Nationwide, there are some really worth seeing national parks and nature parks. In addition to 26 marine national parks, there are more than 140 nature reserves and national parks, of which about 120 parks are currently considered pure national parks.

Among the most famous parks are Khao Sok National Park and Nopparat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi with its world famous Maya Bay.

Important: Various nature and national parks are closed during the low season / rainy season for visitors! Most of the closures are for tourist safety, with Maya Bay officially closed for environmental protection reasons. The closure of the Similans is not only safety but also environmental protection!

Parks in the South: Here are the national parks Tarutao and Koh Phetra, Koh Surin, Koh Similan, Laem Son, Koh Bulon, Koh Lao Liang, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Rok (Nai and Nok) and in the national park around Ranong the island Koh Chang and Khai Tao Bay are closed annually from 16 May to 14 October. The visit of the parks is by boat. In the off-season here is partly expected to high waves.

Closure of Maya Bay (Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park) until about 2021! An appointment for the reopening of the bay is currently uncertain!

Parks in the East: The areas around Koh Kood, Khao Laem Ya National Park with Koh Thalu and Koh Samet are closed from 1 May to 30 September.

Parks in the West: In the Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, the Nok Nang Aen and Sao Hin Caves are closed from May 1 to February 28.

Parks in the north: Doi Pui National Park closes Doi-Suthep-Pui campsite, Huay Nam Dang National Park campsite, Kaeng Luang Nan area in Sri Nan National Park and Doi Wiang Pha National Park from 1 May to 30 September.

Parks in the Northeast: The areas around Khae Huay Mark and the Thad Toan Waterfall (Khaeng Thana National Park) are closed from May 1st to July 31st. The Khong Khao Sri Boon Nao area and the western area of Phra That Luang Pu Wang, as well as the Phra That Jedi National Park Phu Lanka are closed from May 1st to October 31st.

Entrance fees:
Most parks cost between 200-400 THB per person (adult), THB 150 - 200 per child and Thai citizens THB 20 for children and THB 50 for adults.

In the case of pure nature conservation areas, admission is free.

Khao Sok is surely Thailand's most popular national park and was named one of the 8 most beautiful national parks in the world in April 2019 by Vogue magazine.

The park currently covers an area of approximately 740 km² and is located in the province of Surat Thani in the south of Thailand between Takua Pa (about 40 km east), Khao Lak (about 75 km northeast) and Surat Thani (about 110 km west) , The boundaries of the park were shifted by the construction of the Ratchaprapha dam and the associated flooding of a part of the park and adjacent land: The accumulation of the Khlong Saeng River in this area has created the Cheow-Larn Lake. The dam serves to generate electricity from hydropower. This area is one of the absolute "must-sees" in the park because of the picturesque landscape. Spread over the Cheow Larn Lake are several limestone cones that protrude from the water. Boat trips can be made on the lake, and a few floating rafthouses (bungalow and tent facilities) have settled down near the shores.

Admission: Adults 300 THB and children 150 THB, for multi-day tours, accommodation costs and (possibly) costs for a guide. There are different tours available!

Read more about Khao Sok here: Khao Sok Natonalpark

Maya Bay became one of the biggest tourist magnets in the whole of Thailand with the movie "The Beach" from the year 2000. After the 2004 tsunami and reconstruction, more and more tourists visit this small island each year. Unfortunately, this has negative consequences for nature and the environment, because everywhere on the island Phi Phi Don you will find "building sins" and unfortunately also a lot of rubbish. The garbage has always been a problem on the small islands, since the waste disposal is complicated: waste must be taken by ship to the nearest mainland, there to be sorted and processed in landfills. Through consistent over-tourism, pollution and warming of the oceans, the corals die off in the coastal areas around the islands. Scientists and the park management of Hat Nopparat Thara - Mu Koh Phi Phi Marine Park have ordered the closure of Maya Bay so that the ecosystem can recover here. The duration of the closure is not yet foreseeable, but eventually the bay will be closed to visitors until 2021. Thereafter, it should only be open for a limited number of visitors.

Admission: adults 400 THB and children 200 THB

The Geopark offers hiking trails and caves as well as beautiful waterways for canoeing. In April 2018, the park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Here is also the Tham Le Stegadon Cave. The cave is nearly 4 km long and one of the longer caves in Thailand. It is thwarted by 3 different cave systems. The cave can be accessed by canoes and has an exit at Ban Tha Oil Pier. From the ceiling of the cave grow huge stalactites. At the pier there is an old fishing port.

Admission: Visiting the Geopark is 200 THB. There are different tours offered with guides.

Off the coast of Satun is the Tarutao National Park. The park also includes the islands of Koh Adang and Koh Rawi. Here you will find turquoise blue coves with crystal clear water and excellent diving and snorkeling spots. During the rainy season / low season from mid-May to 14th October the park is closed.
Admission: Adults 200 THB and Children 100 THB

Ao Phang-Nga offers various sights, some of which can be visited free of charge. This includes for example the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. From here you have a magnificent view over the entire Phang-Nga Bay and the offshore islands. Detailed information on the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint can be found in our article Phang-Nga. Panyee Village and the James Bond Rock can only be reached by boat.
More about this in our article James Bond Island
Admission: Adults pay 300 THB and children 100 THB

The national park includes 42 major and minor islands. The national park is located at Surat Thani. From Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan day trips are offered there. ImPark's headquarters on Koh Wua Talap can sleep in simple bungalows (from THB 500). There is also the possibility to spend the night in a tent (per tent / night 250THB)
Sturdy shoes are a must. There are different trekking routes with varying degrees of difficulty and partly unpaved paths through the jungle and on rocks.
Admission: Adult parking is 300 THB and children 150 THB. Boat tours are offered from THB 1,500 to around THB 2,800. The tour prices at the travel agencies on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are negotiable.