One of the longer nature trails in Khao Yai National Park, the 160th Anniversary Thai-German Friendship Trail (also referred to as Nature Trail 2) links two waterfalls as it traverses the forest from the Pha Kluai Mai Campground to the impressive Haew Suwat Waterfall. While the short trails to the main waterfalls are busy, I only see two other people along this very pleasant and easy trail.
The trail follows the Lam Ta Khong stream, with regular markers indicating the route and distance (“2” is the trail and “100” the distance in metres). This trail is signposted as being 3km, but I measured it as 5.5km on my GPS.
The trail alternates between bamboo forest and dry forest, with a variety of interesting plants. Although a guide is not required for this walk, having Cake (my guide for the day) leading the way means I learn a little about the flora and fauna of Khao Yai National Park.
About 62% of Khao Yai National Park is Dry Evergreen Forest which includes the Banyan trees (Ficus benghalensis), known for their massive, sprawling root systems which include aerial prop roots.
The Thai-German Friendship Trail (Trail 2) is never too far from the Lam Ta Khong stream, which is s primary water source for the region and a tributary to the Mun River.
Just under the halfway mark there is a small cascade; while the water flow is relatively low, it does mean you can see the creekbed formed by lava flows from a volcano hundreds of millions of years ago.
Just after this cascade is a signposted junction to a very short trail down to Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall.
Dropping about ten metres in total, Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall consists of multiple small, cascades. It’s a pleasant and shaded spot, and a small pool below the falls would make a nice swimming spot (at least when the water flow is low) – but swimming is not allowed here.
The trail continues through the forest; while I haven’t yet spotted any animals yet, there is a continuous chorus of gibbons (who have very loud vocal displays and “sing” a territorial song in the morning and hornbills (who make growling, deep ‘gok’ or ‘rroh’ sounds).
As Trail 2 reaches the 2/1500 marker – which is the halfway point – it follows the river quite closely for a while.
A deep and murky pool along the Lam Ta Khong Stream doesn’t look remotely tempting for a swim, but just in case you’re tempted a sign warns of crocodiles. In 2017 a French tourist was bitten on the leg here by a crocodile, with a park ranger stating “She wanted to take a selfie with the crocodile who was lying down near a stream”. Unfortunately, within the entire Khao Yai National Park there were only two critically endangered Siamese crocodiles, which were found along this section of Lam Ta Khong Stream – and they haven’t been sighted since 2021.
Just after the 2/1800 (1.8km) marker, Trail 2 crosses a small tributary creek – there’s only a trickle of water, but in the wet season a large log and some fallen branches combined with a rope allow you to cross without getting wet feet.
The signage here is a bit confusing; it indicates another 1.5km to the end of the trail at the Haew Suwat Waterfall, which is incorrect (it’s about 1km).
There’s more “jungly stuff” on the last section of the walk: enormous buttress roots, twisted vines and towering trees.
Just before we reach the end of the trail I finally spot a gibbon swinging from the trees. Both the White-handed (Lar) gibbon and endangered pileated gibbon can be found in Khao Yai National Park. I’ve no idea which species this one is… but it’s nice to see one after hearing them for the last hour.
A short detour off Trail 2 leads to a nice spot along the Lam Ta Khong Stream, where it flows over a number of wide rock platforms and shallow pools. No doubt in the wet season there would be a torrent of water, with two cables several metres high providing a means to get across.
It’s a few minutes from here to the busy Haew Suwat Waterfall carpark, where there are multiple kiosks selling cold drinks and hot food. After a short break here, we take the short but very busy trail down to the Haew Suwat Waterfall.
Getting to Nature Trail 2
The one-way trail could be done in either direction, but is best done starting from the Pha Kluai Mai Campsite (along Highway 3182) and finishing at the Haew Su Wat Waterfall carpark (which is at the end of Highway 3182).
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