Entrance fees have gone up at 31 National Parks in Thailand

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has announced that as of 1st February 2015, the entrance fees for 31 national parks in Thailand have been raised. The prices below are for children/adults. Please note there is a dual price system at all parks in Thailand. Sometimes foreigners with a work permit or Thai driver’s license can get in for Thai price. But this is not consistent at all parks. Also, sometimes a foreigner married to a Thai person with Thai children might find it difficult to get in with Thai price.
A. The following parks will be 10 Baht/20 Baht for Thais and 100 Baht/200 Baht for foreigners:
- Thap Lan National Park, Prachinburi
- Ta Phraya National Park, SaKaeo
- Khao Lak – Lam Ru, Krabi.
- Mu Ko Phetra National Park, Satun
- Kaeng Tana, Ratchathani
- Phu Sa Dok Bua, Yasothon.
- Phu Pha Thoep National Park, Mukdahan.
- Phu Phan, Sakon Nakhon
- Phu Langka, Nakhon Phanom
B. The following parks will be 20 Baht/40 Baht for Thais and 100 Baht/200 Baht for foreigners:
- Pa Hin Ngam, Chaiyaphum
- Ramkhamhaeng National Park, Sukhothai
- Mae Moei, Tak
C. The following park will be 40 Baht/100 Baht for Thais and 200 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi
D. The following parks will be 50 Baht/100 Baht for Thais and 200 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Srinakarin Dam, Kanchanaburi.
- Sai Yok National Park, Kanchanaburi
- Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi
E. The following parks will be 20 Baht/40 Baht for Thais and 150 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani
- Mu Ko Ang Thong, Surat Thani
F. The following parks will be 50 Baht/100 Baht for Thais and 300 Baht/500 Baht for foreigners:
- Mu Ko Surin, Krabi
- Similan Islands, Krabi
G. The following parks will be 30 Baht/60 Baht for Thais and 100 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Than Bok Khorani, Krabi
- Ao Phang Nga, Phang Nga
H. The following parks will be 20 Baht/40 Baht for Thais and 200 Baht/400 Baht for foreigners:
- Phu Chong–Na Yoi, Ubon Ratchathani
- Pha Taem, Ubon Ratchathani
- Khao Phra Wihan, Sisaket
I. The following parks will be 20 Baht/40 Baht for Thais and 300 Baht/500 Baht for foreigners:
- Thung Salang Luang, Phitsanulok
- Phu Hin Rong Kla, Phitsanulok
J. The following parks will be 20 Baht/40 Baht for Thais and 100 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Namtok Chat Trakan, Phitsanulok
K. The following parks will be 20 Baht/50 Baht for Thais and 150 Baht/300 Baht for foreigners:
- Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai
- Doi Pha Hom Pok, Chiang Mai
- Huai Nam Dang, Chiang Mai
For more information about dual pricing in Thailand, please visit www.2PriceThailand.com and follow on Twitter @2PriceThailand
Source: Translated from MThai
So much inconsistency as to relationship between Thai/non-Thai and adult/child prices. Also interesting to see that, for example with Khao Sok, they have increased the non-Thai price but not the Thai price. When I visited Khao Sok last year, the Thai price was 40 baht (which I got on presentation of my passport) while the non-Thai price was 200 baht. That has now gone up to 300 baht while the Thai price has remained the same.
Another reason for me leaving Thailand to add to the long list. I have always enjoyed visiting parks but in the 2.5 years I’ve been here, never visited one of them because of dual pricing. bye bye Thailand.
So unfair! Especially when you consider how filthy rich are certain thai people. But somehow understandable if you consider that most Thais have less money than foreigners. Do we know of such practice in other countries? I bet there are many. India does that as well, of course.
Love national parking, hate paying. they should be free for everyone to use around the world. personally the busy ones with the highest prices are usually the ones with the most trash and rubbish everywhere… so that’s good news… visit the CHEAP ones if you must, as they are less popular and therefor less damaged.
