Complete Travel Guide: How to Visit the Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand's 22nd national park established in 1980, covers an astonishing area of 739 square kilometers in the southern province of Surat Thani. Thousands of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants specie can be found here, with dense jungle, towering limestone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and karst caves spread over the lake, rivers, and trails within the park. In particular, the virgin forest areas are considered to be some of the largest in southern Thailand, even older and more diverse than the Amazon rainforest, making this relatively unspoiled yet accessible park a stunning paradise for nature lovers.

Stunning View of Khao Sok

Highlights in Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok Village

Around the headquarter of the park is the area normally referred to as Khao Sok Village or Khao Sok, surrounded by dense rainforest, where you can easily start your journey to the limestone hills, by taking a scenic hike deep into the jungle on alternative trails, in the hope of spotting various wildlife in their natural habitat.

As a starting point for the trip, there are many trails leading to Khao Sok Lake or deep into the forest. You can follow the path to your next destination or just walk a little further to find a place to set up camp for the night.Of course, there are always plenty of resorts around the village where you can stay. Usually a two-story treehouse with an open-air balcony gives you the fresh wood atmosphere of easy camping.

If you are a nature lover, it is a good idea to bring a camera with you. There are approximately 200 species of flowers per hectare, including the world's biggest flower, the Rafflesia Kerrii. Whether it is the vibrant plants and foliage of the tropical coquette resorts or the lovely creatures in the forest or along the path, everything you see could be a wonderful picture of nature's beauty. While the sun crosses the leaves and tries its best to make the green forest a little golden, the huge buttress roots occupy the main ground, making a winding path that leads you into the deep jungle to somewhere waterfalls cascade down from the limestone hills where you can rest in, or somewhere unknown fruits hang from the tree to be tasted by the birds or monkeys.

Khao Sok Lake

It is a 165 square kilometer body of water about 67 kilometers from the bustling village, popularly known as Cheow Lan Lake, another hotspot with peculiar limestone hills, grotesque caves, vibrant primary tropical rainforest around it, and exciting mammal species inside. With nearly 400 species of birds and over 90 species of reptiles, a stroll along the lakeshore would be quite exciting. Whether it is the chirping of birds on the treetops or the unexpected encounter with a wild elephant, every time the forest rings, it is a source of great anticipation.

If you want to go canoeing on the lake, try to set off early in the morning, when the morning mist over the lake is thinning under a slightly pale sky and the shadows of the swaying trees around the lake are deepening. After crossing the next karst limestone hill overlooking the lake, you might catch a bird resting on a dead branch, waiting for the water to deliver the bubbles of a fish's breath. Or weave through the tributaries of a natural tunnel of branches and watch the playful monkeys leap between the banks.

Khao Sok Lake

Best Time to Visit the Khao Sok National Park

As a vibrant rainforest with a vast expanse of water area, the weather in Khao Sok National Park is always pleasant, with an average high temperature of 87.8 ℉ and a low of 80.6 ℉, making it a park that can be visited all year round.

The best time to visit the park is during the dry season from December through April, with the highest chance of clear days, which can provide perfect weather for your jungle hiking and boat cursing. However, as the weather in the rainforest can be unpredictable, there is still a chance of overcast days and rain. So a portable raincoat would be helpful.

As for the transitional months of May and November, a rainy day is more likely, usually in the form of afternoon showers. If you want to have a real camping experience, you can drop the park at the transitional season, listen to the special rhythm of the raindrops falling on the tent, then enjoy a post-rain stroll with the unique smell of mud and leaves, and a rare feeling of coolness in the summer of the Northern Hemisphere.

Where to Stay in Khao Sok National Park

As one of the most convenient places to have a comfortable rest and an easy start to your next day's jungle hiking, Khao Sok Village could be the first place to consider. There are plenty of hotels and resorts in the area of Khao Sok Village, such as the Panvaree Resort and Panvaree the Greenery, connected by a floating bridge, with full facilities, special dishes to enjoy and luxurious options to ensure a delightful stay. Usually, a separate tree house design with a suspended second floor can be climbed up with the staircase, creating a splendid condition for the open-air balcony to enjoy the relaxing afternoon tea in the waving shade of the trees or the starry night sky twinkling with the fireflies. Living in the forest can be one such way.

If water or something refreshing is your preference, then have a stay at the raft hotels. Scattered over the Cheow Lan Lake are a dozen or so floating "hotels", several floating bungalows linked together in a line, which provide accommodation for visitors to rest. With an area that is only accessible by long-tail boats departing from Cheolan Pier, this could be one of the best places to stay while you are visiting Cheow Lan Lake. You can choose to stay for one or two nights in one of the raft houses to best enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, with a pleasant night with the unique rhythm of the insects chirping and the natural morning call of the birds.

Khao Sok Village

How to Get to Khao Sok National Park

The nearest airport to Khao Sok National Park is Surat Thani Airport, about a 1.5-hour drive west of the main gate. You can take the plane within 1.2 hours to reach at Bangkok, which is highly recommended. Krabi Airport and Phuket Airport are the other options, which you can also fly into these two other relatively nearby airports. Thanks to its good location, Khao Sok can be reached by about 1 hour's drive east of Khao Lak, 3 hours northeast of Phuket, and 3 hours north of Krabi.

Ready for a memorable adventure in Khao Sok National Park? With such close proximity to the natural rainforest with rivers and lakes, vibrant animals and rare plants to see and multiple wide activities to experience, come and start your journey to Thailand with Odynovo and best experience the varied activities in this lovely park.