Sai Yok National Park in Kanchanaburi

Sai Yok National Park is the second most popular national park visited by tourists in Kanchanaburi Province. It is very often visited from other resorts in Thailand during group excursions to the river Kwai (tours "Paradise on the river Kwai"). During such tours, tourists stay in a floating hotel on the territory and then float down the river to the Sai Yok Yai waterfall and sometimes visit the La Wa Cave. A visit to this National Park is often confused with a visit to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and a steam locomotive to Nam Tok railway stations, which in fact are not in his territory.

Sai Yok covers an area of about 500 square kilometers. On its territory there are mountains (the highest is 1327 meters), dense jungles, and the river Kwai flows. In the jungle you can see a lot of exotic plants, but the main feature of the forest is that it grows a lot of teak trees, which are considered the most valuable species in Thailand. It is also home to several species of exotic animals, including the endemic pig–nosed bat. There are several hiking trails for tourists to waterfalls, caves, historical sites, and observation points. In addition to hiking, you can swim on the river Kwai (more precisely, on one of its tributaries Kwae Noi River) by boat, make rafting on a raft or even in a life jacket.

You can visit the park and see the most interesting places within one day, but if you wish, you can spend the night in a bungalow, a floating hotel from 800 baht per room (24.46 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate), camping in your tent for 50 baht per day (1.53 USD), or rent a tent and sleeping bags in the camp for 300 baht (9.17 USD). The facilities in floating hotels on the river Kwai are the simplest, and if you are not satisfied with this option, you can stay in more comfortable conditions in the city of Kanchanaburi or in the towns next door. But keep in mind that the entrance fee to the park is paid once, and if you leave the territory to spend the night at the hotel and return there in the morning, you will have to pay the entrance fee again. If you decide to spend the night in the park, then there will be no problems with the infrastructure: there are amenities, several cafes, and even a shop.

When is it better to visit

You can visit Sai Yok all year round, but depending on the month of visit, you should be prepared for different weather conditions.

• The rainy season runs from May to October. Rains are very frequent and abundant, which can interfere with a trip to the park and especially an overnight stay in a tent, but at this time the waterfalls are very full-flowing, the forests are filled with life and bloom.
• The cold season runs from November to February. At this time it can be cool at night, often the scenery is hidden by fogs.
• From December to February is the dry season. This is the best time to go to the national park.
• From March to May is the hot season. It's also a good season, but the waterfalls are almost drying up.

No matter what time you come here, keep in mind that a lot of local tourists come to the park on weekends, you will not be able to enjoy the peace and quiet.

What and how to see in the park

No guide is required to walk along the hiking trails. As we have already mentioned, you can come to the park on your own for one day or several, paying for admission once. Then you can move along the designated routes for sightseeing, but you can not get off the trails. You can also rent a boat or raft for an additional fee (from 400 baht per hour), and go on it along the river. All information for visiting and route plans are provided in the Visitor's Centre, which is located inside the park.

Here are the main attractions that are worth a visit:

• Sai Yok Yai and Sai Yok Lek waterfalls

  These two waterfalls are located along the river and discharge their waters directly into it. The most famous and popular is Sai Yok Yai, it is located near the suspension bridge on the other side of the river from the information center, Sai Yok Lek is a little further 300 meters away. The waterfalls are not very large, and the view from the shore to them is not so impressive. It is much more interesting to look at them from the river, and in the dry season, when the water flow is small, you can even land at their foot and walk under the jets of water.

• Caves

  You can visit one of several karst caves. All of them are not equipped for visiting, so take a lantern with you (except the Lawa cave. Also, warm clothes will not hurt, because it is cool inside some caves.

  • Dao Wadung Cave

    To get to it, you need to go by boat for almost 6 kilometers, and then walk up the hill for one and a half kilometers. The length of the cave is 100 meters, bats live inside. A few minutes before sunset, they take off.

  • Kang Kao Cave

    Kang Kao can be reached on foot by a trail 2 kilometers from the information center. It is home to an endemic species – a tiny pig-nosed bat weighing only 2 grams.

  • Lawa Cave

    Also La Wa. One of the most impressive caves in the whole province, its length is 500 meters. The entrance is narrow, but inside there are huge halls with large stalactites and stalagmites. You can get to it by boat along the river and then on foot, but it is possible to get there by transport almost to the entrance to the cave, but in a detour. To do this, you do not need to go to the main entrance to the national Park, but go around it to the south and cross the river on the bridge. There will be another checkpoint in front of the cave, where you can also buy a permit to visit the park.

Working hours

The checkpoint is open from 07:00 to 17:00, stay in the park around the clock.

Entrance fee (ticket price)

400 baht adults (12.23 USD); 200 baht children (6.12 USD). You will also have to pay for the entry of transport: motorcycle – 20 baht (0.61 USD), car – 30 (0.92 USD).

How to get there

Sai Yok is located 100 kilometers south of the city of Kanchanaburi (Checkpoint to the park on the map). It is most convenient to get here by your own transport, but you will have to pay an additional 20 baht for a motorcycle, 30 for a car to enter the territory on it. Then, after the checkpoint, you can get to the Visitor's centre near the river, and park the transport there.

Without much difficulty, you can get here by public transport: train or bus. Nam Tok railway station is located 40 kilometers from the checkpoint, the last one on the Bangkok-Kanchanaburi line. Further from it to the entrance can be reached by songthaew route taxis. Which depart after the arrival of the train. For more information about the train and schedule, see here – how to get to Kanchanaburi.

Another way is by bus from Kanchanaburi Bus Station to Sangkhlaburi. It is sent from 07:00 to 17:00 according to the schedule every 40-50 minutes, it costs 80 baht (2.45 USD), 3 hours on the way. It does not go directly to the checkpoint, but stops on the main road, from where the entrance is less than a kilometer away, which can be overcome on foot or by motorcycle taxi for 20 baht.