Luang into a vast green paradise, where limestone cliffs, granite needles, rivers, and tumultuous waterfalls add grandeur to the tropical forest ecosystem.

Fauna and flora of Khao Luang Park

The site serves as a natural habitat for countless animal species, sheltered from industrialization and the disappearance of virgin forests sacrificed for livestock or agriculture. There are nearly 22 species of amphibians, 354 species of birds, 28 species of mammals, and 34 species of snakes.

Don't expect to see herds of lions, but tigers, leopards, and clouded leopards inhabit the park, although encounters with them are rare. The most representative mammals in the reserve are deer, suids, and civets. Deciduous forests are inhabited by sambar deer and wild boars, while alpine forests are the domain of barking deer, often seen alongside Sumatran serows. During your hike, you'll encounter rare and endangered monkeys, such as the white-fronted langur with a tail that can reach 83 cm in length, the dusky leaf monkey, or the pig-tailed macaque, equally at ease in branches as on the ground. And let's not forget about porcupines and small rodents. Most of the animal species frequenting Khao Luang National Park are endemic to the Malay Peninsula.

The park is notably known as a bird paradise. Some display colorful plumage, like the red-headed barbet or green broadbill, whose feathers blend with the foliage. Others, such as the great hornbill, oriental pied hornbill, and white-crowned hornbill, stand out with their oversized bills. At the mountain summit, the powerful flight of eagles and hawks is a spectacular sight. Other bird families recorded include pigeons, cuckoos, and woodpeckers.

Things to see and do in Khao Luang Park

The natural wonders to discover are spread throughout the park. To tour all these riches, you'll need to use a private vehicle. In fact, there isn't much of interest around the reception office. The nearest curiosity, Karom Waterfall, is 7 km from the entrance. Meanwhile, the spectacular Krung Ching Waterfall, favored by travelers above all, is over 100 km away. So unless you have your own motorcycle or car, be prepared to hitchhike or wait half an hour to flag down the first passing songthaew.

Climbing Mount Luang is reserved for the most seasoned hikers. Climbers must be accompanied by forest rangers. Normally, the 1,835 meters of altitude will be reached after three days of trekking with two nights of camping. If the adventure is too athletic for your taste, other easier leisure activities are available.

Besides this climb, four things are an absolute must in Khao Luang National Park:

• Orchid study and inspection: This parasitic plant fascinates with its magnificent colorful flowers that have no foliar support. The park counts hundreds of different species, some of which grow nowhere else;
• Bird watching: Avifauna will accompany you throughout the hike, near waterfalls as well as in the woods. Don't miss the hornbills with their characteristic curved beaks or the black eagle;
• Photographing mammals: While elephants are frequently visible near water points, spotting felines is no easy task. Consider yourself lucky if you manage to film a leopard in action. Otherwise, console yourself by photographing dusky leaf monkeys standing on a branch or white-fronted langurs feeding, cracking nuts, or playing. But here again, patience is a required quality.
• Swimming at the foot of waterfalls: For backpackers, the first stop is Karom Waterfall, located 7 kilometers south of the reserve. It descends in 19 levels, with the first seven levels accessible via hiking trails. The crystal-clear pool at the seventh stage is an absolute must-see. Moving eastward in the park, in Phrom Khiri district, you'll find Phrom Lok and Ai Khiao waterfalls nestled in thick green jungle. They are 4 kilometers apart. Phrom Lok flows in fifty levels, and Ai Khiao in one hundred levels. The most impressive is undoubtedly Krung Ching Waterfall, located about 100 kilometers from the park's official office. A four-kilometer hike will take you there. Viewed from afar, it resembles a torrent of silvery milk falling 100 m from a rocky cliff. The murmur of the breeze, the buzzing of birds and butterflies behind the foliage, and the motionless curtain of trees form a beautiful contrast with the violence of the waterfalls.

Practical Information

Entrance Fee

For foreign tourists, the entrance fee is set at 200 baht, equivalent to €5.6. The price is halved for children. Free entry for residents.

When to visit the Park?

The period between February and May is favorable for visiting Khao Luang Park. The weather is pleasant, and the rains are less intense. The months of October to December should be avoided as the park receives the maximum precipitation during this time of year. Additionally, the waterfalls are inaccessible during the monsoon season.

Where to stay and sleep in Khao Luang?

Accommodation options are limited within the park. Two spartan but welcoming and well-kept bungalows are located near Krung Ching Waterfall. One can accommodate two people (600 THB or €16.8 per day), and the other a group of twenty people (2,000 THB or €56). Camping enthusiasts will find medium-standard tents near the park entrance or at Krung Ching Waterfall. If you aspire to luxury camping, you'll need to book at nearby beach resorts. Alternatively, homestay accommodations are also offered for those who prefer tradition or authentic travel.

How to get there?

Since the park is extremely vast, the most practical way is to take a private vehicle. Local hotels offer transportation services in Khao Luang National Park.

Near Khao Luang

Looking to continue hiking? Explore Kaeo Surakan Cave, just 3 kilometers from the park, or treat yourself to a cultural getaway in Ban Khiri Wong village.