Record-breaking crowds cause traffic chaos at Khao Yai

Khao Yai National Park was the place to be during the recent long weekend, smashing visitor records and causing traffic nightmares at the gates. Over the three-day holiday from October 12 to 14, the park saw daily entrance fees soar past 1 million baht as hordes of tourists flooded in to enjoy the cooler weather and stunning scenery.

Park chief Chaiya Huayhongthong revealed that on October 13 alone, a jaw-dropping 19,800 visitors descended on the park, including 770 foreigners. With around 4,000 cars and nearly 1,000 motorcycles in tow, the park raked in over 1.1 million baht in entrance fees. The influx caused significant traffic jams at the Pak Chong entrance, prompting park officials to add extra ticket booths to ease congestion.

The surge in visitors is partly down to the cooler weather, which brought ideal conditions for camping at the popular Lam Takong campground. The park’s famous waterfalls, Haew Narok and Haew Suwat, were in full flow, giving visitors spectacular photo ops. Meanwhile, the renowned Pha Diao Dai viewpoint offered mist-shrouded views of the mountains, creating a picture-perfect backdrop for tourists.

With traffic jams and record-breaking crowds, Khao Yai is still one of Thailand’s top natural escapes. However, those planning to visit might want to prepare for some congestion, especially during peak holiday seasons, reported Pattaya Mail.

In related news, a wild elephant overturned a tourist’s car near their accommodation at Khao Yai National Park, resulting in significant damage. The incident, captured on video and shared on TikTok, sparked discussions about the absence of warning signs and safety protocols.

In other news, a leopard made a rare daytime appearance in Kaeng Krachan National Park, located in the Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi. Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of Kaeng Krachan National Park, confirmed that a tourist captured detailed photos of the leopard lounging on a road inside the park on Tuesday, October 15.