Thailand is a true paradise for drone enthusiasts, but there are clear restrictions that you should be aware of. Areas where flying is prohibited or heavily regulated include cities, military installations, airports and – most importantly – national parks. However, it is the national parks with their spectacular landscapes that are so tempting. Just take a look at Khao Sok National Park with its beautiful lake or the impressive Phang Nga Bay, which provides unforgettable aerial views of the famous James Bond Island.
Did you know that popular places such as Railey Beach and Koh Phi Phi are also part of a national park? This is exactly why you will often see signs prohibiting drones there or even be asked by rangers to show your permit. Without this official permission, you are not allowed to fly a drone there.
The good news is: once you have permission from the park administration, you can legally fly in these spectacular areas and capture the unique landscapes from a bird’s eye view. However, you can only obtain this permit if you have completed the necessary registrations with CAAT and NBTC beforehand.
In this article, I will show you step by step how to obtain this additional permit so that you can fly safely and stress-free in Thailand’s most beautiful national parks.
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Options for Obtaining a Drone Permit for National Parks
- Visit the park administration headquarters in person to get the permit. This is usually at the visitor center or the main entrance of the national park.
- Request the permit online by submitting a filled form via email. We will explain in this article how to get this form.
Getting a Permit In-Person at the Headquarters or Visitor Center
There is usually a visitor center at the entrance of a national park. There, or in the administrative office, you will find friendly and helpful staff who can assist you with issuing a permit. Google Translate is very helpful both when formulating your request and when translating the form.
CURRENT UPDATE: At the moment, flying drones in Khao Sok National Park is prohibited. There are signs indicating this, and the staff do not issue permits.
Unfortunately, the reason for this restriction is not officially communicated when requests are denied: there were too many cases where drones were flown without prior permission. As a result, drones have been completely banned.
It’s a pity for the many responsible drone pilots who are willing to obtain proper authorization.
The offices of national parks can usually be found easily on Google Maps by entering the park’s name. Alternatively, you can ask locals or look for signs on-site – they’ll surely point you in the right direction. If you want to prepare beforehand, you can also use one of the usual search engines to find information.
TIP: This is where artificial intelligence comes in handy! A simple query to ChatGPT or Gemini provides a precise answer. It’s a real asset that can help you plan your drone flights more efficiently.
Getting a Permit Online
To obtain a permit for drone flights in a national park online, you’ll need to first request a form, fill it out, and send it back via email.
Three Ways to Request the Form:
- By phone: This can be challenging due to language barriers.
- By email: There’s a chance your request might go unanswered, so you may need to follow up by phone to ensure it’s processed.
- Our colletion: Customers of our registration service receive access to our collection of application forms for national park permits.
How to Find the Email Address or Phone Number:
We have compiled a list of all national parks along with drone-related information for each of them. You can find the list here.
Below is a list of some of the more well-known national parks with their contact details.
Alternatively, you can use Google Maps to find the necessary information – this usually works well.
Processing Time: Allow about 3-7 working days for the permit to be issued.
Required Documents (for both application methods):
- The completed and signed form
- A copy of your passport
- Your NBTC and CAAT approvals
Advantages of Applying In-Person
- The permit is issued on-site, and you can take it with you immediately.
Advantages of Applying Online
- You save yourself a trip and can handle everything remotely.
Example: Surin Marine National Park
The friendly staff at the park administration can hardly speak English, but they send a form. Unfortunately, this is in Thai.
TIP: Google Translate can translate entire documents.
Example: Koh Phi Phi / Railay
This national park, which includes Koh Phi Phi and Railay, likely experiences high demand from drone pilots. Therefore, the park is well-prepared and even publishes a flowchart of the process and requirements for flying legally.
Contact Details for National Parks
| Known As | Name | Phone Number | Address | |
| Phi Phi and Railay | Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi NP | dronephiphi.np@gmail.com | 075661145 | Google Maps |
| James Bond Island | Ao Phang Nga NP | aophangnga_np@hotmail.com | 076481188 | Google Maps |
| Khao Sok | Khao Sok NP | khaosoknpks@hotmail.com | ||
| Ang Thong near Samui | Mu Ko Ang Thong NP | np_angthong@hotmail.com | 077286025 | Google Maps |
The official Full List of Thai National Parks by Department of National Parks DNP (ATTENTION: This page does not appear to be accessible from outside the country. However, you can view it with a VPN from outside Thailand.)
We have compiled a list of all national parks along with drone-related information for each of them. Find our list here.
Feel free to leave a comment with your experiences flying a drone in Thailand’s national parks.
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