Khao Sok National Park is a breathtaking destination in Thailand, known for its natural beauty and abundance of flora and fauna. Khao Sok is without a doubt the most beautiful national park we visited in Thailand. In the park you will find Khao Sok lake which is surrounded by huge rock formations of up to 900 meters high and ancient jungle making it a stunning place to visit.
If you’re planning a trip to Khao Sok National Park, there are several things you should know. For example, how many days in Khao Sok are required and how to get to Khao Sok National Park. Exploring the park itself can be done either by boat or on foot. There are diverse activities available to enjoy such as swimming in Khao Sok Lake and spotting exotic wildlife from the jungle.
When visiting Khao Sok National Park, prepare yourself by following our Khao Sok National park itinerary. This article provides you with all you need to know about Khao Sok. Discover our best tips and find out why this was the highlight of our Thailand trip!
Is Khao Sok National Park worth visiting
Khao Sok National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Thailand. Not only is it home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, but it also offers an abundance of flora and fauna. A highlight of a visit to Khao Sok is seeing gibbons high in the trees in their natural environment, as well as other animals such as elephants and snakes.
The park consists of two parts – Khlong Sok village at one entrance and Cheow Larn Lake (also called Khao Sok Lake) at the other, both offering spectacular views and experiences. At Khlong Sok, you will find the headquarter of the park, which is also where many visitors arrive by bus.
Cheow Larn Lake is where you can stay in a bungalow on the lake for an unforgettable experience.
From hiking through the jungle to visiting different caves filled with spiders and snakes inhabiting them, swimming through caves, kayaking on Khao Sok lake, or even going on safari – whatever your choice might be, it’s all possible at this stunning National Park and therefore is Khao Sok worth it to visit.
Where is Khao Sok National Park located?
Khao Sok National Park is located in the south of Thailand in the province of Phang Nga and is easily accessible from popular travel destinations such as Koh Samui, Krabi, and Phuket.
The great thing about Khao Sok National Park is that it is not visited by a lot of tourists compared to the surrounding destinations. Many travelers come to Thailand to enjoy the coast. In this park you can do something different, making it an awesome place during your trip through Thailand.
Tip: Use the map below to see where the best things in Khao Sok National Park are located. Click on the top right corner to enlarge the map. If you click on the star symbol next to the title, you can save this map to your Google Maps account. You can show or hide different categories on the map. You can use this map to navigate when you are in Khao Sok National Park.
Things to do in Khao Sok National Park?
Khao Sok National Park is very large, with many parts you cannot visit because this is a protected nature reserve. One part that can be visited is Khao Sok Lake and the area around it. Read below our 3 recommended activities that you can do in Khao Sok National Park.
Khao Sok National Park tour at Khao Sok lake
A Khao Sok National Park tour offers the chance to explore Khao Sok Lake which is the best area to discover in Khao Sok. It is one of the few places in the world where mammals live in an untouched environment, making it a true natural marvel.
This lake is visited as part of a guided tour, as it is simply not possible to do it yourself. During your journey, you will cruise, hike and kayak through different regions of the lake, discover caves, relax on boat rides, and even go on a safari in the early hours of the morning. Make sure you don’t miss out on this unique opportunity – important to book the Khao Sok National Park tour as early as possible to safeguard a spot.
The Khao Sok National Park tour starts with a pickup and travels to the park entrance before boarding a speedboat that will take you to the stunning bungalows on Lake Khao Sok. Take in stunning sights like the Nam Ta Lu cave and stop at Chiew Larn and Khao Sam Klur as you cruise along.
When you arrive at the accommodation you start with a hike in the jungle and getting a chance to see monkeys, snakes, and insects. In the evening you have the time to enjoy traditional Thai food.
The next morning enjoy the best morning view you’ve ever had – a fog-covered lake surrounded by high mountains – then set off for a boat safari where you can spot gibbons, hornbills, monkeys, elephants, bulls, and wild birds. Don’t forget your binoculars! After this activity, the tour is finished.
Delight in a memorable 2-day or 3-day tour of Khao Sok National Park; while the three-day tour offers more free time it is often twice as expensive. We recommend booking the 2-day tour. If you know the dates when you will be in Khao Sok, it is recommended to buy your tickets already to secure a spot. Check actual prices and availability here.
Follow a kayak tour in Khao Sok
A kayak safari down the River Sok offers a unique and relaxing way to start your visit to Khao Sok National Park. As you float down the river, take in the huge limestone rock formations and lush rainforest. If you’re lucky, you may even catch glimpses of monkeys, snakes, and other wildlife like elephants, bears, and buffalo.
The tour is guided by an experienced guide who can help you find the best route through the water as well as provide interesting facts about the area. He will also help you spot animals before you do. A kayak safari is only possible through a tour, you cannot do this independently. Book a ticket for a kayak trip here.
