3 Days Itinerary in Khao Yai, Thailand
Here is all the information that you need to visit Khao Yai, including a 3 days itinerary!
Getting from the Airport to Khao Yai
There are a few ways to get to Khao Yai. You can choose to rent a car and drive to Khao Yai. Secondly, you can take a taxi there. Lastly, you can hire a private driver for the trip. I would highly recommend the last option, as that's the most value for money option, especially when you are travelling in a group. On top of that, the driver would know the short cut and some deals in Khao Yai too.
Getting around Khao Yai
It's tough to get around the various tourist attractions without a car. There's hardly any public transport available in Khao Yai as well. I didn't even spot any taxi when I was there. Hence, it's ideal to hire a private driver to pick you up from the airport and bring you around Khao Yai. These drivers could even help you to get tickets to some of the attractions too.
Weather and Temperature
Khao Yai is part of Thailand. Thailand is known to be hot! It's no different in Khao Yai. It's warm and humid most of the time. The weather is slightly cooling at the end of November to early December, but it's still hot. At times, it would rain too. This statement is coming from someone who lives in Singapore, where the weather is hot and humid also.
Accommodation in Khao Yai
It’s easier to get accommodation in Khao Yai during the off-peak season. However, if you are going there from end November to early January, you are highly encouraged to book the hotels or resorts as soon as possible. I learnt this the hard way. I was not able to find any accommodation within my budgets 2 months before the trip commences. If not, the places have no more rooms. If you are going there with a bigger group, you can even opt to rent a terrace from AirBnB.
Khao Yai Sunflower Season
The sunflower season in Khao Yai is from end November to early January yearly. The ideal timing to be in Khao Yai would be in December. However, sometimes, the sunflowers would start to wilt from end December onwards. You can't control Mother Nature. You may also wish to note that the Jim Thompson Farm, one of the places to see sunflowers, opens only in December every year. Do I need to elaborate more on when is Khao Yai Sunflower Season?
Best time to go to Khao Yai
The best time to go to Khao Yai is December, as the weather is slightly cooling. (We are talking about an average of 25 degrees C.) A few more attractions opened during December as well. Most importantly, if you are there for the sunflower, December is the PRIME duration to visit Khao Yai.
Here's a 3 days Itinerary created for you!
Day 1
Travelling from Bangkok to Khao Yai
You could choose to stay in Bangkok before visiting Khao Yai. Or, you could go straight from Suvarnabhumi Airport. I prefer going to Khao Yai first because I have been to Bangkok several times. Moreover, the chances of you getting stuck in a jam are minimal if you go to Khao Yai from the Airport first. On top of that, it's the easiest pick-up location to first meet your driver.
Stop 1 - Lunch and tour around PB Valley Khao Yai Winery
Estimated time required: 4 hours, including of lunch.
It takes about 3 hours drive to Khao Yai. You would be hungry by the time you reach there. Hence, it is ideal to go for lunch, visit a winery and have some wine tasting. Here’s an important pointer: book your tour in advance! You may also want to take note that there are specific timing for the trip around the winery. The tour includes a wine tasting session.
Read more about the tour here.
Stop 2 - Coffee Break at Yellow Submarine
Estimated time required: 1 - 2 hours, depending on how long you want to chill there. I saw a couple taking a good 1 hour, posing around the cafe and taking #ootds.
Nothing beat the heat than having a lovely cafe to chill in, have some Thai Milk Tea and toast.
Read more about the cafe here.
Stop 3 - Check in to Hotel and have a break
By now you would be tired out due to food coma and the heat, you could now check in to the hotel to have a short break before going out for dinner.
Stop 4 - Dinner
Have a nice dinner, then head back to the hotel and have a good rest!
Day 2
Stop 1 - Photo stop at Sunflower Field (Manee Sorn Sunflower Field)
Estimated time required: 1 hour
You have not been to Khao Yai if you do not go to a Sunflower Field! Go there early in the morning to take some good photos. Remember to bring your smiles along too. You could purchase some fresh sunflower seeds as snacks here too! It’s delicious.
Read more about the Sunflower Field.
Stop 2 - Tour around Khao Yai National Park
Estimated time required: 2.5 hours or more, if you like nature.
