Khao Yai Arts Museum

Khao Yai Art Museum is a private collection opened to the public for free by its founder, businessman Pongchai Chindasook, on roughly 20 rai of grounds in Pak Chong. Three indoor galleries totalling about 1,700 square metres hold the core collection of Thai contemporary art, supplemented by six separate “Art Space” pavilions built in a modern architectural style and an outdoor sculpture garden threaded through landscaped paths. There’s no ticket booth — Chindasook built the museum on his own land and simply opened it.

The collection leans toward Thai contemporary painting, mixed media, and decorative work, with pieces by Chalermchai Kositpipat — the artist behind Chiang Rai’s White Temple — and Lampu Kansanoh among the names represented. A number of the indoor works are tributes to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, giving several of the galleries a more reverential, memorial character alongside the broader contemporary art on show.

Insider Tip: Don’t just tour the main gallery buildings — the six Art Space pavilions and the outdoor sculpture garden are separate from the indoor exhibits and easy to miss if you head straight back to the car after the first building.

Air-conditioned interiors offer relief from the heat between the pavilions and garden walk, and the grounds rarely feel crowded even on weekends — this isn’t a high-traffic stop on the standard Khao Yai circuit. Photography rules vary by gallery section, so check with staff before shooting inside.

For more of the Khao Yai area, see the destination guide. Nearby stops with a similar boutique, photo-friendly feel: The Palio Khao Yai and GranMonte Vineyard and Winery.