Hiking in Khao Sok National Park
Hiking in Khao Sok National Park is in one word amazing. You walk through the untouched rainforest and are always surprised by the breathtaking views. The plants and animals you encounter along the way make it one of the best activities to do.
If you stay in Khlong Sok, this is the village that is next to the main entrance, you can easily start the hike. You can do this independently, go to the main entrance and buy a map on the spot on which different walking routes are indicated. Ask locally which route is most suitable at that time, this can vary due to weather conditions because you cannot walk some routes if it has rained a lot, for example.
If you do not feel confident enough to do this on your own or would like to have a guide with you while hiking, it is recommended to follow this tour. The big advantage is that a local person knows what to look out for and what the dangers are in certain places. The chance of seeing wild animals is also better than if you do it independently.
Both options are fine, it’s a matter of personal preference. If you want to do trekking with a guide, we recommend a tour. In half a day you will visit the Bang Hua Rad and Wing Hin waterfalls. These waterfalls are green in color which is special to see. Check actual prices and availability for the trekking tour here.
Khao Sok how many days?
How many days in Khao Sok you need depends on your personal preference, but we recommend 3 days. You need to book 1 or 2 nights in the village of Khlong Sok. Our recommended Khao Sok National Park itinerary below provides more clarity:
- Day 1: arrive in Khlong Sok village in the afternoon, then you can go kayaking on the river Sok or go hiking in the park;
- Night day 1: stay at Khaosok Riverside Cottages of Art’s Riverview Lodge
- Day 2: Tour Khao Sok lake;
- Night day 2: included in the tour (not necessary to book anything)
- Day 3: end of tour Khao Sok lake, in the afternoon you will return to the accommodation where you stayed the first night to pick up your luggage.
- Option I: stay again in Khaosok Riverside Cottages or Art’s Riverview Lodge
- Option II: travel by night bus to the next destination such as Bangkok (so you don’t have to book an overnight stay at an accommodation)
As you can see in the overview above, on the 3rd day you have the choice to stay another night in the village of Khlong Sok or take a night bus to the next destination. Staying in Khlong Sok after two intensive days gives you some time to relax, whereas taking the night bus allows you to reach your new location faster. It all depends on your schedule and personal preference – choose the option that makes sense for you!
Are you also looking for a Thailand itinerary? Read more here.
Where to stay in Khao Sok National Park?
We recommend staying in the village of Khlong Sok, which is located next to the main entrance of Khao Sok National Park. There are a couple of accommodations to choose from in this small village.
We recommend Khaosok Riverside Cottages and Art’s Riverview Lodge because they are very good in terms of value for money. Both accommodations are beautifully located along the river. Great when you stay at these places that you hear all the animals that live along the river.
Note: don’t wait too long to book because the accommodations close to the park are fully booked quickly. This also applies to both accommodations, so if you know your dates it is recommended to book immediately.
Beautiful location
Khaosok Riverside Cottages
We stayed in Khaosok Riverside Cottages, a very cozy cottage where you have the feeling that you are located middle of the jungle. The terrace is a great place to relax because it is situated along the river. The food is very good, you don’t have to look for places to eat outside the resort. The rooms are very neat and spacious. In addition, you can enjoy a warm shower here, which is not often the case in Thailand.
Great value for money
Art’s Riverview Lodge
Another great place along the river is Art’s Riverview Lodge. You can compare this with Khaosok Riverside Cottages, only this one is more luxurious. So it is personal what you prefer. The houses where you can stay are beautiful. Also, at this place, they have a good restaurant.
Where to eat in Khao Sok National Park?
If you stay in the village of Khlong Sok, like us, you don’t have to look for places to eat because the two accommodations we recommend have good restaurants where you can eat for a good price.
If you would like to eat somewhere else, Pawn’s restaurant and Khao Sok Bistro & Bar are two good places to eat.
Pawn’s restaurant is located on the main road in Khlong Sok and where you can choose between Thai and European dishes. Great place to sit and enjoy a nice meal. We recommend gaeng phet, which is a curry with pumpkin. If you eat and drink here, it will cost you about 275 bath ($8.10) per person.
Khao Sok Bistro & Bar is our other recommendation. This place is nice because of the view and the ambiance. They have a swimming pool with a bar where you can relax after a long day of hiking in the park. Also here they have Thai and European dishes that you can choose from. If you want a pizza, this will cost you 350 bath ($10.30) with a drink per person. Our recommendation is one of the curries, this will cost you about 300 bath ($8.85) with a drink per person.
How to get to Khao Sok National Park
To visit Khao Sok National Park you need to travel to the nearby village called Khlong Sok. Khao Sok National Park is easy to reach if you are in the south of Thailand. It is also possible to get to the park if you are in other famous places. The most common method to reach Khao Sok National Park is by bus and sometimes in combination with a plane.
