Khao Laem national park is located about 280 km north west of Bangkok. The park is situated in the Myanmar border province of Kanchanaburi. It was once one of the most richest rain forest in Thailand. Due to the careless logging and pouching the forest and its wildlife have been dwindled significantly. The construction of a hydroelectric dam in 1986 also contributed to the general environmental loss. The area was finally gazetted as Thailand's national park in 1991.

There are still lot of evergreen and mixed evergreen forests in the park. This area is rich in orchids and timber trees such as teak. Bamboo is abundant , probably a sign of deforestation in the recent past. There are limestone formations containing a multitude of bats, birds and small mammals. Mountains bordering the park exceed 1800 meters and there are many scaleable peaks of 1500 meters and more.

The park area receive the rain between late April to late October. The hottest time is March to May when the temperatures could be as high as 38ºC. The coolest season is November to January with temperatures as low as 10ºC.

Highlights for the visitors are hiking along old logging trails, bird watching, visiting waterfalls, climbing and boating in the dam lake called Khao Laem, etc.

There are bungalows near the dam provided by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Campers should bring tents and equipment since there are no such facilities found.

The Mon Bridge at Sankhalaburi

Three Pagoda Pass

Sankhlaburi and Three Pagoda Pass
The visit to the park should be accompanied by a trip to Sankhlaburi, a town located 73 km from the park's headquarters , and Thai-Myanmar border of 3 pagoda pass situated 20 km from Sankhlaburi town all along the highway route 323.

The three small pagodas at the border are memorials to what was once the old invasion route favored by Myanmar ( Burmese ) soldiers during the Ayutthaya period ( 1350 - 1767 ). There is a small market at the border selling Myanmar and Chinese products. The original three pagodas built by Myanmars were gone some time ago.

The border is opened from morning 6 am until evening 6 pm. People can go into Myanmar side for a day return trip. Thais are charged 25 Baht and foreigners need to pay US$ 5. Inside Myanmar one can visit settlement villages of Mons, Karens, etc. Things that are forbidden to carry into Myanmar side are cameras, video recorders, mobile phones, binoculars, etc. and especially the gun.

Getting there
There are both non air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses running daily and almost every hour between Kanchanaburi and Bangkok's southern bus terminal located on the western side of Chao Phara river. The 130 km bus trip takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Trains leave Bangkok's Thonburi railway station, also located on the western side of Chao Phara river, everyday at 07:40 and 13:50 hours for Kanchanaburi. Trains take 3 hours to reach Kanchanaburi.

There are buses leaving Kanchanaburi's station near the "River Kwai Bridge" for Sankhlaburi. The 220 km bus ride takes 4 to 5 hours. The last bus for Sankhlaburi leave Kanchanaburi at about 15:30 hours. The bus will take you to Khao Laem national park's headquarters located on the way to Sankhlaburi at 147 km from Kanchanaburi.

The 20 km route between Sankhlaburi and the 3 pagoda pass can be finished by taking a mini van which run every hour.

Suggested 5 days, 4 nights trip

Day 1
Leave Bangkok in the morning by car for Khao Laem national park. It may take about 4 to 4.5 hours. Boating in the dam lake and overnight at the camp site.

Day 2
Hiking the trails in the park whole day. Overnight at the camp site.

Day 3
Leave the park in the morning for a 1.5 hours drive to 3 pagoda pass. Go inside Myamar for a few hours walking. Come back to Thailand and overnight in Sangkhlaburi.

Day 4
Drive back to Kanchanaburi. On the way make a visit to a small town of Tong Pha Phum. Visit the "Bridge over River Kwai" in Kanchanaburi. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

Day 5
Drive back to Bangkok.

If you want us to arrange the trip for you please send your request using the enquiry form provided in the contact us page or email to us.