Kaeng Krachan was established as a National Park in 1981 and is the largest in Thailand, covering an area of 2,915 sq kms. Located about 1.5 hrs northwest of Hua Hin, it is an area of outstanding natural beauty that is well worth visiting during your stay.
It straddles the two provinces of Petchaburi and Prachuab Kirikhan and is one of the most important areas in Thailand for flora and fauna. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has always taken a keen interest in Kaeng Krachan and this has helped conservation in the area enormously.
Contained within its borders are numerous caves, a reservoir, waterfalls, mountains and stunning scenery. It is covered throughout with evergreen forest that supports many important plants and animals - including wild elephants.
Mountains rise to a height of 1,200 meters and are mostly granite, although some are limestone. Importantly, the park is the source of The Petchaburi and Pranburi rivers. In the rainy season from August to October, some areas are closed to visitors for their saftey and to allow the forest to recover.
Kaeng Krachan is found on the eastern slopes of the Tenasserim mountains on the border with Burma (Myanmar). About half of the watershed here flows into the Petchaburi river which goes on to Kaeng Krachan dam and then to the provincial capital of Petchaburi. The other half flows to Pranburi dam and onto Pranburi town. Getting around the park can be difficult as the terrain is very mountainous and rugged. There are only two roads through it, one that leads eventually to
Pala-U waterfall and the other that starts some 20 kms from the headquarters and extends 35 kms westward into the heart of the park.
Humidity is always high and it can get cool from November to March with heavy rain at other times of the year, the wettest month being October. Temperatures range from 10-40 degrees celcius (probably even cooler on the tops of some mountains).
Because of its loca
tion on at the juncture of continental Asia and peninsular Malaysia, Kaeng Krachan's forest is particularly diverse with large numbers of continental trees including oaks, maples and chestnuts as well as peninsular palms and fruiting trees. In addition to these, you will see many types of hanging lianas, orchids and aerial ferns.
Over 400 spieces of bird and 57 mammals have been recorded within Kaeng Krachan's borders. Of the larger mammals, there are chances to see elephant, guar, sambar, banteng, serow, bear, tiger, leopard, barking deer, tapir, gibbon, langur, wild dog, wild pig and otters. Importants bird life includes hornbill, red junglefowl, peacock-pheasants, stork, black eagles, songbirds and woodpeckers.
Visitors to Kaeng Krachan can choose to relax at headquarters or take a boat trip on the reservoir. For the more adventurous, permission can be obtained to trek for a few days up the Khao Panoen Thung road. Permits must be obtained at headquarters for this and guides will be necessary for any treking off the road. Note also that treking will not be possible during the rainy season when the trails are slippery and dangerous and the road may be impassable. Several bungalows are available for rent and there are camping sites, a restaurant and grocery shops available as well.Overall, Kaeng Krachan is one of the most important ecological areas in Thailand and a visit here is a must, both for those who want some exciting treking and others who want a more relaxing time.
National Park fees
These fees were yet again amended on December 1st 2007. There are now four categories of National Park. The first and most expensive will cost a foreign adult THB 400 and a foreign child 200, whereas a Thai adult gains entry for THB 80 and a Thai child 40. These parks are mainly found in southern Thailand around Phuket and the north.
Category 2 will cost THB 200/100/40/20 repectively.
Category 3 will cost THB 100/50/20/10 respectively.
Category 4 are free for all.
In the past, foreigners holding Permanent Residency, a Work Permit, a Thai driving licence or on foreign exchange student status were able to gain entry at Thai prices. If you have one of the above, it will be worth while discussing it with the rangers.
If you visit more than one National Park in a day, there is no additional charge unless any are more expensive than the first, in which case you will pay the difference..
Kaeng Krachan National Park & boat tour
For this trip we will be using a safari car, leaving Hua Hin early morning. We cross the open country side, passing plenty of Thai farms along the way including pineapple plantations, mango, and papaya before entering the Kaeng Krachan reservoir. The reservoir covers an area of 46.5 sq km and has a capacity of 710 million cubic meters. It was built using soil, which stopped the flow of the Petchburi River. The lake has many islands, the largest of which is approximately 75 sq km.
We enter the jungle by a road, which was built in 1988 especially for tourists convenience. This road runs through primary forest and offers spectacular mountain
views and wildlife, rugged mountain ranges covered in deep green forest all year round. Along the road we observe primates, birds and other wildlife, as well as stunning scenery. Lunch is at Ban Krang station and then a trek along the jungle track, back to Kaeng Krachan reservoir the afternoon is spent sailing on the lake and enjoying the fantastic views.
Includes: Entrance fees, English speaking guide, transport, lunch, accident insurance, drinking water along the way.
n English and the bay is long and wide. There is an interestingly formed cave on the south side with a hole through its middle. Swimming is reasonble at high tide and quad bikes are available for hire to explore the beach further. Alternatively, of course, you can just relax in the restaurant or on the beach. Khao Kalok makes for a good away-day from Hua Hin.