How to get from Koh Samui (Ko Tao and Ko Phangan) to Khao Sok National Park: Travel from your accommodation in Koh Samui to the pier of Koh Samui (Nathon Pier 3). Here you take the boat to Donsak Pier 3 (Surat Thani Pier). Depending on which tour operator you use, you need to get on a minivan at one of the tour operators. You can also buy a ticket to Khao Sok National Park at the bus station. Travel time is +/- 7 hours. Check current prices and availability here.
How to get from Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park: use the night bus (option 1) or plane (option 2). Option 1: Travel from Bangkok to the tour operator (address is mentioned on the tickets). With the night bus, you are in Khao Sok National Park in +/- 13 hours. Check current prices here.
Option 2: travel from the airport, usually for domestic flights you fly via Don Mueang airport to Surat Thani. In Surat Thani, you need to visit a tour operator to get on a minivan. Travel time is +/- 5 hours. Check current bus prices from Surat Thani here.
How to get from Chiang Mai to Khao Sok National Park: take the plane to Surat Thani. In Surat Thani, you need to travel to one of the tour operators where you can get in a minivan. Travel time is +/- 6 hours. Check current bus prices from Chiang Mai here.
How to get from Surat Thani to Khao Sok National Park: depending on which tour operator you use, you need to get on a minivan at one of the tour operators. You can also buy a ticket at the bus station to Khao Sok National Park (arrival in Khlong Sok village). Travel time is +/- 2 hours. Check current bus prices from Surat Thani here.
Tip: it is best to buy airline tickets via Skyscanner and bus tickets via Bookaway or 12go.asia.
If you travel to Thailand by plane and you are looking for a car to rent, you can rent it through Rentalcars. We use Rentalcars when we want to travel by car to discover new destinations. They’re easy to use and book with.
How expensive is it to visit Khao Sok National Park?
Visiting Khao Sok National Park is a unique experience that is more expensive than other activities in Thailand. This is because the park only allows a limited number of people per day to stay in the park, which pushes up prices. On average, expect to spend around $374 per person for a 2-day tour and stay in Khlong Sok.
| Khao Sok National Park type of cost | Price per person |
| Khao Sok Lake 2-day tour | $282 |
| Food | $17 |
| Travel cost from Koh Samui | $25 |
| Night bus to Bangkok | $28 |
| 1 night in Khlong Sok: ($44 for a two-person bedroom) | $22 |
| Total | $374 |
If you stay one night in Khlong Sok after the two-day tour, it will cost each person around $396. This is a lot of money, but the park is amazing and worth visiting.
Travel insurance
World Nomads travel insurance policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities. Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road.
When is the best time to visit Khao Sok National Park?
Khao Sok National Park can sometimes be difficult to predict in terms of weather because at one moment the weather can be good and suddenly it starts raining. It is humid all year round, especially from June to September. The most rain falls during this period.
In general, September and October are the coolest months, and March and April are the hottest. Temperatures are an average of 29-34℃ / 84,2-93.2°F so it’s never really cold.
The wettest months (June to September) are the coolest months and the driest months (October to April) are the warmest. You can travel to Khao Sok National Park all year round only depending on your personal preference, some periods suit you better than others.
Khao Sok National Park guide FAQ
1. Is Khao Sok worth it?
Khao Sok National Park is definitely worth a visit – it’s one of Thailand’s most stunning and unique destinations. Take the two-day tour into the ancient jungle and spend a night in one of the park’s enchanting locations. Wake up surrounded by nature, on a lake with wild forests all around you – this experience is truly unforgettable!
2. What to bring to Khao Sok National Park?
Because the weather in Khao Sok is very changeable, we recommend that you take at least the following items with you:
- Raincoat
- Socks
- Shoes with a good profile
- Long pants and shirts
- Swimwear
- Backpack that is water resistant
- Other personal essentials
3. Which practical information is more useful to know?
- Opening hours Khao Sok National Park: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Entrance fee: 300 baht / $8.85
- Drones: this is possible if you indicate that it is for private purposes
- You can easily book transportation ticket for your next destination via Bookaway, 12go.asia or at the hotel in Khlong Sok.
Want to see more of Thailand?
We hope this article has helped you to get a clear understanding of what you can do, where to stay, and why you should take the Khao Sok National Park tour.
After you visit Khao Sok National Park, you can discover more fun places in Thailand. If you like our Thailand itinerary, the next destination is Bangkok. Read here: things to do in Bangkok.
If you do not follow our itinerary you can travel from Khao Sok National Park south towards Phuket and Krabi or north towards Koh Samui, Ko Phangan.
We have only visited Koh Samui of the above places. During our trip, we spoke to others who have visited the other places and they were all very enthusiastic. If you want to travel to an island where you have many facilities but at the same time can discover places that are undiscovered by others, Koh Samui is the place to go. For us, the best activity to do in Koh Samui was to rent a scooter and drive around the island for hours, and discover beautiful places without seeing anyone else.
What do you think of Khao Sok National Park? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. We regularly update our articles. Would you like to help us to provide to best possible insights to help other travelers leave a comment with the latest information. Thanks!
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