Wish they would be consistent about WP/DL holders. Would like to see a breakdown of foreign visitors to parks in more remote regions. How many are tourists compared to those that live/work here? At end of day not a good idea to raise prices when tourism is falling. Saw same mentality in Phuket after the tsunami.
Is there such a thing as a yearly pass that could be use in all parks by non Thais? Some of these parks are hardly worth the fee unless you are camping in them. 10x pricing is ridiculous.
I’m at present in Pie, yesterday I went to visit some hot springs here with my Thai GF, the price for Thai 50 Bart, foreigners 300 Bart, an increase of a hundred Bart in less than a week, naturally no foreigners and I mean none what so ever were bothering, everyone was just turning around at the gate. The cashier on the gate just said ok up to you. Stupid bloody people
I came to Thailand after exploring Australia for a year. To be honest, I was disappointed with ALL national parks in Thailand compared to what I had just experienced in Australia. There is nothing special about them. This includes many of the waterfalls. Of course, I want to help support the parks here in Thailand, but I don’t really want to pay 400B or so just to visit a waterfall. If they want more foreigners visiting the parks then they need to bring them down to a more realistic level. Plus they should seriously consider a weekly or monthly pass. That way we don’t have to pay extra to visit a small waterfall.
Good points and I agree with you. Personally, apart from the much better national park in Australia, which are usually free to enter I’d rather go to somewhere like China, which not only doesn’t practice dual pricing anymore and despite crowds in some places, are far, far more worthwhile visiting even if some of them are a bit expensive. But at 100 or 150 Yuan for entry and with discounts available for students and elderly (and that includes foreigners), one feels like most Chinese attractions are very much value for money as they are so big and interesting.
The increased charges will certainly not be popular with tourists from New Zealand where not only is there free access to national parks for everyone, but where the landscape is generally very much more spectacular than in Thailand.
My parents are coming in February, and my mother loves to go to the national parks of the countries she visits. She had planned to visit 2 or 3 during her stay here, but now that this is happening, I will clearly advise her against doing so.
Nobody likes to be treated like a walking wallet, no matter how much money you have, and at this point, it is not even a matter of price, it’s a matter of lack of respect. But I guess everyone needs to learn from their mistakes, so let them make mistakes and sooner or later, they will have to change something.
It is somewhat costly when it comes to the amount of 300 baht, but i feel they do it because they can and actually if we are honest we can afford it. I mean how many times do we farangs visit such a park and how many baht do the same people complaining here blow much bigger amounts of money on alcohol and more stupid things? to me this is not really a Problem. We should also not forget that they have costs to cover to run these places and that to the normal thai citizen 50 baht is already an amount for which they can buy a meal and a drink. I am sure many here will disagree with me but I mean when you want to live in a foreign country you must adapt or leave it and go back to your home-country. it is as simple as that. Everywhere there are pros and cons and each of us must weigh them for ourselves and act accordingly.
Totally disagree, what about all the filthy rich Thai’s in this country, na they shoot themselves in the foot because most foreigners are not going to pay it, as they didn’t the other day.
I believe it was mentioned in a speech by an important person years ago that double pricing was a bad idea. Wonder what happened to all the fealty and respect when that was heard. With my Thai drivers license, I usually get in for Thai prices, but that can leave visitors with me paying five times what I pay. No thanks, most of the best parts of NP in Thailand is getting to them. Once you’re in, if it’s a waterfall, forget getting a good photo not spoilt by twenty drunk hooligans.
Richard, I was at Sam Roiyod national park this past weekend to visit the Phraya Nakon Cave. The price for foreigners was 200 Baht and 40 Baht for Thai.
I have visited the park many times over the years and it is the first time that they have insisted on the charging the foreigner price despite providing my work permit and Thai drivers license.
The crazy thing was that the park official justified the dual price because foreigners don’t pay tax which is clearly not the case if I have a valid work permit!
Plus many Thais don’t actually pay any tax. At my school only a handful pay tax. Their Saturday school salary is paid under the table so they don’t reach the minimum to pay tax.
