Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Khao Chamao Khao Wong National Park, a serene haven in Thailand, known for its lush rainforests, vibrant wildlife, and stunning waterfalls, perfect for hiking, bird watching, and rejuvenating in nature.
Nestled in Thailand’s eastern region, Khao Chamao Khao Wong National Park is a magnificent natural sanctuary that invites visitors to experience its enchanting landscapes. Spanning over 50,000 acres, this park is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, making it a hotspot for biodiversity and ecology enthusiasts. Hikers can explore a network of trails that wind through dense forests, leading to stunning viewpoints and tranquil waterfalls. The park’s diverse ecosystems provide habitats for numerous wildlife species, including rare birds and fascinating reptiles, making it an ideal destination for bird watchers and wildlife photographers. Visitors engage in unforgettable experiences, from enjoying serene picnics by clear streams to discovering hidden caves that tell stories of Thailand’s natural history. Whether you’re seeking adventure or tranquility, Khao Chamao Khao Wong National Park is a must-visit location that showcases the enchanting beauty of Thailand’s wilderness. Plan your visit to this pristine ecosystem and immerse yourself in the tranquility and majesty of nature.
อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาชะเมา-เขาวง (แกลง, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Khao Chamao Khao Wong National Park is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 21110, Thailand
This a very interesting area for hiking, but it is also HOT, so bring lots of water! Note the number of fish in the river that eagerly await you and any food you are willing to give them.
I always enjoy going to Khao Chamao, often taking overseas visitors, walking up the mountain through the rain forest, stopping to feed long beans to the mountain carp that abound in the river, and eventually having a cooling swim in one of the higher mountain pools.But today was a big disappointment.First, the park has now introduced far tighter and discriminatory entrance fees. Thai nationals pay 40 baht but foreigners are charged 200 baht, a five hundred percent increase. But before, if you were a foreigner resident in Thailand you could get a Thai ticket for 40 baht. That policy has now been scrapped and all foreigners must now pay 200 baht. This discriminatory policy at Thai national parks, monuments and some temples, is highly contentious and is often the subject of heated letters to the English language newspapers.Second, although it is the dry season, the park should have warned us on entry that the river has all but dried up, the waterfalls and non-existent and the pools are stagnating with rotting mountain carp floating on the surface. You gag at the smell from meters away.The drought is not the fault of the park authorities, but I consider it deceptive to charge you 200 baht without warning you of current conditions in the park.
We went on a Thai public holiday so the park was quite busy. The entrance fee is 200 baht for a foreigner which is well worth the cost as the place is very well maintained, plenty of staff, garbage bins and facilities.You will likely need your own transport to get here as it was not apparent that there was any form of public transport to get to or from the park. There is plenty of parking space so even on a busy day you should have no problems.There is a check-point shortly after the picnic area where you will need to leave any food you are carrying. They will allow you to carry water up the falls but no food at all. This is great because there really is no litter in the falls and I guess they don’t want the fish fed on our rubbish food.There has been a lot of good rain in the area recently which made the waterfalls fantastic.I do recommend that you use proper closed walking shoes as some of the paths are quite slippery. Most people were however only wearing sandals and slip-ons.The walk up to the waterfalls is as short as 340m, with progressive stops/levels at 540m, 860m, 960m, 1000m, 1220m, 1660m and ultimately 2630m from the entrance.Some of the pools are open for swimming and some are not. Some, I guess will be based on water flow. In any event, every pool is full of Gold Brook Carp that are very friendly and range in size from tiny fish to 50cm+. They will brush against you and even nibble at your body without really biting.In some of the pools the water flows very strongly so supervision of weak swimmers is necessary.Absolutely fantastic day out. Clean water, friendly people all having fun together.
A well maintained park easily accessed by car from Klaeng, Ban Phe, and Rayong. The first short walk is paved but the higher you climb the closer you get to the limits and delights of nature by a strong waterfall. We came in rainy season and the stream was very strong. The guards are attentive and warn you from swimming if currents are too strong. Cost is 200 baht/foreign grownup and 30 for parking the car. There are camp grounds at the base as well as small shops and a restaurant. If you don’t come on a weekend you better bring your own food. You are not allowed to bring it up the waterfall but can enjoy it either at the camp/restaurant area or at the first bassin of the waterfall.From road no. 3 you turn north on 3377 and then follow the signs approx. 16 km. before turning right towards the waterfall.
The waterfalls at Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park are well worth a day trip; the trek of about 6km round trip is relatively easy and picturesque. Caves, which are also billed as part of the park, are also well worth a visit but are nowhere near it and difficult to find. To reach involves a series of left turns: follow Sukhumvit Highway from Klaeng toward Chanthaburi to km286, turn left at road 3433 (there’s a sign in English flagging the caves), travel about 12km, turn left onto 3406 then immediately left after Wat Khao Wongkot Rujirawongsaramthat; the ranger’s building is about 1km on the left. We did an unaccompanied circuit of five caves as the ranger wasn’t available to guide us but the route was very easy to follow and, personally, it was nice to be able to set our own pace. The jungle is pristine with some astoundingly gigantic trees, while some of caves are quite extensive with interesting formations that can be studied with the torch provided by the ranger. There were no other visitors while we were there, and it was easy to imagine we were deep in a remote jungle.We covered the `easy’ route, which took us just over an hour at a leisurely pace with lots of stops; there are tougher treks for those who are more ambitious. Entry to the park is either 40 baht or 200 baht depending whether Thai or other national (plus 30 baht for the car regardless of pedigree) while the caves are free; I’d recommend a hat, good walking shoes, carrying water and insect repellent on both treks.
Nice place to visit clean an very nice to walk around. Put on proper shoes as it might be a hike for some.
We really enjoyed to follow the water stream up and walking thru the quiet jungle. We arrived early and left before the crowds, especially during the weekend, arrived. Take some good pair of shows with you as the way is steep and slippery during the rainy season. Big like for the cleanness of the National Park.
Beautiful national park. 40 THB entrance fee (for Thai citizen) and 30 THB for car parking. Park is organized into 7-8 tiers. Good workout reaching the top. Waterfalls are nice and some are safe enough to swim in. Park is well maintained. Weather was pleasant this time of the year.
Easy to find off Sikhumvit Rd just after passing through the city of Klaeng (travelling east). Follow the signposts. Some excellent street food (BBQ chicken and somtam) to be found on the soi leading to the entrance of the park, inside the park we did not see any catering facilities. Entry 200THB for foreigners (50% off if you have a thai pink ID). Very well organised park and super clean ! Not allowed to bring any F&B (except some drinkingwater) once you enter the Waterfall Walk. We ourselves did not complete the entire walk up to the last waterfall – we only reached 3rd base – but the walk is not too strenuous and solid walking shoes are recommended.
We visited this park on a Monday, so it was really quiet and peaceful. There is plenty of parking and good toilet and shower facilities. We were really impressed by the efforts at conservation and recycling. You may take water with you on the hike to the waterfall, but no food. This is to reduce the litter left in the park, so be prepared to either eat before you start hiking, or to check your food in at the kiosk. We visited in the dry season, and imagine that in the wet season this would be quite spectacular, though not without risk. After the first pool the hike is rocky and steep, you will need sturdy footwear and a good level of fitness. At level 3 you can have a swim to cool off. Don’t be deterred by the brown carp, they are friendly but swim away from you when you enter the water.