Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park

Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park protects about 329 square kilometres of mountainous, thickly forested country in western Ratchaburi, spanning parts of Pak Tho, Suan Phueng and Ban Kha districts along the Huai Prachan watershed. It became Thailand’s 124th national park in January 2012. Entry uses the Department of National Parks’ lowest fee band — 100 THB for foreign adults, 20 THB for Thais, plus about 30 THB per car — paid in cash at the entrance; the park office sits at Ban Thai Prachan in Yang Hak subdistrict, Pak Tho district.

The park’s draws are modest and spread out rather than concentrated in one showpiece: Mae Prachan waterfall, the Mae Prachan hot spring near Ban Bueng, and a forest-ringed reservoir, linked by walking trails through mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest with teak among the canopy. It’s a working recreation area more than a headline attraction — locals come for a quiet walk and a soak in the hot spring rather than a marquee waterfall photo.

Insider Tip: Combine the visit with Thaiprachan Hot Spring, which sits inside the same Yang Hak subdistrict grounds as the park headquarters — no need to drive between the two.

Two bungalows are available to rent for overnight stays, and a large camping ground handles tents for those who’d rather sleep under the canopy. The forest stays noticeably peaceful even on weekends, since the park sees far fewer visitors than Ratchaburi’s more publicised caves and floating markets — mostly birdsong and running water rather than crowds.

Watch out: Leeches turn up on the trails after rain, especially June through October. Long socks tucked into closed shoes make a real difference, and staying on marked paths keeps the risk down further.

The park opens daily, roughly 08:00–18:00. From Ratchaburi town, take Phet Kasem Road about 20 km, turn onto Highway 3206 near km 38 for roughly 45 km, then follow the signposted turn to Ban Thai Prachan for about 5 km. For enquiries, call the park office on 08 7165 3278 or the Protected Areas Regional Office 3 in Ban Pong on 0 3221 1025.