Racing Near Thailand's First National Park
The Khao Yai Marathon offers five distances -- 2K, 5K, 10K, 21.1K and the 42.195K full marathon -- in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima. [1] Khao Yai National Park was established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park, declared by royal proclamation, and covers 2,166 sq km -- the country's third-largest park. [2]
A UNESCO World Heritage Forest Complex
Khao Yai became an ASEAN Heritage Park in 1984, and on 14 July 2005 was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, together with neighbouring national parks in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains. [2] Running in this area gives the marathon a genuinely globally significant natural backdrop, though development pressure from nearby luxury hotels and golf courses has become a real conservation concern for the park itself.
The Widest Distance Range in This Research Batch
Five distances from a 2K up to the full marathon give this race the broadest accessibility of nearly any event covered in this research -- suiting families and complete beginners alongside serious distance runners in one event. [1]
A Familiar Organiser
Race Up Work Co., Ltd. organises this race -- the same team behind the Scenic Marathon series covered at Krabi, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Phanom elsewhere in this research batch. [1] That multi-region track record gives this event genuine operational credibility even without independent Khao Yai-specific reviews yet.
Should You Run It?
If a genuinely broad-range race near one of Southeast Asia's most significant natural heritage sites appeals, the Khao Yai Marathon on 10 January 2027 is a strong pick, run by an organiser with proven experience across multiple Thai destinations.