How To Go to Khao Sok Nationwide Park In Thailand

Among the best locations to see nature and animals in Thailand is on the Khao Sok Nationwide Park, close to Phuket.

We spent 3 days at Khao Sok and had a blast. The turquoise lake is very nice, and it’s simple to see animals within the park. We even noticed wild elephants!

The easiest way to expertise Khao Sok is to spend a number of days on the park, exploring the lake by boat, trekking to see animals and caves within the jungle, and staying at the least one night time in a floating bungalow on the lake.

On this journey information, I’ll clarify methods to go to Khao Sok with or with no tour, and the entire high issues to see and do there!

Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur In Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Dusky leaf monkey together with her yellow child

 

How Many Days To Spend At Khao Sok

The very first thing to determine is how a lot time you wish to spend on the park.

Listed below are your choices:

  • Day Journey – You are able to do a day journey to Khao Sok from a touristy space like Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, or Surat Thani. That is the quickest and best possibility, however you gained’t have as a lot time to see the park. It’s too quick, in my view.
  • Bundle Tour (2-4 days) – That is one other simple possibility as a result of it contains all the things: transport, information, meals, and lodging. This can be a great possibility for some individuals, as a result of it’s handy and it provides you adequate time to see the principle highlights of the park.
  • Keep In Khlong Sok Village – This selection provides you essentially the most flexibility and value effectivity. By basing your self immediately on the Khlong Sok village close to the park, you possibly can keep so long as you want, and do excursions for the issues that curiosity you most. It’s one of the best ways to go to the park in case you’re not restricted on time.

Based mostly on our expertise, you want at the least two days within the Khao Sok space to essentially profit from it, and three or 4 days is healthier.

Cheow Lan Lake Drone Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Drone pic of Cheow Lan Lake

Cheow Lan Lake Boat Ride In Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Lake cruise

 

Finest Khao Sok Excursions

GetYourGuide has 2 day excursions to Khao Sok from Phuket that embody lodge pickup and drop-off, meals, lodging, and excursions within the park.

Or, in case you’re actually restricted on time, additionally they have 1 day excursions to Khao Sok from Phuket, Krabi, or Khao Lak.

Alternatively, in case you’re staying in Khlong Sok village immediately by the park, they’ve day excursions to the lake, jungle trekking, elephant excursions, and extra.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for plenty of excursions and actions world wide, they usually’re nice. Extremely really useful!

 

How To Get To Khao Sok Nationwide Park

• From Phuket

From Phuket, you may get to Khlong Sok village by public bus, shared minivan, or personal taxi.

The bus has 5 departures per day, and it’s a 4 hour journey. The minivan has numerous departures daily, and the journey takes anyplace from 2.5 to 4.5 hours. A taxi journey will take 2.5 to three.5 hours, relying on the place you begin in Phuket.

You’ll be able to examine the schedules and e-book tickets for any of those on-line right here.

12Go minivan transfer how to get to Khao Sok

Minivan

Van seats inside

Van seats

We obtained a personal taxi and had a great expertise. They introduced us from the Phuket airport to Khao Lak, the place we stayed for a couple of days, after which from Khao Lak to Khao Sok Nationwide Park. All the things went easily.

After we have been completed at Khao Sok, we took a shared minivan again to Phuket, which was organized by our lodge in Khlong Sok.
 

• From Krabi

From Krabi, you may get to Khlong Sok by minivan or taxi. There’s no massive bus.

They’ve numerous minivan departures daily from both Ao Nang or Krabi city, and the journey takes about 3 to 4 hours. You’ll be able to e-book right here.
 

• From Khao Lak

From Khao Lak, you may get to Khlong Sok by bus, minivan, or taxi.

The bus journey takes about 2 hours, whereas the minivan or taxi journey is just a little over 1 hour. You’ll be able to e-book right here.

Bus seats inside

Bus seats

 

• From Surat Thani

From Surat Thani, you may get to Khlong Sok by bus, minivan, or taxi. That is the closest airport and start line for visiting the park.

