Kui Buri National Park
Kui Buri National Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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- Kaz162 contributionsNice to see wild elephantsDid the tour with pre organised English speaking guide (through Tontan travel - am I allowed to give them a plug?). She met us at entrance. We saw a couple of elephants and a single close by and then a family at a distance. Also saw wild gaur at a distance. Was a pleasant afternoon driving around one the back of truck. Nice to see elephants in the wild and loved that this park exists.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 December 2023
- KelstonghWeymouth, United Kingdom198 contributionsWild ElephantsWe booked a safari private tour directly with Thai National Parks. The park is approximately one and half hours from Hua Hin. The National park is on the boarder of Myanmar/Thailand. The tour guide Som was incredibly knowledgable, she found the wild elephants in various locations, spotted lots of birds. Fantastic safari and would definitely recommend.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 31 December 2023
- Dian161Berry, Australia37 contributionsRecommended Tonton travel elephant tourWow, what an experience! Booked with Tonton travel afternoon tour in the NP. Tour guide provided lots of information on park & animals. We were very lucky since we saw several hurds if elephants, gaurs, barking deer, even hornbills. We had several stops and could watch the animals at our own pace.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 June 2024
- Kjartan EOslo, Norway29 contributionsWonderful elephantsWe traveled to Kui Buri from Prachuap Khiri Khan with private taxi, and our driver joined us for the guided tour in the park. This was very useful since the local guides don't speak much English. We could see a few elephants in the start of the tour, but they were a bit hidden in the forest. Later we could see some gaur in the distance. But in the later part of the tour we could see a large herd of gaur very close to the road, which was an impressing sight. And towards the end of the tour, around 5 p.m., we got to see a large group of elephants at close distance. They even passed the road around 30 m from the car. Several mothers and baby elephants. It was a wonderful experience. It seems a bit of patience is needed. We heard that it is easier to see elephants quite late in the afternoon.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 27 July 2024
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4.5
220 reviews
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143
Very good
46
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19
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10
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2
Katreen B
Brussels, Belgium14 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We decided to reach the GPS point "Kui Buri National Park Elehant Watching" by ourselves from Hua Hin. The person at the visitor centre spoke well English, confirmed that the price is 850 THB for one guide, one driver and one car plus 200 THB entry fee per person (for foreigners). We arrived there around 3 pm but decided to wait a bit in case other people arrived so we could join our groups but no one came so at 3.30 we started the "safari". The guide spoke barely English (which we expected but it is always a disappointment from a guide that is confronted to tourists everyday ... Shouldn't it be one of the first skills for this job?!), didn't seem passionate or interested in wildlife (we saw a hornbill on the way, if I hadn't pointed it out, he wouldn't even have said anything and anyway we didn't even stop) and just brought us (by car) from one watchpoint to the other. We did see elephants - which was very nice - (at maybe 600m distance) but again it was only because I looked over there that the guide stated "yes, elephants". Guides communicate to spot the elephants so that every car gets to the right viewpoint.
I think there is much more wildlife to see in the park than what you get with the official park guides. Even though it was the cheapest option, I wouldn't recommend it. Just book a tour with a private operator, for sure it will be more interesting and you will see more things. Do come later in the afternoon if you have the choice, the first elephant only got out of the bushes around 4.30 pm.
In general, we are pretty disappointed with the management of national parks in Thailand and their lack of understanding of visitors' expectations. If you ask people to pay, it should be for something (a service, an infrastructure, etc). No one likes being followed around by a guide in a national park that gives zero information. Finally Kui Buri is not what I'd call a "beautiful park" : it has 3 viewpoints and one dirt road. I am sure there is more wildlife to discover there but there is just no current way to do it, pretty sad ...
I think there is much more wildlife to see in the park than what you get with the official park guides. Even though it was the cheapest option, I wouldn't recommend it. Just book a tour with a private operator, for sure it will be more interesting and you will see more things. Do come later in the afternoon if you have the choice, the first elephant only got out of the bushes around 4.30 pm.
