Topography Kaeng Krachan national park was established in 1981 as the 28th
national park in Thailand. It is the largest national park in
Thailand with 2,915 square kilometers of forest in the watersheds of
the Phetchaburi and Pranburi rivers. It includes portions of Nong Ya
Plong, Kreng Krachan and Tha Yang districts in Phetchaburi province
and of Hua Hin in Prachuab Khiri Khan province.
The park includes a reservoir lake, waterfalls, caves, mountains. It
is almost entirely covered with evergreen forest which supports
ecologically, economically and scientifically valuable plants and
animals including many wild elephants. The park is an excellent
place for recreation and education.
Kreng Krachan dam, at the middle of the eastern border of the park,
is the first earthern dam constructed in Thailand. Its reservoir is
fed by forested watershed which extend to the Tenasserim mountain
range dividing the watersheds of the Gulf of Siam and the Andaman
Sea.
The park is composed of two major watersheds. About half of the area
drains into the Phetchaburi river which flows to Kaeng Krachan dam
at the eastern edge of the park (near the headquarters) and then
down through farmland to the provincial capital of Phetchaburi. The
southern haft of the park drains into the Pranburi river which flows
south to the Pranburi dam and then to the town of Pranburi in
Prachuab Khiri Khan province. Because of abundant rainfall and
healthy forest cover in these watersheds, the streams, waterfalls
and rivers of Keang Krachan flow year round.
Humidity remains high throughout the year with heavy rain during the
rainy season, and cool weather for much of the year. The steep
forested areas of the park are even more humid than the young forest
and cleared lands in the lower elevations.
Due to the high humidity of evergreen forest there are many
economically valuable trees such as Afzelia, Hopea, Dipterocarpus,
Lagerstroemia, Pterocarpus, Aquilaria and many more. Wild life
includes elephant, gaur, banteng, barking deer, gibbon, wild pig and
birds.
Tourist attractions
Visitors to the park may enjoy relexing by the lake near the
headquarters, touring Pala-u waterfall in Prachuab Khiri Khan
province, or taking a boat tour of the lake and the lower
Phetchaburi.
Visitors can request permission to travel up the Khao Panoen Thung
road or to arrange hikes of one or more days. Visitors who wish to
tour the forest along the Khao Panoen Thung road or to hike the
trails within the forest must request a permit at the visitor center
at the headquarters. In general, guide service is required for any
forest travel away from the Khao Panoen Thung road. Trekking may not
be possible during the rainy season.
Lake or Kaeng Krachan reservoir The reservoir covers an area
of 46.5 square kilometers with the capacity of 710 million cubic
meters of water. There are 20 to 30 islands dotting the water
surface. The lake was created by the construction of the earth-dam
which block the Phetchaburi river. Visitors can hire boats for
sightseeing on the lake.
Panoen Thung mountain At 1,207 meters above sea level, this
is the second highest peak in the park. On the mountain top,
grassland (about 500 square meters area) and evergreen forest make a
good camping spot, with cool temperatures year-round. A 6+ kilometer
hard trail (about 5 to 6 hours) to the peak begins at Panoen Thung
at km. marker 30.
Thorthip waterfall This 9 level waterfall, located deep in
the forest, can be reached by a steep 4 kilometers trail from the
end of the Nam Tok Thorthip road (km. marker 36), 55 kilometers from
the headquarters. A campground has been built nearby at the
confluence with the Phetburi river.
Tharnthip and Hinlad waterfall These two waterfalls cascade
through deep forest. They are located on a tributary of the
Pherchaburi river about 5 kilometers upstream of the Thortip
confluence, and can be visited as part of a 3 or 4 day loop trekking
along with Thortip waterfall.
Pranburi waterfall This 3 level waterfall is located on the
upper Pranburi river, in the valley just south of the steep
hill-climb at kilometer 18 - 23 on the Khao Panoen Thung road. It
can be visited in one-day hike.
Mae Laliang waterfall This 3 level waterfall is located 5
kilometers west of the roadside campground at kilometer 27.
There are several other interesting places including waterfalls, hot
springs, caves in the park.
Accommodations and facilities
There are several bungalows for rent. Campground, restaurant, and
grocery shops are available.How to get there
Bangkok to Phetchaburi is 115 kilometers. There are many roads which
enter the park.
1. If driving from Bangkok on the highway no.4 to the south there is
a turn-off road to the right at 6 km north of Phetchaburi. Follow
this route till it meets the route no. 3499. Turn right (to the
west) into the route no. 3499 to get to the park headquarters.
2. Starting from Phetchaburi, drive 20 kilometers on the highway
no.4 towards (to the south) Tha Yang district. Take a right turn and
drive 38 kilometers to the park. This last section of the road is
route no. 3499.
Contact address
Kaeng Krachan National Park
Amphur Kaeng Krachan,
Phetchaburi 76170
