Pakchong hostel & wildlife tour

This guesthouse's location is strategic for those who want to hike in Khao Yai National Park and travel on a budget. Simply rent a scooter and you can reach the park in just over half an hour. The rooms are spacious, clean, and have private bathrooms. The place is very close to the train station, just a 15-minute walk from the city center, in a beautiful countryside setting. In the morning, you can hear the rooster crowing and admire the surrounding landscape. The air in this area is also fresh (unlike many other towns further south). Finally, the owner is truly a special person: a phenomenal storyteller and an experienced ranger who has been organizing (private) jungle tours for many years. A very attentive host (he'll insist on picking you up at the station on your arrival day and dropping you off when you leave), he has excellent contacts in Pak Chong and will do everything to accommodate your every need—he found me a rental scooter in five minutes. He's also one of the few people who knows where to find elephants (which are incredibly difficult to spot) and a great conversationalist—evening dinners on his porch were a blast. I highly recommend him if you're visiting Pack Chong.

Perhaps the only drawback of this hostel is that, being in a rural area, it's difficult to go grocery shopping or get home late at night without your own transportation. On the other hand, the host will be the first to be there to give you a ride downtown or get you anything you need. Furthermore, if you rent a scooter or bicycle, you won't have any problems.

The best thing was the day tour and half day tour organised by the owner Mr Nong with the assistance of his two sons. The hostel is a little way out of town but this is not a problem as we were picked up at the station on arrival and taken into town to eat in the evening. The tours were so reasonably priced and Mr Nong goes to great lengths to ensure as much wildlife as possible is seen.

The people were so nice. Nicest people I have ever met

We had a wonderful experience staying here! Mr. Nong is an exceptional host and guide – friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly thoughtful. He arranged transportation for us from and to the train station, gave us great tips on getting around the city, and recommended places to eat. We stayed in the family room, which was simple but spacious and equipped with everything we needed. Our 1-day tour to Khao Yai with Mr. Nong was a true highlight. His deep knowledge of the area and his warm, caring nature made the day unforgettable.