Khao Yai National Park - An Oasis of Green Without Malls
Khao Yai: Thailand’s Jungle Playground (Now with Bonus Elephants, Wine, and Confused Alpacas) Tired of the beach? Sunburned in places you can’t pronounce? It’s time to swap the flip-flops for hiking boots and head to Khao Yai National Park, where you can hike through jungles, dodge elephants, chase waterfalls, sip wine that's surprisingly good after the fifth glass, and accidentally find yourself in Italy (sort of). Welcome to Khao Yai: part wildlife wonderland, part surreal Euro-cosplay, all magic. Where Even Is This Place? Khao Yai is about 2.5–3 hours northeast of Bangkok, located in Nakhon Ratchasima province (a.k.a. Korat). It’s Thailand’s first national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and big enough to get lost in both metaphorically and literally. It’s a land of misty mountains, waterfalls, tropical forests, and the occasional road-blocking wild elephant. How to Get There (Without Crying or Googling “how to reverse from elephant”) 1. Rent a Car aka The Control Freak’...