Fed up with all the mundane tourist attractions? Yearning to get some breath of fresh air? Then a change of scenery is definitely called for. If you are truly searching for a place that is new to the eyes and refreshing to the soul, you might want to give Thailand's pride--Khao Yai National Park--a try.

Fed up with all the mundane tourist attractions? Yearning to get some breath of fresh air? Then a change of scenery is definitely called for.

If you are truly searching for a place that is new to the eyes and refreshing to the soul, you might want to give Thailand's pride--Khao Yai National Park--a try. The park has delicious and excellent offerings to indulge the human senses in. The following sights on a Khao Yai day trip may be just what the doctor ordered to treat your ennui.

Safari-Like Scenes

Thailand’s second largest park, Khao Yai National Park is located in the western part of the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, at the southwestern boundary of the Khorat Plateau. With its 2,168 square kilometers, the park serves as a home to a diverse array of fauna. There are 320 species of birds, such as red junglefowl and green peafowl. Mammals are abundant as 66 species have been noted, including Asiatic black bear, Asian elephant, dhole, Indian sambar deer, pig-tailed macaque, Indian muntjac, gaur, and wild pig. Tigers of the Indochinese subspecies have joined the list as they have been recently discovered in the park as well. Although sightings of each and every species are not guaranteed, there is still a feeling of thrill and excitement over the thought of a wild animal crossing you path at any moment.

Breathtaking Waterfalls

 What better way to feel truly alive than to experience the spray of cool, refreshing water on your face? Even if you do not get close enough to the waterfalls to get a feel of the water, you can still admire them from a distance. The largest among all the waterfalls in the park, Haew Narok Waterfall stretches 150 meters from its top tier down to the basal lake. Prepare to be captivated by the three other waterfalls that you can find not too far from Narok, namely the Haew Suwat Waterfalls, Haew Sai Waterfalls, and Haew Pratoon Waterfalls. The best time to view the spectacular falls is during the rainy season--which is in the months of June, July and August--since they tend to be almost dry during the hot season.

Verdant Landscapes

 The central area of Khao Yai National Park is covered by a tropical, moist evergreen forest. There are about 2,000 species of plants to astonish the visitors as they take hikes or bike around. To name a few, there are towering moss-draped trees, climbers and epiphytes, tangled trunks of the strangling figs, multicolored lichens and a constantly changing array of fungi. With all the greens that the park has to offer, it will never fail to make you appreciate the beauty of nature, even if you are a bit far from being a tree hugger.

Fantastic Fruit Stands

The national park has a number of fruit concession stands within its perimeter. You will salivate at the sight of all there is to stuff your mouth with. If you are lucky enough, you may get to taste some of the exotic fruits before buying them: sweet and succulent mangoes, hairy but delightful rambutans, and smelly yet yummy durian. Just what you need for a long hike! Animals, waterfalls, plants and food... you may not have thought you could see them all in one day, but by taking a trip to Khao Yai National Park, you can get even more!