Hotels in Kaeng Krachan

Kaeng Krachan

Kaeng Krachan is a district in Phetchaburi province in central Thailand. It’s best known for being the province that houses Kaeng Krachan National Park, part of a stretch of rainforest that covers over 3,000 square kilometers and extends well into Myanmar. Due to the natural brush of the region, it’s one of the least populated districts of Thailand.

Kaeng Krachan National Park is mainly evergreen rainforest, with peak elevation at 1200m. Heavy rains occur during the rainy season between May and November, but is generally cool throughout most of the year.

Two main rivers originate in this park, the Pranburi River and the Phetchaburi River. About half of the region drains to the Phetchaburi river, which flows to the Kaeng Krachan dam at the eastern part of the park, providing the farmland in Phetchaburi province with water. The waterfalls in the park tend to flow year round, but in recent years due to the drought, the waterfalls are less full than years prior.

Kaeng Krachan is one of Thailand’s top bird and butterfly watching locations, boasting over 400 species of birds being seen within the park, the highest number of bird species in any of the national parks in Thailand. Ratchet tailed treepies, white-fronted scops owls, giant pittas, and grey-headed fish eagles have been known to be spotted in this region.

Parts of the park (containing the Ban Krang and Panoen Thung campsites) are closed during rainy season from August to October every year for visitors safety and forest recovery.

History of Kaeng Krachan

The park was created on June 12, 1981, with an increase in size in December 1984 to include the boundary between Phetchaburi and Prachuapkhirikhan provinces. The park currently retains its status in the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks.

The Kaeng Krachan dam which sits at the eastern border of the national park was the first ever dam built in Thailand, over 30 years ago. The dam is fed with the forest’s watershed which extends out to the Tenasserim Crest.

Surrounding Areas

Phetchaburi - Phetchaburi is primarily a farming town, and is also a place of salt production. Parts of it also contain Kaeng Krachan National Park. It’s also known for the wide variety of sweets that are produced in this region. Palm, or tanot sugar is the key ingredient in most of these tasty treats. Some of the most famous ones are mo-kaeng, made of flour, sugar and eggs, khao chae (rice served with ice and sweetened meat) and chao tan chueam (palm seed in thick syrup). Fruit is also produced here and there’s something available all year round such as rose apples, fresh palm seeds, bananas, pineapples and cantaloupe.

Hua Hin - a popular weekend beach destination for both Thais and foreigners alike, as it’s only a two hour drive from Bangkok. It’s also where the Royal Thai Family takes their holidays. There’s fantastic, fresh seafood at a fraction of the price compared to other places in Hua Hin, and quite a bit of nightlife. In recent years, it’s become more of a backpacker destination, although most will still find themselves up a bit north in Cha-am compared to Hua Hin.

Cha-am - popular with working class Thais and backpackers, Cha-am is quite similar to Hua Hin as it lies on the same stretch of beach. The amenities are basically the same as Hua-Hin, but draws in a slightly different crowd. There are also plenty of students who come here to get away from the craziness of Bangkok.

Nong Ya Plong - the main attraction here is the Nong Ya Plong Hot Springs, with year round temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius. There are mineral bathrooms, massages, and plenty of food shops to enjoy. There is also sprawling scenery of rice paddy fields, rolling hills, and a Karen village in town.

Hotels in Kaeng Krachan

Some will choose to camp in one of the campsites available in the national park, but for those who want to return to a place with walls and beds, here are a few options for accommodations in Kaeng Krachan.

D Varee Diva Nana Kaeng Krachan

A mere 3km from the national park, it doesn’t get much better than this. Decked out with amenities such as 24 hour reception, a restaurant, pool, spa services, fitness center, room service, meeting facilities, a coffee shop, free parking, and staff that’s always happy to help you get the most out of your visit to the national park. The amenities and design of the hotel are both modern, and some rooms have their own private jacuzzi.

