Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Trips Alerts Sign in Alerts Sign in Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. (cc by) Established in 1999, the park is located in the western part of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, in the mountainous region bordering Myanmar. These are the best city parks in Bangkok. Explore different ways to experience this place. The elephants usually stay in the forest until the late afternoon, especially on bright sunny days. The park closes at 6pm in the evening. The islands are one of the very few untouched places in Thailand. Although sightings are rare, February to April is the more ideal time to spot large pelagic species like manta rays and whale sharks. The Kui Buri National Park is not accessible by public transport. I had read the many reviews on this NP, and wanted to see the wild elephants and gaur for myself. We also provide important tips and tricks for making new journeys, but also for capturing those precious memories in your own travel photos. Getting a car costs 850 THB per group/vehicle. Tolani Resort Kui Buri. We saw just one, at a pretty far distance but it was still an awesome experience to see a free elephant just walking around through the huge plains. Was lucky enough to glimpse a family of elephants through the trees thanks to the guides beady eyes but it was very hot, and would think more activity towards closing time (18:00) than opening (14:00) as previous reviewers have suggested There are tour companies as noted. This bay has shallow and calm waters, the best bay in the islands for snorkelers to swim off from the beach. Thanks.. Kui Buri, Thailand 2023: Best Places to Visit - Tripadvisor Of course, there is a risk of that. The personal interaction, the leadership in educating our little family how to quietly respect and view, what we learned through watching about elephant family intra- and inter-action; staying in a quaint hut where we were presented with a beautiful evening meal on a patio, while watching the various "elephant families" taking turns taking baths, waiting in line, at dusk, in the watering pool.this was an absolutely unbelievable experience. License: 14/03405, license issued for GibbonWoot Limited Partnership (managing company), Erawan Falls, Hellfire Pass & historical sites, Erawan Falls, Sai Yok NP & more - 2D/1N raft house, Khao Yai - 1-day wildlife tour with night safari, Doi Inthanon - DIY taxi tour from Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep - DIY taxi tour from Chiang Mai, Erawan Falls/Hellfire Pass - DIY taxi tour, Pala-U Waterfall - DIY taxi tour from Hua Hin, Khao Sam Roi Yot - DIY taxi tour from Hua Hin, Khao Sok - taxi service to/from all nearby towns, Khao Yai - 2D/1N DIY taxi tour from Bangkok, Khao Yai - 3D/2N DIY taxi tour from Bangkok, Khao Yai & Ayutthaya - taxi day tour from Bangkok, Kui Buri elephant watching area - taxi servcice from Hua Hin, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International, Khura Buri, ~12 km and 20 minutes driving, Khao Sok National Park headquarters, ~95 km and 1.5 hours driving, Phuket, ~200 km and 3.5 to 4 hours driving, Krabi & Ao Nang, ~200 km and 3 hours driving, Surat Thani, ~220 km and 3 hours 15 mins driving, Visitor Center at the mainland; 076-472145, 076-472146 (English speaking staff always available). As the money transfer must be done within 2 days and the fact that it takes a longer time with transfer from abroad, it is only possible to book from within Thailand. The park is open 24 hours a day from 15th October to 15th May and gets closed the rest of the year during the rainy seasons. Are you able to pay the 200 entrance and drive your own car? The forest floor in the mangroves is covered by muddy sediments formed by the tides, densely covered by horizontally grown tree roots above and below the ground. There is one small community of the ethnic Moken minority, locally known as "Chao Lay". We had a wonderful afternoon at Kui Buri National Park. We will never share your email address with third parties or send advertisements. Thailand has 16 known species of Kingfisher including these eye-catching banded kingfishers Araleboy / Getty Images, Jungle safaris, kayaking and bird-spotting at Thailand's top national parks. Sapa is a remote town in northwestern Vietnam that, Ha Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, inclu, Cat Ba Island, great nature and starting point for, A few more shots from the Ha Giang Loop. Koh Ban and Koh Tachai Islands are not part of the Surin Islands, they are part of Similan Islands 40 km further south. