Thailand is blessed with a unique geography and an abundance of protected natural areas that make it a perfect spot for green tourism. From mountain forest regions and lush valleys where you can enjoy plants and wildlife, to beautiful beaches and islands where you can relax and swim with fish in the crystal-clear waters, you can experience many rare species unique to the Kingdom. There are 102 national parks in Thailand (81 land and 21 marine), 57 wildlife sanctuaries, and 55 non-hunting areas.

Most of the national parks are accessible by road, charge an admission fee, and some offer simple accommodation. With its wealth of natural attractions, national parks and highly developed infrastructure, Thailand is the perfect destination for tourists looking for a green holiday, or just an opportunity to really get away from it all and spend some quality time in the great outdoors.

Major National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries

Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province
Doi Inthanon National Park covers an area of 482 square kilometres (301,500 rai) in the districts of Sanpatong, Chomthong, Mae Chaem, and Mae Wang, and Toi Lo sub-district of Chiang Mai province. It consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand and the source of many rivers, such as the Ping River feeding into the Bhumibol Dam. The Park has beautiful natural scenery, including Mae Ya Waterfall, one of the most spectacular in Thailand.

Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Khao Yai, Thailand’s oldest national park, was enlisted as an ASEAN Heritage Site and has been nominated as a World Heritage Site. There are more than 300 species of birds, 71 species of mammals and many other animals and plants. The park is home for elephants, tigers, Malayan sun bears, gibbons, and barking deer. Thap Lan National Park, Prachinburi Province Thap Lan National Park was declared Thailand’s 40th national park in December 1981. It is the country’s second largest, covering an area of 2,235 square kilometres. The Thap Lan area is comprised of continuous mountain ranges full of valleys, chasms, and waterfalls. A total of 149 bird species have been confi rmed within the Park, including several rare species restricted to lowland evergreen forests, such as the green imperial pigeon, stork-billed kingfisher and scaly-crowned babbler.

Doi Luang Chiang Dao National Park, Chiang Mai Province
Doi Luang Chiang Dao is a limestone mountain in the Chiang Dao Wildlife Reserve area. This massive horseshoe-shaped mountain is 2,225 metres above sea level, the third highest point in Thailand. The limestone holds little ainwater, but serves as the perfect habitat for several types of birds, butterflies and Alpine plants.

Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province
This sanctuary in Umphang district of Tak province occupies one of the largest zones of unspoilt forest in Southeast Asia. Flora includes tropical fig trees and wild strawberries, and moorhens, rails and lesser whistling ducks thrive. The highlight of the park is the stunning Thi Lo Su Waterfall, the tallest and one of the most picturesque in the Kingdom.

Pang Sida National Park, Sa Kaeo and Prachinburi Provinces
Pang Sida National Park covers the areas of Amphoe Mueang of Sa Kaeo province, and Wattana Nakhon and Amphoe Na Dee of Prachinburi province. It is characterized by fertile forests with many wild animals and birds, including bulls, elephants, red bulls, tigers, deer, barking deer, bears, warthogs, and hornbills.

Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei Province
Phu Luang Forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary to provide elephants and other wildlife with a peaceful and pleasant home with plentiful food and water. Located in Loei province, it is covered with variegated woodland famous for its mix of wild flowers, particularly wild orchids. Over 160 species of these have been found, including the popular Lady’s Slipper orchids.

Phu Wiang National Park, Khon Kaen Province
Phu Wiang National Park covers an area of 325 square kilometres. The Park contains a number of important archaeological sites with evidence from prehistoric rock painting of Isan’s earliest inhabitants. Fossils of herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs are found here.

Pha Taem National Park, Ubon Ratchathani Province
Pha Taem National Park is 340 square kilometres in area and covers Amphoe Khong Chiam, Si Mueang Mai and Pho Sai in Ubon Ratchathani province. The Park has considerable historical and natural value. There are prehistoric paintings dating back 3,000-4,000 years, illustrating the way of life of the people who once lived here. There are magnifi cent views of the Mekong River, the border between the park and Lao PDR

Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi Province
Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary features a large expanse of savannah or open grassland dotted with palm trees such as Cycads and Phoenix palms. This environment has plentiful supplies of food for wild animals. Evidence has been found of hog deer, tapirs, mountain goats, and wild water buffalos. It is one of Thailand’s most beautiful nature reserves and a World Heritage Site, but it is under threat from lead mining.

Tarutao National Park, Satun Province
The 51 islands of Tarutao National Park lie in the Andaman Sea, between 20 and 70 kilometres off the extreme southwest coast of Thailand. It contains relatively few terrestrial vertebrates and resident birds, but many coral reefs with diverse marine species. It is estimated that the Park contains about 25% of the world’s fish species, including sharks, rays, grouper, eels, carp, catfish, salmon, flying perch, angelfish and butterfly fish.

Khao Luang National Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Khao Luang National Park covers an area of 570 square kilometres encompassing a huge range of mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife. The area is mostly fertile tropical rainforest and is continually subject to rainfall from both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Over 300 species of orchids and 327 species of animals live here.