In general, we are pretty disappointed with the management of national parks in Thailand and their lack of understanding of visitors' expectations. If you ask people to pay, it should be for something (a service, an infrastructure, etc). No one likes being followed around by a guide in a national park that gives zero information. Finally Kui Buri is not what I'd call a "beautiful park" : it has 3 viewpoints and one dirt road. I am sure there is more wildlife to discover there but there is just no current way to do it, pretty sad ...
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wayne
Bangkok, Thailand55 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
I turned up with my family and was made to pay 4x Thai price even though I work here. On top of that you are forced to pay 850 for a truck, and cannot share with others so even a couple pays 850. Drove a specific track to 3 specific viewing points. Only saw 4 elephants and from a distance of about 800m. Could not get great photos as you are not allowed to go any closer. 2 view points had nothing to see. For over a thousand baht this was simply not worth it, there are better trips to see elephants closer and in greater numbers. Not impressed and would not recommend this trip in all honesty.
Written 5 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jørn N
45 contributions
Jan 2020
This national park is as booring as it can be. There are lakes where the animals come to drink, but unlike other parks there are no roads and no way to spot thw animals.
The driver just stay on the road and go to the end. Thenb they turn arround and go back - they don't want to give the tourists a good experience waiting for the animals to come our of the forrest after 17 o'clock. They just drive you back to sthe starting point.
Definetely the worst National Park I have ever visited.
The driver just stay on the road and go to the end. Thenb they turn arround and go back - they don't want to give the tourists a good experience waiting for the animals to come our of the forrest after 17 o'clock. They just drive you back to sthe starting point.
Definetely the worst National Park I have ever visited.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah L
Whitchurch, UK163 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Follow Google maps to 'Kui Buri National Park Visitor Centre', this will take you to the ticket office. We arrived at just gone 1pm, the ticket office opens again at 2pm, we hung around and waited for the office to open. The cost is 200THB per person entry, plus 850THB per jeep with guide, the jeeps seat 6 in total so it's better to try and join another group to split the cost. Luckily we managed to hook up with 4 people to split the 850THB. We left at dead on 2pm. We saw 1 elephant but apparently there were 2 there. It was very disappointing as we only drove down one road then back again for 2 hours in total. The guide had told me we would need to be back for 5.30pm so I assumed we would take some different routes to try and find something else. I asked the guide if we could try and find more elephants or anything else, she said, it's very hot today, they may have gone to Burma 🤔 !!! this was all done through Google translate. We were surprised to be back in 2 hours and not drive for longer! There are clean, free, western toilets at the ticket office and a small shop selling drinks and crisps etc. There is no shade on the jeep and it was extremely hot so take plenty of water and dress accordingly. There were people heading out as we were going back so maybe they would be luckier as cooler later on but also I think the guide needs to be more enthusiastic!
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marni m
1 contribution
July 2021
I am disappointed to see some less than 100% exquisite experience. Having been to many places on this planet, this ranks as one of the top. The personal interaction, the leadership in educating our little family how to quietly respect and view, what we learned through watching about elephant family intra- and inter-action; staying in a quaint hut where we were presented with a beautiful evening meal on a patio, while watching the various "elephant families" taking turns taking baths, waiting in line, at dusk, in the watering pool....this was an absolutely unbelievable experience. I truly hope that my two children never forget it, as nor will I. the personal attention given by the staff, etc, was unforgettable...I KNOW,THIS was a magnificent experience!
Written 22 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander D
39 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Soam, our guide, she was perfect to us. She did her job really good and we feel that she has a high level knowledge about this park. Her english was good understandable and she brought also water and some kind of juices.
Our expectations were fully meted.
The Elephants are wild and free. We were happy to see that. And thanks a lot for your work.
Our expectations were fully meted.
The Elephants are wild and free. We were happy to see that. And thanks a lot for your work.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dobi V
Vancouver Island, Canada165 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We arrived at the park entrance after an hour searching for the place. Park officials at the main park informed us that the wildlife viewing was 3 kms away...NOT. The signage for the area was very poor.
Paid our entrance fee and truck fee with guide, yes you are charged much more as a tourist but that is expected in many areas now. What we did not expect or like was the fact that our guide spoke very little or no English at all altho we were assured before getting into the truck that we had someone we could understand. Even with our google translator our guide seemed indifferent, did not know how many elephants were in the park, the size of the park or any background information pertaining to the park.