If it were just a matter of paying income tax, I might accept this dual pricing rubbish. However, it most certainly ISN’T about being an income tax payer – it’s about being a foreigner. My Thai friend works & pays income tax but his wife doesn’t work or earn any income so is not an income tax-payer. She gets in for local price. My wife pays tax (more than my friend) but I, as her foreign non-taxpaying spouse living full-time in Thailand, am always told I must pay foreigner rate. Sometimes I can get that down by discussing it or on production of driving licence etc., but not always, in which case I walk – very hit-and-miss situation.
In the main, though, I object to paying such a price for what is often just a glorified picnic area, complete with its accompanying heaps of rubbish & rowdy visitors. I gave-up going to most NPs for day visits long ago – they’re mostly not worth the cost or, to be honest, the travelling to get there and I speak as one who loves the countryside & outdoors. Spending an extended period in the best NPs might be a better proposition in terms of costs.
and besides no farangs will get a Thai drivers license just to get NP reduced price, and living here we pay taxes. same shit with hospitals my thai wife small price me almost double ,got in a argument and told them last time youll see me and gave them a nasty lecture in a foreign language that was worth paying more lol
Trying to imagine customer service staff picking out and identifying “Asians” at a national park or museum in Australia and telling them that based on their skin colour and appearance, the fee will be 300% more than a local – irrespective of their actual income, nationality or work status in Australia. Would not only be illegal under the racial discrimination Act but morally reprehensible and totally counter-productive from a tourism point of view. Get out of the dark ages Thailand and get some garbage collection going in your national parks while you’re at it too.
Amen. That’s all.
it’s racism!
Totally agree Martin. There’s a set of assumptions about what being a ‘foreigner’ means by some Thais that reflects an insularity; most prominent of which is that someone who looks Caucasian is wealthy.
Travelling to national parks with Thai colleagues who earn considerably more than I do here, then being subjected to thinly disguised price discrimination (different prices in different languages) written on notice boards outside museums and national parks is both offensive to someone who works and pays tax here and from the point of view of re-enforcing stereotypes about what a ‘foreigner’ is and does. The pricing policy reflects some unfortunate social attitudes.
Totally agree with you. I am fortunate to have worked hard and so with my saved money i come to visit these countries to experience the culture and meet the locals. Before anyone plays your the rich westerner card travelling is my vice. I don’t drink smoke, have new cars, or the latest clothes or gadgets so when I come overseas my budget is limited and I need it to go as far as possible. True, I am more well off than many in Thailand but I don’t have limited funds whilst I’m overseas. Unfortunately, our experiences in Thailand have been disappointing. At ever turn we feel we are being taken advantage of. This didn’t happen in Sri Lanka and V ietnam, people just wanted to help you out. This isnt a Thai generalisation as we’ve met many delightful Thai’s, more those who are directly involved in the tourist industry.
It seems to be a growing trend here to rip off and scam tourists even more. The last5-6 years the Thai,s have been going out of their way to make life, albeit tourist or expat more difficult and feel unwanted even though we contribute a lot to the economy. I no longer visit national parks, or do I recommend Thailand as a holiday destination any more.
And another amen to both you and Martin.
Agree with most of the comments, they tried to charge me 200 bht for a crappy little NP near Koh Lak, I refused to pay. I always used to get Thai price with my thai d/l.I think the dictator general had something to do with raising the price for foreigners.
Most parks are not worth a visit anyway, just a hike through the jungle to clearing full if rubbish, I think it would be good idea to Charge Thai tourists up to 10 times more to visit NP abroad. That would be $300 for Yosemite, see how they like that.
I’ve just spent two days just outside khlong Soc, situated on the edge of khao SOC national park. Rather than pay the hotel tour prices my wife and I decided to do it independently.
Moped hire 250 a day for three days hired locally.
Day 1 trekking from khao SOC visitor centre. 300 per person. Found out after purchasing the day pass that as an independent visitor you are limited to only three of the eight sights! So I enquired about hiring a guide. Quite firmly informed there are no independent guides you have to book a tour from your hote! At 1500 for a full day plus the 300 entrance fee that’s 1800. They have the tourist over a barrel.