The bus journey takes about 2 to three hours, whereas the minivan is 2 to 2.5 hours. A taxi takes 1.5 to 2 hours. You’ll be able to e-book any of those right here.
 

• From Bangkok

From Bangkok, the quickest possibility could be to fly or take a prepare to Surat Thani, after which get floor transport to Khlong Sok from there.
 

Getting Round In Khao Sok Nationwide Park

When you attain Khlong Sok village, you possibly can prepare excursions of the park by way of your lodge or one of many native businesses, or you are able to do some issues independently like we did.

Lots of the lodges in Khlong Sok are positioned inside strolling distance of the nationwide park entrance (map right here), so it’s simple to do jungle trekking. For transport in every single place else, we rented a motorcycle by way of our lodge.

The lake entry is a 1 hour drive from the principle park headquarters and village, and it will possibly solely be explored by longtail boat, so your choices are extra restricted there.

Drone Cheow Lan Lake Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Fingers of the lake

Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur Khao Sok National Park Thailand

One other leaf monkey

When you present up early within the morning on the fundamental harbor, the Ratchaprapha Marina, you possibly can rent a personal or shared longtail boat on the spot.

We did that one time and there have been massive crowds by late morning. Ready in line for a ship was chaotic and it wasted hours we may’ve spent within the park, so I’d solely advocate this strategy if you may get there earlier than 9 AM.

The boat costs begin at round 1,700 baht (~$50 USD) for a 2 hour personal tour, which will be fairly economical in case you share it with associates. Two hours is admittedly not lengthy sufficient although, so that you would possibly wish to negotiate and pay further so you possibly can have extra time on the lake.

These are all comparatively economical methods to go to the park, though Khao Sok continues to be form of overpriced in comparison with different locations in Thailand, so there’s no actually low-cost option to go there, sadly. Khao Sok simply isn’t low-cost.

Longtail Boat on Cheow Lan Lake Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Boat on Cheow Lan Lake

Drone pic of Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Huge cliffs

 

Finest Issues To See & Do In Khao Sok Nationwide Park

• Cheow Lan Lake

One of many fundamental sights of the park is the Cheow Lan Lake. It’s a pleasant turquoise lake surrounded by limestone mountains, with caves and islands to discover.

Boat excursions on the lake will usually take you to an iconic spot referred to as Khao Sam Kler, the place 3 rock formations stick out of the water, seeming to drift.

Often they’ll additionally take you to at the least one cave, which you’ll be able to stroll by way of with flashlights. The cave we visited was referred to as Pra Kie Phet and it had nice views of the lake, nearly like an image body.

Longtail Boat Cheow Lan Lake Khao Sok National Park Thailand

We went ashore to see a cave

Pra Kie Phet Limestone Cave

Pra Kie Phet cave

Within the night, we did just a little facet tour by boat to search for wild elephants.

We have been fortunate to see a mom and child elephant feeding by the sting of the lake, shut sufficient to take footage from our boat! Close to the tip of the journey, we additionally noticed a hornbill within the treetops.

Mother and baby wild elephants in the jungle

Wild elephants!

 

• Lake Bungalows

One of many nice issues concerning the lake is that there are floating bungalows the place you possibly can keep in a single day and get up to see the mist and dawn on the lake.

There are many these floating bungalows scattered round totally different areas of the lake, they usually vary in worth and high quality. A few of the excessive finish locations are lovely, like Panvaree Resort.

Even essentially the most primary lake lodges are fairly snug, with mattress beds, showers, flush bogs, followers, and electrical retailers by way of solar energy. We stayed at Keeree Tara Rafthouse, which was a bit run down, however it had all of those requirements, so we didn’t thoughts.

Most significantly, the entire lake bungalows have superb views of the nationwide park. It’s best to spend at the least one night time on the lake. It’s a terrific expertise!