Sangchan Garden

Chic meets modern at Sangchan Garden, only 4km from the national park. The rooms are incredibly spacious, the beds are comfortable, and the amenities are just plain gorgeous. This is an ideal location to relax and prepare for adventuring in the national park. There’s also a restaurant that serves fantastic food.

Kaeng Krachan Boathouse Paradise Resort

This beautiful boathouse resort overlooks the Kaeng Krachan Reservoir and there are glimpses of the national park as well. It has free WiFi throughout the premise, an outdoor pool, spa, restaurant and free parking for your vehicles. Each room at the resort has a private terrace from which you can enjoy the view, a TV, air conditioning, a mini bar and an en suite bathroom. The restaurant is staffed with friendly, multilingual waiters and waitresses and includes a mixture of Thai and European cuisine dishes. The resort even has karaoke facilities!

Transportation

There is no airport in Kaeng Krachan, the nearest one is going to be one of Bangkok’s airports, either Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang International Airport. You’ll likely need to transfer through Phetchaburi for most public transit options.

Songtaew

Make your way to Phetchaburi, and from there you can get a songtaew (modified truck beds that are a form of public transport in much of Thailand), which should cost you between 600-800THB one way. It may take a bit of effort, especially during non-peak hours, but you can always walk around the bus station in Phetchaburi, and will eventually find one.

By Bus

From Bangkok, take bus no. 977 from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal, which will take you directly to Phetchaburi’s bus terminal located next to the night market. The express buses leave every two hours between 11:00 and 17:00. The trip costs 112 THB.

By Train

Phetchaburi is also accessible via train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station, and costs between 100-250 THB depending on the type of train. The trip takes about four hours, although occasionally there are delays which can increase that time.

Attractions in Kaeng Krachan

The most popular tourist attraction here is the Kaeng Krachan National Park. There are a lot of attractions inside the national parks. The park itself is 300 THB for foreign adults, and 200 THB for foreign children. Thais enjoy a discounted rate of 40 THB for adults and 20 THB for children.

Ban Krang Campsite

Ban Krang Camp is one of the best spots for rare bird watching and butterflies. It’s close to the entrance to the park, only about 15 km in, so it’s a good first stop if you’re planning on spending a few days in the park. There’s a visitor center, a restaurant, toilets, showers and other basic amenities within the camp area. Visitors can rent tents and sleeping bags at the visitor center for a small fee. Depending on the time of year, the camp may be quite busy or even occasionally sold out if its a Thai holiday, so make sure you plan accordingly! Going on the weekdays is best, as you’re almost guaranteed a spot then. Be wary of the big Ton Yang trees, as they can be a disturbance during your trip by shedding their branches in the dry season (January-April). You’re likely to see water monitor lizards, Sambar deer, wild dogs, boars, and bears and elephants may occasionally be spotted if you’re lucky.

Opening hours: daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Entrance fee: none, camping fees vary

Panoen Thung Campsite

You must enter this part of the camp before 3pm in order to be admitted for the day. Similar amenities exist here as Ban Krang, but you’re even deeper in the forest. There are quite a few hikes to waterfalls from this campsite, which are of course best visited in the rainy season when the water is at its highest levels.

Opening hours: daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Entrance fee: none, camping fees vary

Activities

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is one of the most popular activities here, and there are plenty of spots where various types of birds can be spotted. Some birds that you may be able to spot are the silver-breasted broadbill, Raffles's malkoha, banded kingfisher, malayan night heron, blue pitta and black-naped monarch, grey peacock-pheasant, partridges and kingfishers. Hornbills can also be spotted at some of the camping sites.

Khao Pakarang Caves

This twin caves are only few hundred meters from each other and accessible by a short trail. The trail to the first cave is moderately challenging, and the second one much more challenging. Horseshoe bats are commonplace in these caves. Visitors must hire a ranger to walk the dirt road or up to the caves. Rangers can be hired for 400 THB for a few hours of their time.