This fertile forest is the source of the Petchaburi and Pranburi Rivers. There are many super features such as lakes, waterfalls, caves and beautiful cliffs. It is the largest National Park in Thailand covering an area of 2,915 square kilometers. It offers a wide array of natural attractions and activities:

Bird Watching: The main area for bird watching is on the Wang Won-Panoen Thung route at the 15-kilometer marker. There are broadbills, green-billed malkohas, woodpeckers, hooded pittas and many kinds of hornbills. White-hooded babblers and white-crested laughing thrushes can be found between kilometer markers 26-29. Ratchet-tailed treepies can be seen in flocks feeding with coral-billed scimitar- babblers. From here on, birds from the north can be seen such as flavescent bulbuls bird, white-browed shrike-babblers and grey treepies etc.

Butterfly Watching: Butterflies can be found on both sides of the highway on the Wang Won-Panoen Thung route from the 10-kilometer marker onwards. Around the reservoirs there are common jays, glassy bluebottles and common ceruleans. On the bushes are common plain sailors, common five-rings and clipper butterflies. The common nawab butterflies can be found on animal droppings. The hard to find banded peacock butterflies can be spotted at the Park Rangers Center at KJ 4 Ban Krang.

Panoen Thung Mountain is 50 kilometers from the National Park office and rises 1,207 meters above sea level. It is cool all year round and the top is covered with grass and small trees. The best time to visit is at the end of the rainy season and the start of the cool season. There are 2 routes to the top. The first starts at kilometer marker 27.5 on the Wang Won-Panoen Thung Highway. This route takes about 6 hours. The second route is at kilometer marker 30 on the same road. It takes 4 hours and professional guides are essential as there are steep cliffs and narrow paths. For safety reasons, the National Park has limited car journeys up from Ban Krang twice daily at 5:30-8:00 and 13:00-15:00 and going down from Panoen Thung at 10:00-12:00 and 16:00-17:00. The sea of mist covering the mountains can be seen all year round at kilometer marker 36 on the Wang Won-Panoen Thung Highway - just before the route to the Tho Thip Waterfall. After the mist clears, dense forests can be seen on the mountains all the way to the horizon.

Great hornbill and wreathed hornbill birds can sometimes be seen flying over the forests. Car journeys to this point are carefully regulated and visitors must spend the night at a camping site belonging to the Panoen Thung Park Rangers at kilometer marker 30 so as to be able to view the sea of mist in the morning. The Wang Won-Tho Thip Waterfall route at about kilometer marker 34.5 is a very scenic route. The mountains, sea of mist, luscious green forests and many animals and birds can all be seen on this path. The Phetchaburi and Bang Kloy rivers offer breathtaking views from their banks. Rafting is a great way to view the forests and wild animals.

Bat Caves: There are many exciting natural features on the way to the caves and they provide superb views of the forest and mountains. Viman Cave is filled with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Traces of ancient peoples such as broken tiles and stone axes can be found within. The atmosphere in the cave is cool and breezy. The 3-tiered Huai Pla Kang Waterfall is nearby. Hua Chang Cave (Elephant Head Cave) is within the Khao Sam Roi Yod (3 Hundred Peaks) mountain range and Viman Cave. It has awe-inspiring stalagmites and stalactites and traces of prehistoric cave dwellers. The Kang Krachan Dam-Reservoir covers a total area of 46.5 square kilometers. 30 to 40 islands rise up from the water creating a breathtaking scene. A good way to view this beauty is by boat with the added bonus of a stunning sunset behind the Tanaosri Mountain. The 3-tiered Kra Dang La Waterfall is situated north of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Amper Nong Yaa Plong. Cholanat Waterfall is also 3-tiered and is the highest in Kaeng Krachan National Park at 150-200 meters tall. It is near Pa-la-au Waterfall in Ampher Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Tho Thip Waterfall is 4 kilometers from the top of Panoen Tung Mountain. It has 18 levels and is the source of the Phetchaburi River. The area is surrounded by other waterfalls such as the Pranburi Waterfall (Tharn Thip Waterfall or-5 tiered Waterfall), Mae Salieng Waterfall and hot springs. The vegetation is abundant and lush. Tharn Thip Waterfall has 7 levels and water flows all year round. It is close to Tho Thip and Hin Lard Waterfalls. Pranburi Waterfall is 3-tiered with flowing water all year round and is close to the Wang Won-Tho Thip Waterfall route (around kilometer marker 23). Pa-la-au Waterfall is at the south of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Ampher Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Kan. It has 16 levels with water flows all year round. It is a very popular destination. Mae Salieng or Salieng Waterfall is 3-tiered with water all year around. It can be found 34 kilometers from the park headquarters. Once at the kilometer marker 27 intersection, turn west for another 5 kilometers. It is suitable for trekking and camping. Huay Pa Lao Waterfall has 7 levels and is close to Pa La Au Waterfall in Ampher Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Hua Paa Gnow Waterfall is situated south of an area of 4 groups of waterfalls. It is easily accessible and is situated in T.Nong Plub, Ampher Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan adjacent to the Royal Project Huai Saat Yai (Large Animals Creek). Hin Lard Waterfall (Sloping Rock) has 5 levels with water all year round. It is close to Tho Thip and Tharn Thip Waterfalls. Paa Nam Yod (Dripping Water Cliff) can be viewed from the Petchaburi River when rafting. It is a steep cliff with a constant stream of water dripping into the river. In the rainy season, this creates a wall of green moss covering the entire cliff. Larn Hannuman or Khao Pa Ka Rang (Coral Mountain) is a hill covered with coral. The area is inhabited by large numbers of monkeys and gibbons. It makes a tremendous viewing point.

For more information:
Kaeng Krachan National Park
Tel: +66 3245 9293