Tourists take trips to Yellowstone National Park in the United States for exciting encounters with wildlife, to African parks such as Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Kruger for incredible safaris, and to Khao Yai in Thailand to see large Asian mammals.

Only a two hour drive from massive and congested Bangkok, residents of the Thai capital do weekend trips to Khao Yai to see wildlife and get back in touch with nature. The tropical forests and grasslands of this national park cover a large enough area to provide forage and shelter for such big, charismatic fauna as Asian Elephants, Sambar Deer, Gaur (a rare, wild, Asian Ox), two species of bears, Gibbons, Macaques, and even a few Tigers.

Because much of the park is dense, tropical forest, the large animals of Khao Yai aren’t as easy to see as mammals in parks with wide open plains, but they are seen often enough to make this the most popular and heavily visited park in Thailand. This turns the campgrounds into veritable Thai jamborees each and every weekend but that doesn’t seem to reduce sightings of wild (and dangerous) Asian Elephants, semi tame and larcenous Lion-tailed Macaques, long-armed gibbons that hoot from the trees, massive, prehistoric-looking Great Hornbills (kind of like a giant, bizarre, old-world toucan), and plenty of beautiful Sambar Deer.

Visitors to the park who explore with an experienced, local guide are likely to see even more, especially if they go searching for animals at night. Tigers are pretty rare and avoid the limelight but elephants are just too big to hide. Other than the macaques and a variety of exotic, tropical Asian birds, some of the easiest animals to see are the large porcupines that visit the campgrounds at night. Covered in long quills that they rattle while walking among the tents, it can be disconcerting to see one of these dog-sized creatures stumbling around while walking to the restrooms but as long as you keep your distance, hopefully they will too (at least they aren’t carnivorous).

The Mjolfjell Youth Hostel (don’t even begin to ask me how to pronounce that) is a place for people of all ages to experience the absolutely stunning scenery and fresh air of the Norwegian mountains.

Staying here is almost like camping without sleeping in a tent because the indoor accommodations are simple and comfortable while the main attractions can be found in the great outdoors. The moors and forests of this mountainous area are bisected by cold, rushing streams and make for beautiful hiking and horseback riding. Canoes and mountain bikes can also be rented to float on a nearby lake or zoom around on trails, and it’s an excellent place for cross country skiing during the winter.

The more adventurous visitors who want to challenge themselves or do their very own Norwegian dreamquest can also sign up for a wilderness survival course. Participants learn how to use a map and compass, how to survive in the wilds of Norway, and pass the night in a snow cave! I hope this last part is the graduation from the course because if not, the next step can only involve the building a Viking era boat or hand to hand combat with a bear.

For the less adventurous, (or for those who need to bring their core temperature back up to normal levels after the snow cave ordeal), there is also a heated swimming pool at the hostel. Although the pool is only open during the short summer, they make up for that with an outdoor Jacuzzi open and available to guests at all times of the year.

Green travelers will also be pleased to know that the Mjolfjell Youth Hostel gets all of its energy from its own hydro plant that runs with water from a nearby stream. Food is fresh, delicious, and includes such healthy local staples as trout and salmon.