Khao Yai (Big Mountain) attracts one million visitors a year, mostly from Bangkok; a three-hour drive away. One of the largest forests in Southeast Asia, Khao Yai boasts four vegetation zones, spanning elevations from 100 meters to more than 1,400 meters. It consists of evergreen rain forest, semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous, and hill evergreen forest. In its forest and savannah the park supports a wild elephant herd estimated at 300. Another attraction is a vast population of hornbills of various species: great hornbill, wreathed, oriental pied, and brown.
Located to the south of a park, this beautiful triple-tiered waterfall cascades from a 200-meter cliff through forested mountains onto plains below. Its first tier is 60 meters high. The scene is breathtaking, particularly with strong currents plunging from the first tier to the lower tiers at a 90-degree angle before disappearing into the deep valley. The waterfall is truly spectacular - and equally dangerous - claiming at least one elephant death per year as wild elephant herds trundle through the waterfall.