Suan Khai Wa – A Streamside Campground in Nakhon Nayok, Near Bangkok

Today Meeting Point is taking you for a change of scene near Bangkok at Suan Khai Wa – so, wanna come along? Let's go camping! It's going to be fun.

When we first heard the name, we did a double take – in Thai, "Khai Wa" sounds just like a cheeky "who the heck?", so we were wondering whose garden it was supposed to be! Once we read it properly, it clicked: the place is simply called Suan Khai Wa. We'd been puzzling over it for ages – how embarrassing, haha. But trust us, it's a lot of fun and we weren't disappointed at all. It's easy to get to and close to Bangkok. If you can't decide where to go this weekend, try coming here to camp. Doing activities together is tiring but super fun.

Suan Khai Wa is private land that has been developed into a tourist spot: a lush green lawn surrounded by mountains, with a waterfall that flows all year round (though the water can be low at certain times, so call the staff before you go). When camping, you can bring your own equipment and cook for yourself.

Suan Khai Wa rates and info

• Camping: 100 baht per person (free for children under 15)
• Gate opens 06:00–18:00
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the camping area (because mobile signal doesn't reach here except AIS)
• Free parking
• Camping gear for rent: tents and fans
• Note: limited to 50 tents per day – this is important, so it's best to call and book ahead: 081-076-5064
• Ask anything any time via the Suan Khai Wa Facebook page

For this trip, we split the gear so each person brought 3–4 items. Here's what you need to prepare:

• 2 tents
• Tent tools: hammer, ropes, pegs
• A groundsheet to lay under the tent (the white-and-blue plastic kind) – this is important to block the morning dew on the ground; without it you'll get soaked
• A tarp to put up above the tents to keep the dew off, so you can party and eat at night without getting wet
• A portable fan – the sun is no joke
• Solar-powered lamps
• Small mattresses, pillows and blankets
• Seasonings for cooking
• Food ingredients (whatever you'd like to eat)
• Kitchen gear: pots, stove, plates, chopping board, knives and other essentials

Once your tents are up, you can head out to explore. Nakhon Nayok has loads of attractions; here are the ones we visited:

• Rong Kluea Market Nakhon Nayok – about 31 km from Suan Khai Wa
• Teng Thoet Thoeng Market – about 33 km from Suan Khai Wa
• Thung Na Mui Bridge – about 37 km from Suan Khai Wa
• Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam – about 51 km from Suan Khai Wa

At night, don't party too loudly and disturb other campers – at 22:00 staff will come around and ask everyone to keep the noise down or turn off the music. In the morning, put your rubbish neatly into black bags and leave them out for staff to collect. When we travel, we all need to help keep places clean.

We were really impressed with this trip, everyone:

• The owners and caretakers are lovely, friendly and always ready to help.
• Camping is 100 baht per person. If you just want to come and play in the water, a covered hut costs 100 baht and a bamboo platform costs 50 baht – great value.
• The place is very convenient, with spots to plug in power, and it's super clean – especially the bathrooms, which are spacious and spotless. We loved it.
• It's private and peaceful, perfect for real relaxation. You fall asleep to the sound of flowing water and birdsong, and it's not too hot because it's right next to a stream.
• There are small cabins for anyone who wants a more comfortable overnight stay, for 500 baht.

All in all, it was a happy, fun and memorable trip that cost less than we expected, surrounded by nature. Don't forget to drop by Suan Khai Wa – now, who the heck should we bring next time? Hehe.

Suan Khai Wa campground – details

Location: 84 Si Ka-ang, Ban Na, Nakhon Nayok 26110

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/edAXfJNucsdAjyeM8

Phone: 087-780-8188

Facebook: Suan Khai Wa Nakhon Nayok

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Author Meeting Point Management Team, MBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ MBA University of Technology Sydney (UTS) DBA มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ Editorial Team

The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.