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Would you like to carry a bunch of monkeys on your back because they want to take a nice picture for their monkeygram? The opening times/dates, entrance fees all confirmed with the park authorities. As the driver was in radio contact with rangers, we continued to the furthest viewing area as apparently some elephants were seen there. In total, this was a third of the cost of an organized tour. What an amazing way to see elephants in the wild!!! The unbelievably beautiful Erawan Waterfall which lends its name to this national park is one of the most visited outdoor spots in all of Thailand, and warrants a quick trip even if youre on an ultra-tight itinerary. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. First of all, it has to be said that elephant watching is one of the top tourist attractions in Thailand. is there anyone to want to joined us tommorow or 8.7.17.? A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. Truly wild elephants & buffalos. Especially in the months of December to March, this is an unbelievably beautiful sight. Cars will be charged with 30 THB. The entrance has no amenities compared the the Phraya Nakhon cave to the best of my knowledge. It's not a zoo or a sanctuary. Kui Buri National Park is known to be the best place in Thailand to spot elephants and relatively good chance to spot gaurs, and that sometimes in big herds. Peak hotel prices generally start between March and May. Heres where to start. The 'safari' is excellent value for money and is one of the best ways see Thailand's wildlife in the WILD. The main attraction of the park is a kilometer long boardwalk over the mangrove forests. In my personal opinion, it is, even though the price is rather high for Thai standards. Sorry to put a downer on your question. T.A.T. Hope this helps. Sightings of one or more of these beautiful animals are almost certain. There are three accomodations for rent in Surin Nuea Island. Before you hop on the pickup truck, consider renting binoculars. Moken community has been hit by two disasters over the last two decades; The first disaster wiped out back then two villages during the December 2004 Tsunami. Paradise Home Resort. You park your car, buy the ticket (1,050THB at the time of writing) and then walk through onto the back of a pick-up truck. Located about two hours by road from Bangkok, Khao Yai is spread over more than 770-sq-mi (2000-sq-km) of rolling hill terrain in one of the most idyllic landscapes in the country. This is a great visit. There are many spots in Thailand that *claim* to rescue elephants and treat those elephants well. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In Kui Buri, the chance of running into wild elephants is just under 100%. They are wild animals, free to do what they want and thats the beauty of it. It seemed that there were fewer than 50 visitors that day at the park, which is only open for a few hours in the afternoon. During our travels in Thailand, we visited several of its amazing national parks, including Khao Yai National Park. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I truly hope that my two children never forget it, as nor will I. the personal attention given by the staff, etc, was unforgettableI KNOW,THIS was a magnificent experience! There are two campsites in Surin Nuea Island but they are open at different periods of the year. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. All are subject to governmental rules, regulations and entrance fees (also note: some parks close during the annual monsoon season between May and October). Located on the fringes of the park are quaint villages of ethnic Karen and Hmong communities, where you can experience the indigenous cultures and cuisines of this unspoilt mountainous region. Payments can be done at 7-Eleven convenience stores or banks. The easiest way to arrange ferry tickets is in Khura Buri town. Therefore, always remember to wear sunscreen and a hat. Mentioning Khura Buri Pier and Surin Islands to the taxi or minivan drivers will nearly always help, a couple of calls from the drivers and you will be taken to a minivan company that operates to Khura Buri. Must visit! - Review of Kui Buri National Park, Kui Buri, Thailand Some information can be read directly from the map. You park your car, buy the ticket (1,050THB at the time of writing) and then walk through onto the back of a pick-up truck. 