For many connoisseurs of the country's natural heritage,
this patch of cooling tropical rainforest on the border with Malaysia is one of the country's prime natural attractions.
The area covers 270,000 rai from Betong in Yala and Chanae district in the west, to Waeng and Sukhirin
districts of Narathiwat in the east. It is interspersed with village communities that prevent wildlife from moving between the two sides. Hala is a bigger woodland, home to big animals including tigers. On the Bala side, birds are the main attraction. Hala is accessible from Yala; Bala can be
reached at Waeng district.