Take a short hike and view Heaw Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park. If you are lucky, you would be able to see wild animals in the park. Note: there’s no food available here. So, if you would like, you can picnic in an open field in the park too. However, I won’t encourage that as the weather is unbearable.
Click here to read more about the Khao Yai National Park.
Stop 3 - Lunch
Estimated time required: 1.5 hours
Time to load up and regain your energy!
Stop 4 - Photo stop and coffee break at Palio Village
Estimated time required: 1 hour or less
Walk around the village and take photos. You can enjoy a refreshing coconut ice-cream here too.
Click here to read more.
Stop 5 - Photo stop and see farm animals at Primo Piazza
Estimated time required: 2 hours
Have fun feeding the farm animals, and take photos with them. Watch the sheep running around. Walk around the village and take some photos.
Click here to read more about Primo Piazza.
Stop 6 - Chocolate Break at the Chocolate Factory
Estimated time required: 1 hour or more/less
Have a short chocolate break at the Chocolate Factory before going back to the hotel. Have a cuppa of hot chocolate and enjoy the taste of the chocolate. Feel free to buy some chocolates as souvenirs for others or yourself. There is also a restaurant there too, where you could have dinner too.
Stop 7 - Short break at the hotel
Stop 8 - Dinner
That's the end of the day!
Day 3
Stop 1 - Cosplay at the Hobbit Place (Bann Suan Noi Resort)
Estimated time required: 1 - 2 hours
Start the day with a photo stop at Khao Yai’s Hobbit Place a.k.a Bann Suan Noi Resort. Give yourself more time if you are going to play dress up here and take photos. This place is a cheaper alternative than flying to New Zealand Hobbit Place.
Click here to read more about Bann Suan Noi Resort.
Stop 2 - Lunch
Stop 3 - Jim Thompson Farm
Estimated time required: 4 hours
The farm is big, either you visit there once it's open so that you could have some peace before the remaining tourists are here. There's a bus on the farm to bring you from one section to the other, but you could walk too, it's manageable. Most of the time, you would be taking in the view and taking photos. Your kids would be having fun at some the wooden toys. Take time to enjoy the traditional performance too.
Stop 4 -Dinner
Have a early dinner and break. Pack your luggage before you move on to your next destination.
Expenses
Here's a list of expenses for your reference.
Accommodation: Average of SGD 120 per night
Sim Card: SGD 5.50
Transport (Private Driver in Khao Yai): 4000 baht per passenger
Tours and Tickets: 1100 baht per passenger and vehicle, including taxes
Meal: 1000 - 1500 baht per person for 1 meal
Cost of air ticket is not reflected, as the prices change every season. On top of that, it depends on your travelling style. Some may opt to take business class, while some take budget airlines. Based on experience, the cost of an returned Economy class ticket via Singapore/Bangkok by Singapore Airline or Thai Airways is around SGD 270, including taxes.
I got my sim card from Changi Recommends. It' a hassle to get a sim card in Bangkok Airport, because there is no proper queue and you are wasting time waiting for your turn. The sim card cost slightly more expensive in Bangkok too. It’s about 7 SGD. Normally, I would just pre-order my sim card from Changi Recommends, collect it and change it when I am in Bangkok. This is much more convenient.
Other Notes
Here are the hotels that I stayed at in Khao Yai:
Here are some dinner venues that you may be interested in:
I did not manage to try Midwinter Green Restaurant, as there was a long queue on the day that I wanted to try. I have to wait for approximately 40 minutes to get a table for 4. However, seeing the crowd, I highly doubt that's going to happen. Here's a tip, when you reach Midwinter Green, do not get into the queue. Walk to the receptionist and ask for a queue number if you wish to dine there. Alternatively, go for an early dinner.
There are also other places that I wanted to visit but didn't have the chance such as the Pak Chong Night Market and some other cafes. Having said these, 3 days 3 nights in Khao Yai is good enough to have a wholesome experience.
Khao Yai is an excellent getaway, even from Bangkok. I would recommend that you add on a few days to your trip to Bangkok and visit Khao Yai. It's a nice experience. However, it's pretty expensive for solo-travellers. I won't recommend going to Khao Yai alone, as it's not value for money. Well... unless you are willing to splurge, then by all means!
That's all and see you again!
x, Esther
PS: Click here to read all the posts related to Khao Yai. Or view the itinerary.