Nakhon Ratchasima, almost always called Korat, is Thailand’s largest province and the gateway to the Isan region. It packs a remarkable range into one trip: the jungle, waterfalls and wild elephants of Khao Yai National Park, the graceful Khmer sanctuary at Phimai, a lively city built around the monument to local heroine Thao Suranari, and a cool-season scene of vineyards and farm caf\u00e9s around Pak Chong. It suits families, nature lovers, history fans and weekenders from Bangkok. The city lies about 260 km north-east of the capital, roughly 3\u20134 hours by car, bus or train, while Khao Yai’s Pak Chong gateway is closer at around 2.5\u20133 hours.<\/p>\n
Buses from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal leave frequently for Korat city and Pak Chong, and vans run from several points in the capital. The north-eastern railway line stops at Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima. Inside Korat city use ride-hailing apps, songthaews or tuk-tuks. Khao Yai and the sights spread around it really need a car: rent one, hire a driver or join a tour, because there is no public transport inside the national park. Phimai is about an hour north of the city by car or local bus.<\/p>\n
Thailand’s first national park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage forest complex, Khao Yai is famous for hornbills, gibbons, deer and wild elephants that sometimes stroll along the roads. Drive slowly, never feed animals and keep a safe distance from elephants. Foreign visitors pay a higher entry fee than Thai citizens, and tickets can be bought at the gate or in advance via the national park e-ticket system. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Two of Khao Yai’s best-known falls. Haew Suwat is easy to reach and pretty after the rains; Haew Narok is a tall, powerful cascade reached by a walking path and steps. Water levels are highest from August to November. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Pha Diao Dai and other viewpoints look over forested ridges, ideal at sunrise in the cool season. Some trails require a ranger guide and may close in the wet season, so check at the visitor centre. Map<\/a><\/p>\n One of the most important Khmer temples in Thailand, Prasat Phimai was built mostly around the 11th\u201312th centuries and once linked to Angkor by an ancient road. Its sandstone tower, galleries and carved lintels are beautifully restored. Allow two hours and visit the nearby national museum. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A short ride from the sanctuary, this huge banyan grove grows from a tangle of aerial roots into a shady green maze, a pleasant picnic spot beside the river. Map<\/a><\/p>\n The statue of Thao Suranari, known affectionately as Ya Mo, stands at the old city gate and is the emotional centre of Korat. Locals bring flowers and offerings, and evenings around the moat are lively with food stalls. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A modern temple by the Lam Takhong River, its ordination hall is designed like a Chinese junk and decorated with Dan Kwian ceramics. It is also where Thao Suranari’s ashes are said to have been enshrined. Map<\/a><\/p>\n South of the city, this village is known for rust-coloured pottery made from local river clay. Browse workshops along the main road for vases, lamps and garden pieces. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A smaller, peaceful Khmer sanctuary about 20 km from the city, with sandstone towers and few visitors. Combine it with Phimai on the same day. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Korat is rich in fossils, from dinosaurs to ancient elephants, and the Khorat area was named a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023. The Petrified Wood Museum and fossil exhibits are great for families. Map<\/a><\/p>\n The hills around Khao Yai are known for wineries, dairy farms and photogenic caf\u00e9s, especially popular on cool-season weekends. Visit vineyards for a tour and tasting, but plan a designated driver. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Day 1 (Khao Yai):<\/strong> Enter the park early for wildlife spotting, walk to Haew Suwat and Haew Narok, then catch the late-afternoon light at a viewpoint. Spend the evening at Pak Chong’s night market or a farm caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n Day 2 (Korat and Phimai):<\/strong> Drive to Phimai for the sanctuary and Sai Ngam in the morning, stop at Prasat Phanom Wan, then visit Thao Suranari Monument and Wat Sala Loi before dinner in the city.<\/p>\n Dates change each year, so check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you travel.<\/p>\n Most of the park lies in Nakhon Ratchasima, with parts in neighbouring provinces. Pak Chong district is the main gateway for hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n Yes, but it is a long day. Staying a night lets you see wildlife at dawn and dusk when animals are most active.<\/p>\n By car it takes about an hour from Korat city. Local buses also run from the city’s bus terminal.<\/p>\n November to February is cool and clear. Waterfalls are fullest from August to November, and the rainy season brings the greenest forest.<\/p>\n King Taksin’s campaigns passed through this province: The campaign against the Phimai faction<\/a> \u00b7 The capture of Vientiane and the Emerald Buddha<\/a>. The full story with maps is on our King Taksin trail site (in Thai).<\/p>\n Cover photo: Phimai Historical Park Thailand 02.jpg<\/a> \u00b7 Philip Nalangan \u00b7 CC BY 4.0<\/a> \u00b7 Wikimedia Commons<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The best things to do in Korat, from Khao Yai National Park and Phimai to Thao Suranari Monument, with a two-day route, festivals and tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"province":[200],"class_list":["post-5291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions-en","province-nakhon-ratchasima-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5291"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5362,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5291\/revisions\/5362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5291"},{"taxonomy":"province","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province?post=5291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Haew Suwat and Haew Narok waterfalls<\/h3>\n
3. Khao Yai viewpoints and trails<\/h3>\n
4. Phimai Historical Park<\/h3>\n
5. Sai Ngam, Phimai<\/h3>\n
6. Thao Suranari Monument and the old city<\/h3>\n
7. Wat Sala Loi<\/h3>\n
8. Dan Kwian pottery village<\/h3>\n
9. Prasat Phanom Wan<\/h3>\n
10. Khorat Geopark and petrified wood<\/h3>\n
11. Pak Chong vineyards and farm stays<\/h3>\n
A two-day Korat route<\/h2>\n
Festivals and events in Korat<\/h2>\n
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Practical tips<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Is Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima?<\/h3>\n
Can I visit Khao Yai as a day trip from Bangkok?<\/h3>\n
How do I get to Phimai?<\/h3>\n
When is the best time to visit?<\/h3>\n
On King Taksin’s trail<\/h2>\n
More Korat and Isan guides<\/h2>\n
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