Tourists and Thailand nationals can now visit five new national parks.

In the three years since King Rama X took the throne in 2016, Thailand made significant progress in adding national parks and increasing forest area in the country. Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategic Plan includes increasing national forest area to 55 per cent of the country by 2037.

The new additions bring the total number of national parks in the country up to 133.

Each of the new national parks covers a diverse environment. The newest was designated in April of this year.

Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park was the first new park added under the current king. This park spans more than 40 square kilometres and features a picturesque waterfall with a unique history. Ten times the size of the first, Khun Sathan National Park contains mountains and separates boundaries between provinces.

Mae Takhrai National Park was added in December 2017 and is home of the main tributaries of the Ping river. This park includes waterfalls, hot springs and cliffs.

Than Sadet-Ko Phangan National Park is home to a steep mountain range and maintains some of the best wilderness the island has to offer. This park has an elevation of more than 600 metres.

Doi Chong National Park is the newest. The park offers mountains and forests, with the highest point nearly 1,400 metres above sea level. Currently, the nation is 31.68 per cent forest. Twenty-two new parks are in the process of being established, and will add 13 per cent to the nation’s goal.