Floating overwater bungalows at the Panvaree Resort

Floating bungalows on the Cheow Lan Lake (© Panvaree Resort)

 

• Wildlife Trekking

Once we arrived at Khlong Sok, the very very first thing we did was trekking to see animals within the jungle. You are able to do this in a half day, so it’s the right option to spend a day on the park.

The trekking is just not very exhausting, and households can do it. There’s a large dust path, nearly like a highway, with jungle on either side.

Sometimes you would possibly dip into the jungle to get a more in-depth have a look at some animals, waterfalls, or different issues.

Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur With Baby In Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Dusky leaf monkeys

You are able to do quick mountaineering within the park with no information, however for longer treks previous 3 kilometers, they require you to rent a information. It’s not simple to get round this requirement until you’re very sneaky.

It’s form of an annoying rule, however I’ll admit the guides will be useful for navigation, taking footage, and recognizing animals that you simply won’t in any other case see, so it’s not all dangerous.

We noticed monkeys and macaques, lizards, pit vipers, tarantulas, and extra. It was particularly enjoyable seeing the dusky leaf monkeys with their vibrant yellow infants.

The animals have been normally shut sufficient to snap some nice footage, though it helps to have a little bit of zoom in your digital camera.

You’ll be able to see big rafflesia flowers within the Khao Sok park from December to March, and in case you’re fortunate, you may additionally see clouded leopards, solar bears, and different uncommon animals.

Lizard on a tree       Exotic red plant

Waglers Pit Viper Yellow Snake

Wagler’s pit viper

 

• Evening Trekking

Evening trekking with a flashlight is one other good option to see wildlife at Khao Sok Nationwide Park.

The jungle comes alive after darkish, and the animals are much more energetic than throughout the daytime.

A information is at all times required for night time trekking, which form of is sensible, as a result of there are venomous snakes and different animals within the jungle.

Tarantula nest at night

Tarantula nest

 

• Elephant Sanctuary

Khao Sok has an elephant sanctuary the place you possibly can bathe the elephants, feed them, and take footage with them.

I do know it’s finest to see animals within the wild the place they belong, however that’s not at all times doable for everybody.

At a sanctuary like this, you possibly can work together with elephants up shut, and the cash advantages conservation for these great animals.

Ebook Now: Elephant Sanctuary Tour From Khlong Sok / From Khao Lak
 

Entrance Payment

There’s a nationwide park charge it’s important to pay per individual, relying on which space of Khao Sok you go to.

  • Lake (Adults): 300 baht (~$9)
  • Lake (Youngsters 3-14): 150 baht
  • Jungle (Adults): 200 baht (~$6)
  • Jungle (Youngsters 3-14): 100 baht

These charges are present as of 2024, however could go up over time because the place is so common.

The park charge is barely payable by money. Nevertheless, some excursions embody the park charge within the whole worth, so that will prevent from needing to make use of money for it.

Word that in case you pay the park charge within the night and go night time trekking, then your ticket continues to be legitimate for the subsequent day, so maintain onto it.

Equally, you solely need to pay the park charge as soon as to your lake tour, even in case you spend a number of days on the lake.

Drone Khao Sok National Park Thailand

Turquoise water

Morning lake reflection

Morning reflection

 

Urged Itinerary

Right here’s a urged itinerary you possibly can observe to your go to to Khao Sok Nationwide Park.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Thailand, and switch to Khlong Sok village from Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, or Surat Thani. Test into your lodge in Khlong Sok after which spend the afternoon trekking to see animals on the jungle close to the village.
  • Day 2: Drive to Ratchaprapha Marina after which take a longtail boat to your lodge on the lake. After check-in and lunch, go for a swim or kayak within the lake, after which be a part of a ship tour to see the enduring 3 peaks, discover a limestone cave, and hopefully see some wild animals. Eat dinner at your lake bungalow after which spend the night time there.
  • Day 3: Get up to dawn on the lake, and go on an early morning boat safari to attempt to see extra animals. After breakfast on the lodge, take a ship again to Ratchaprapha Marina, after which drive again to Khlong Sok village.
  • Day 4: Do another actions within the Khlong Sok space, like visiting the elephant sanctuary and going bamboo rafting on the river, then switch again to Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, or Surat Thani to proceed your travels in Thailand.

Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur on a bamboo tree       Lizard on a tree

Baby macaque monkey on a tree branch

Wild macaque

 

Different Suggestions For Khao Sok Park

  • What To Convey: For the boat excursions, a water-resistant bag or telephone pouch is a good suggestion to guard your electronics. An influence financial institution can be helpful for charging your telephone, because the electrical energy is barely out there within the night on the lake homes.
  • Additional Baggage: When you have any massive baggage, you possibly can retailer it at your lodge in Khlong Sok village whilst you go on the boat tour. That’s what we did. The longtail boats normally have room for further baggage in case you completely must carry it, however it’s extra handy to go away it on the village.
  • Cellphone Service: Simply so you understand, a lot of the lake homes in Khao Sok don’t have dependable WiFi and even cellular phone service. Be ready to go with out it.
  • Drones: The Thai authorities doesn’t enable drones to be flown anyplace at Khao Sok because it’s a nationwide park. Nevertheless, there are many locations you possibly can fly legally exterior the park whereas nonetheless capturing the limestone mountains, and also you might be able to do some little bit of droning contained in the park in case you’re discreet about it and select a secure place to fly.
  • Mosquitoes: Khao Sok is taken into account low threat for malaria, and I haven’t heard of any confirmed circumstances right here just lately, however it’s best to nonetheless watch out. Put on repellent while you’re exterior the room, and maintain a fan operating while you sleep. We didn’t take malaria capsules.
Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur on a bamboo branch

Crossing a bamboo department

Guilin Khao Sam Kler Three Limestone Peaks

The three peaks of Khao Sok lake

 

Different Suggestions For Khlong Sok Village

  • Motels: There are many snug lodges in Khlong Sok village close to the park. These vary from finances to luxurious. We stayed at Khao-Sok Mattress and Breakfast, and had a great expertise. The homeowners have been pleasant, they usually have been in a position to prepare a tour, shuttle, and motorcycle rental for us with aggressive costs.
  • Eating places: The village is loaded with eating places, cafes, and Thai avenue meals inside strolling distance of the lodges. You gained’t have any bother discovering someplace nice to eat.
  • Credit score Playing cards: Quite a lot of the lodges and eating places in Khlong Sok don’t settle for bank cards, so that you’ll wish to carry loads of money.
  • ATM: There are a number of ATMs within the Khlong Sok village in case you run out of money and must withdraw extra.
Rafflesia flower sign at the park entrance

Rafflesia signal on the park entrance

 

When To Go to Khao Sok

Like the remainder of southern Thailand, the climate is heat and humid at Khao Sok all 12 months lengthy. It follows principally the identical climate sample as Phuket, though it’s wetter usually.

The dry season is from December to April, in order that’s the very best time to go to in case you can. You’re extra prone to have vibrant and sunny climate in these months.

The moist season is from Might to October. Although there’s the next likelihood of rain in these months, you possibly can nonetheless go to and have a great expertise.

Completely satisfied travels!

Cheow Lan Lake       Dusky Leaf Monkey Spectacled Langur With Baby
 
 

Is Khao Sok Value It?

Khao Sok is dearer than different vacationer sights in Thailand, however I nonetheless suppose it’s value visiting.

I personally loved the surroundings of the Phi Phi islands greater than Khao Sok, however Phi Phi is so overrun with crowds it form of dampens the expertise.

Khao Sok by no means felt as crowded as one thing like Maya Bay. The surroundings is sweet, the animals are nice, and staying in a bungalow on the lake is a enjoyable and distinctive expertise. General, I actually favored it.

Boat on Cheow Lan Lake

One other photogenic a part of the lake

 

Extra Thailand Journey Guides

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this journey information for Khao Sok Nationwide Park in Thailand.

Don’t neglect to take a look at my different journey guides for Thailand and the remainder of the Phuket space!
 

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