98% of travellers recommend this experience. The park is located in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province, about an hours drive from the famous seaside resort of Hua Hin and almost 4 hours from Bangkok. more. We slept in Prachuap Khiri Khan and we went there by motorbike. And we die! Kui Buri National Park: Must visit! Has anyone done it? The weekend trip to Kui Buri can be easily connected with another great national park Sam Rot Yod. Just imagine how you would think if you got tourists around your home every day. Park accommodations or tents can be booked through the DNP website in advance. Can anyone recommend affordable overnight accommodations close to or within the park? Thailand have done a great job here to establish a group of 300 elephants in the wild that we can see in their own environment. You will need to find a taxi driver that knows how to get to the main entrance deep in the park where the jeep tours start. It takes about 90 minutes to get there by car from Hua Hin. There are also picnic benches in a few spots in the forest to sit and relax. You can drive to Kui Buri by car or taxi, but you can only enter the park on a jeep driven and accompanied by local guides. From Hua Hin, Pran Buri or another city? For 4 persons or more: THB 950.- / adult, THB 750.- / child (max. At the far end of the park we saw about a dozen moms and babies gathered around a natural salt lick. All these cities are connected by railway. - See 201 traveler reviews, 276 candid photos, and great deals for Kui Buri, Thailand, at Tripadvisor. Kui Buri National Park is closed from 1st September until 31st October due to the rainy season. . Find all our other Thailand blogs on this page >>, Cattanis Riverside Home: Our dream stay in Ayutthaya. Hi, my husband and I are planning to visit the park in the next few days, is there anyone who want to visit around this time also and would be interested in sharing a guide? Having been to many places on this planet, this ranks as one of the top. We had a wonderful afternoon at Kui Buri National Park. 2022 All rights reserved by howwetravelled.com, Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions. Most of the animals can be seen from a distance so if you dont have a good zoom lens for your camera, it might be difficult to see them clearly. By far our best stay in Thailand. Book your tickets online for Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Kui Buri: See 348 reviews, articles, and 716 photos of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 5 attractions in Kui Buri. The national park covers an area of 135 km of which 76% is sea. Many thanks. The park is also home to acclaimed animal species like the Indian elephant, the Asian black bear and the white-handed gibbon. The total Moken population of the Islands is around 329 people (by 2019) in 78 houses. Incepted in 1962 as Thailands first national park, Khao Yai is an undisputed crowd-puller when it comes to nature and wildlife. The adjacent national parks of Khao Sam Roi Yot and Kui Buri bring together the best of animal spotting and bird watching in the country. Further inland from Khao Sam Roi Yot, located along a slim tract of land sandwiched between the sea and the international border with Myanmar, Kui Buri is the top spot for encounters with wild Indian elephants. At the last stop, we were able to get off the truck, but the only photo opportunity was a panorama of the beautiful landscape, which was satisfying as well! Extending like liquid tentacles through a network of now-submerged valleys, the vast lake measures more than 70 sq mi (180 sq km) in size, and is hemmed by towering karst and limestone outcrops along the waters edge. The great hornbill, the Austens brown hornbill and the rare rufous-tailed robin are some of the most iconic residents. 2 view points had nothing to see. Please advise costs involved if possible. Go to the Kui Buri National Park. A visit to Pran Buri Forest Park can be combined with visiting Thao Ko Sa Forest Park south, or even Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park further south. The tip of the rock formation can be seen above the sea surface during the low tides. The mangrove forests are next to the Pran Buri River where the river reaches the Gulf of Thailand, consequently affected by the tides. Pran Buri Forest Park - Thai National Parks If you drive your own car/scooter, you'll pay the parking lot + 850 THB for the guide and driver and car. By order of the then Thai king, restrictions were placed on the expansion of the surrounding agriculture and part of the land was returned to nature and the animals. You might also like:The 15 most amazing places to visit in ThailandHow to interact ethically with elephants in ThailandDo you need a visa to go to Thailand? Me and my girlfriend want to visit national park and we're looking for someone who want to rent a car with a driver and see the wild elephants. Gaurs, bantengs and deers are also quite common. It is very rare that people leave here without having seen the animals. This resulted in houses being built very near each other. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. 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