One of the amazing things about Khao Yai National Park is its proximity to the great metropolis called Bangkok.After only a few short hours on the road, you enter the park, and suddenly find yourself in one of the largest intact monsoon forests left in Asia, one of the many reasons it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You can choose to camp in the park, or stay in one of the hotels or guesthouses just outside the park, many of which also have a number of animals on the premises, including elephants, which kids can never get enough of.

Enter the park and you find yourself climbing the winding road up into the mountains, stopping for monkeys to cross the road, and if you’re lucky, elephants and other animals.You’re bound to see many beautiful exotic birds and animals in the park, however, given that there are 320 species of birds, and about 67 species of animals.

There is no shortage of activities for the whole family, including rafting and kayaking, visiting waterfalls, hiking one of the many trails, and taking the exciting nocturnal wildlife spotting tour, which is truly magical and a little eerie.Don’t miss this special, often overlooked gem of a park just a couple hours northeast of Bangkok.