Kaeng Krung National Park

Kaeng Krung National Park protects 541 square kilometres (338,125 rai) of rainforest across four Surat Thani districts — Tha Chana, Chaiya, Tha Chang, and Wiphavadi — centred on a set of river rapids where roughly 45 flat-topped rock formations break the surface of Khlong Yan. Entry costs 100 THB for foreign adults (50 THB for children) and 20 THB for Thai adults (10 THB for children), plus a small vehicle fee — 30 THB for a car, 20 THB for a motorbike.

The rapids that give the park its name — locally “Kaeng Krung” or “Chiao Krung” — are the main draw for a day visit: a path runs parallel to the water past the rock outcrops, with rainforest closing in on both banks. Whitewater rafting on Khlong Yan runs year-round through a series of smaller rapids downstream, though the flow and difficulty shift a lot between dry and wet season. A short walk from the rapids brings you to a sulphur hot spring that surfaces at around 40°C in a shallow salt marsh — a genuine wildlife draw, since the salt lick pulls in deer and other mammals that rangers sometimes spot at dawn.

Watch out: Namtok Bang Cham, Namtok Khlong Thepha, the hot spring, the Khlong Yan river zone, and the campground all close from 1 October to 15 December for the monsoon — check with the park office before planning a rainy-season trip, since this is exactly when the rapids look their fullest in photos online.

Namtok Bang Cham, the park’s main waterfall, only really runs during the monsoon: runoff from several streams in Tambon Takuk Nuea converges into one drop over the cliffs before joining Khlong Yan near the Bang Cham rapids, and it’s a scramble more than a stroll, near-dry outside the rains. The forest supports elephant, gaur, Malayan tapir, and Asian black bear, though sightings on a day trip are rare — birdsong and animal tracks along the sandy banks are the more realistic wildlife encounter.

Insider Tip: Stay overnight in the park’s tents or bungalows rather than day-tripping from Surat Thani town. The drive in is over an hour of minor roads, and the rapids and hot spring are at their best in the early morning quiet before any day-trip traffic arrives.

Facilities are basic — a park office, tent and bungalow accommodation, and simple food stalls near the headquarters — but nothing beyond that, so bring supplies if staying more than a night. Surat Thani town is the practical base, roughly an hour’s drive away.