Two dozen trucks driving around looking for elephants mid day and all shrugging their shoulders wondering if they will ever see anything. After 2 hours we spotted "waldo" in the form of a half dozen water buffalo way off in the distance, so far in fact you needed binoculars to see them. At the end of the day the walkie talkies of the trucks sounded with sighting of elephants at the first look out. With 2 dozen trucks in convoy we bounced over ill maintained dirt track to converge at lookout spotting "waldo" again mother and a young one off in the far distance. We were somewhat pleased that at least we got to see a few elephants but perhaps the park could arrange opening earlier in the morning for a better chance at a closer encounter. Our guide who basically paid no attention to us, quickly became our friend at the end of the excursion, smiling and essentially had her hand extended for a much anticipated "tip" which we ignored given the lack of guide service.
This park could be wonderful and yes it is always a gamble when looking for wildlife but a few changes in park opening time (early morning opening when elephants generally are watering and feeding), as well as few new tracks could probably increase the chances of wildlife being seen.
Paid our entrance fee and truck fee with guide, yes you are charged much more as a tourist but that is expected in many areas now. What we did not expect or like was the fact that our guide spoke very little or no English at all altho we were assured before getting into the truck that we had someone we could understand. Even with our google translator our guide seemed indifferent, did not know how many elephants were in the park, the size of the park or any background information pertaining to the park.
Two dozen trucks driving around looking for elephants mid day and all shrugging their shoulders wondering if they will ever see anything. After 2 hours we spotted "waldo" in the form of a half dozen water buffalo way off in the distance, so far in fact you needed binoculars to see them. At the end of the day the walkie talkies of the trucks sounded with sighting of elephants at the first look out. With 2 dozen trucks in convoy we bounced over ill maintained dirt track to converge at lookout spotting "waldo" again mother and a young one off in the far distance. We were somewhat pleased that at least we got to see a few elephants but perhaps the park could arrange opening earlier in the morning for a better chance at a closer encounter. Our guide who basically paid no attention to us, quickly became our friend at the end of the excursion, smiling and essentially had her hand extended for a much anticipated "tip" which we ignored given the lack of guide service.
This park could be wonderful and yes it is always a gamble when looking for wildlife but a few changes in park opening time (early morning opening when elephants generally are watering and feeding), as well as few new tracks could probably increase the chances of wildlife being seen.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lars P
Randers, Denmark14 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Fantastic experience! We saw 19 elephants walking around. We drived in a rental car from Hua Hin. Visited the Elephant Observatory Site in Kui Buri National Park.
We payed around 850 bahts for a guided tour in a Pick up truck. We saw 19 elephants walking around 100-150 meters from us. Great experience and we had Good time for taking photos and Watch the elephants.
5/5!
We payed around 850 bahts for a guided tour in a Pick up truck. We saw 19 elephants walking around 100-150 meters from us. Great experience and we had Good time for taking photos and Watch the elephants.
5/5!
Written 4 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DiggerPerth
Dalkeith, Australia392 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Chose this as we wanted to see the elephants but not those chained up in a zoo. Unfortunately there were no elephants to see nor any wildlife really apart from a handful of birds. The guides couldn't tell us when an elephant had last been seen - saying they thought there was 1 elephant in the park. Lots of people there to see them but none to be seen.
A little thought and they would have the elephants fitted with a tracking device or they could use a drone to locate any elephants.
It was a long drive there and back and we spent at least an hour searching to no avail.
Maybe there are more elephants at other times of the year (we were there at the end of the dry season). But I wouldn't recommend based on our experience.
The logistics are OK, turn up (I don't believe you can pre book), pay your fees (about 1800 BHT for 5 adults) and sit in the back of a pickup (no shade).
A little thought and they would have the elephants fitted with a tracking device or they could use a drone to locate any elephants.
It was a long drive there and back and we spent at least an hour searching to no avail.
Maybe there are more elephants at other times of the year (we were there at the end of the dry season). But I wouldn't recommend based on our experience.
