Thap Lan National Park

History & Significance

Thap Lan National Park was recognized for its immense ecological value when it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 14, 2005, as part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. Spanning an area of 2,245.88 square kilometers across Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces, it is the second-largest national park in Thailand, surpassed only by Kaeng Krachan National Park. In 2020, Thap Lan was honored with the Gold Level Green National Parks award for its outstanding environmental management. The park serves as a crucial watershed, feeding numerous streams that merge into the Mun River and the Bang Pakong River, which sustain communities across northeastern and eastern Thailand.

Highlights & What to See

The park's absolute highlight is its vast Lan (fan palm) forest, the last remaining natural Lan forest in Thailand. The park features diverse forest ecosystems, including dry dipterocarp, mixed deciduous, tropical rainforest, and dry evergreen forests, which support rich wildlife such as wild elephants, gaurs, bantengs, gibbons, and rare birds like hornbills and Siamese firebacks.

Key attractions within the park include:

• Pha Kep Tawan: Located at the Thap Lan National Park Protection Unit 11 (Thai Samakkhi) in Nakhon Ratchasima. This famous cliff offers breathtaking sunset views and cool, refreshing air. A popular eco-friendly activity here is planting trees by shooting seed balls into the forest below using slingshots. Camping is permitted here, and the route leading to the cliff is lined with local agricultural villages selling shiitake mushrooms, chrysanthemums, organic vegetables, and grapes.
• Suan Hom Waterfall: Situated at the Thap Lan National Park Protection Unit 13 (Suan Hom) near the Ban San Chao Pho area (Km 79 Market). Located on a mountain peak, it offers scenic vistas and a spectacular sea of mist during the transition from the rainy season to winter. The area features a campsite, youth camp facilities, and welfare shops.

Visitor Information

Thap Lan National Park is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00. Visitors planning to camp or participate in activities can contact the park staff. For inquiries regarding Pha Kep Tawan, call 0 3721 0340 or 09 2550 0172. For Suan Hom Waterfall, call 06 3018 8590. Please inquire about current admission fees directly with the park officers.

How to Get There

The park covers several districts, including Wang Nam Khiao, Pak Thong Chai, Khon Buri, and Soeng Sang in Nakhon Ratchasima, as well as Na Di in Prachin Buri. Pha Kep Tawan is accessible via the Thai Samakkhi subdistrict in Wang Nam Khiao. Suan Hom Waterfall is located near the Km 79 Market area. Private vehicles are the most convenient way to navigate the different protection units and attractions within this vast national park.