Pak Chong

Pak Chong is the nearest town serving Khao Yai National Park. It is less than 200 km from Bangkok, making it a very popular base for Thai weekend trippers.

Understand
Pak Chong (Thai: ปากช่อง) is the westernmost district (amphoe) of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand. It is a district of 193,000 people (2015) in Southern Isaan.

Get in
Long-distance trains from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani stop at Pak Chong railway station, as do local trains connecting Saraburi with Nakhon Ratchasima. Trains take 3-3.5 hours to make the journey from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

From Nakhon Ratchasima aka Korat (new bus terminal near Saint Mary's hospital), minivans leave approximately hourly, 70 baht. These minivans run until 6pm but may wait until full before departing. The trip takes 1-2 hr.

From Trat bus terminal, daily bus 08:30, 395 baht, 7-9 hr duration. Likely to arrive by night.

Get around
Mittraphap Road is the main road that leads off route 2 and ultimately back onto it. Most of the accommodation and restaurants are on this road or the sois leading off it.

See
There are few sights in the town, which for most tourists is just a base for visiting Khao Yai National Park.

On the left-hand side when exiting the train station is a street (its name is หลังสถานีรถไฟ) with historical long double storey wooden houses. It has a few cafés, juice popups and small restaurants.

Thetsaban Tambon Pakchong Market, and the alleys behind up to the railway, are bustling with trade, small warehouses and stalls of all types. The same area has a night market too.

Sleep
There are several camp sites within the Khao Yai National Park.