The logistics are OK, turn up (I don't believe you can pre book), pay your fees (about 1800 BHT for 5 adults) and sit in the back of a pickup (no shade).
Written 14 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yogachef
Esher, UK484 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
DD Tours picked us up from our hotel in Hua Hin and provided a full packed lunch. Air con van with English speaking guide. Arrived at National park 200bht extra each. Then arranged truck to take the drive and remained with us to translate from local guide. We went in the rainy season and saw 30+ elephants in seperate sites and some quite close, we also saw 2 herds of red bull water buffalo and various eagles and other exotic birds. Total cost 2 adults 1 14yr old ÂŁ125. Well worth it. Remember these are wild elephants in there natural environment not captive bread in a park.
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi all. Are you able to pay the 200 entrance and drive your own car? Has anyone done it?
Thanks!!
Written 8 February 2020
Hello,
Unfortunately that is not possible. You have to hire a guide and a driver. If you drive your own car/scooter, you'll pay the parking lot + 850 THB for the guide and driver and car. Hope this helps.
Written 8 February 2020
Hi I will be travelling with a 4 year old and a 1 year old. Is the tour suitable for young children? Please can you let me know opening times / departure times and what we should bring with us? Many thanks. Sally
Written 17 July 2019
Not convinced the tour is suitable for young children as you will he transported open backed vehicles sitting on a plank of wood. Tour times usually from 2 to 6 I believe. Sorry to put a downer on your question.
Written 17 July 2019
We are a group of 7 who will be staying in Hua Hin in July, what's the best way for us to travel to/from the national park? And when we get there are there any trucks that will fit all 7 of us ? Please advise costs involved if possible. . Thanks..
Written 5 June 2019
There are tour companies as noted. You can also take a taxi. The truck we were in I think would fit though you should confirm. Hope you have same luck as us, over 50 elephants!
Written 5 June 2019
Hi, my husband and I are planning to visit the park in the next few days, is there anyone who want to visit around this time also and would be interested in sharing a guide? We'll be travelling in from Hua Hin so could share taxi too, Sophie
Written 5 February 2019
Hello Sophie. We (a group of like minded French) are based in Prachuap and we use a guide/driver that takes us in to KBNP for 3,400 baht for the whole car. Plus the 200 baht pp entry fee.
If you wish to travel in from Hua Hin, you might be able to find others interested in making the trip with you.
Or, you could call Khun Chai at +66982842439, and ask him to keep you posted when he has people asking to share a trip in. He speaks English and is very reliable, honest and punctual. Hope this helps. Poo
Written 5 February 2019
What's the cheapest way to get there? From Hua Hin, Pran Buri or another city?
Written 5 December 2018
We slept in Prachuap Khiri Khan and we went there by motorbike.
Written 6 December 2018
Très déçu aucun éléphants à l horizon déception pour de nombreuses personnes qui étaient là je pense que les guides le savent quand les animaux sont dans les environs. ...dans ces cas là on ne devrait pas payer au moins l entrée du parc ...coût total de la journée 3000 baths (transport +parc)...ça fait cher pour ne rien voir ....
Written 9 February 2018
Donneur de leçon !!! encore une belle personne qui visite la Thaïlande
Written 31 January 2019
I would like to know if there is any cheap place to stay close to the Kui Buri National Park, because I will drive a motorcycle from Prachuap Khiri Khan, but I don't want to drive the way back when it is dark. I prefer to stay the night closer to the park and drive the next morning back
Written 1 October 2017
Hi,
is there anyone to want to joined us tommorow or 8.7.17.? Me and my girlfriend want to visit national park and we're looking for someone who want to rent a car with a driver and see the wild elephants. Why don't we go together and pay a less money? Bigger group = better price for a visitting park by car. :)
Written 7 August 2017
The overnight stay, how can I arrange that?
Written 28 July 2017
Can anyone recommend affordable overnight accommodations close to or within the park? Thank you!
Written 12 April 2017
There is no reason to seek accommodation near the park. You can not explore the park on your own, only with guides and the park does not conduct the tours until 2 pm. Stay in Hua Hin.
Written 24 April 2017
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