Day 2 the lake. Idea was to ride the 60+ km on the bike taking in the sights and then a boat trip.
Today’s costs 300 entrance per person again. A two hour private hire, which turned out to be an hour and half round trip ferry service to a spot on the lake. This cost us 1500. The booking is done from a central point now so no direct bartering with the boats. So again they have us over a barrel. These days it seems they would prefer tour groups. I wish I had tried bartering on the price and got more info on the trip.
I don’t mind paying the double tourist price if you get value for money. Having to pay high entrance fees and then only being given limited access isn’t very fair. In hindsight is have probably by passed the area.
What we saw or didn’t see in the trek wasn’t worth the 300 and neither was the 2100 for the trip around the lake (which was about 1000 cheaper than us doing a tour through our hotel).
Have just completed a day trip to Phi Phi islands by speedboat from AoNang at a cost of 900 baht (good value) + 400 baht park fees. I had stupidly assumed that the park fees were to help protect these areas. I was, therefore, horrified to find speedboats parked from end to end on the beach at Maya Bay, and many more moored in the bay as there was no room for them all. As soon as any left, yet more came. Literally hundreds of foreign tourists, milling around, swimming , snorkeling. A similar situation at Phi Phi Don, and an endless stream of boats going around the lagoon at Phi Phi Ley, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, and of course, jostling for position over the nearby coral reefs for snorkling. This is not even the “high” holiday season. What effect does all this have on the marine life, coral reefs and the environment? Far from protecting the parks, surely this level of tourism must do infinite damage, but imagine just how much revenue is collected in fees!!
On another note, I, along with numerous others, was asked by the tour operator to hand over the 400 baht to a person sitting at the beach at AoNang, with no receipt, stamp or any indication at all that the fees had been paid. I would be interested to know what sort of checks are carried out to ensure all collected fees are paid over to the authorities.
Lol yes I think everyone gets caught out when visiting “The Beech” I just managed to get one clear shot
I have loved visiting Thailand so many times over the years but now this is the last time I come here. It’s all about money money money….and off course bullshit. Why do Thai people feel the need to screw foreigners for more money? So much income already comes in from tourism they still try to screw you for everything. Such a shame.
It is completely ridiculous being expected to pay up 1000% more simply because you are a foreigner. Even more so they have now jacked the price up even higher. Simply Thai greed. In Malaysia they charge double. I don’t believe in any kind of double pricing but this is more acceptable. I have been visiting Thailand, and other SE Asian countries almost every year for 14 years now. I have never set foot in a national park. Or any other attraction. If there is double pricing I have turned around a gone somewhere else. Except the Similan islands for scuba diving. After hearing the dynamite fishing while diving I realized the money collected is not used for the protection and upkeep of the nation parks.
I didn’t catch this news last year and drove across Ubon province last weekend for some nature hiking with the family at little Soie Sawan waterfall (Pha Taem National Park network). At 1,400THB for our family, 10x the local price, we turned around and left. I haven’t minded the two-price system but this tiny venue is nowhere near worth it. I have to imagine that most farang who have hired transport to get out to these remote sites feel stuck to pay it.
I have been coming to Southeast Asia for years and now with Thailand’s sky high national park fees will be considering other destinations. I don’t mind paying a reasonable fee but 600 baht to dive off an island is $24 Canadian. They want 400 baht to land on a small island. 300-400 baht for each visit to a park. Again. $16 Canadian. In Canada fees are about $7 a day. Half the price of Thailand. And our parks are seriously well maintained! So much garbage above high tide line in Thailand and parks officials sitting in their booths. Time to clean up Thailand.
Wouldnt go to them the last one was a dump and as far as ripping farangs off maybe we should do the same in the uk but we dont sink that low our national parks are free to all the only places you pay are at zoo,s and children half price adults full price no matter what your nationality is it is time this thai government got its act together as scamming farangs will lose them seriouse number of tourists