Khao Sok National Park is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been. Home to an abundance of amazing flora and fauna, a stunning turquoise lake, jungle trails, and dramatic limestone karsts, it is a must-visit for nature-lovers.

Located in southern Thailand’s Surat Thani province, Khao Sok National Park is gaining more and more attention – and rightly so. Spread across 740 square kilometres, this enormous habitat offers breathtaking scenery, dense jungle, diverse wildlife, incredible biodiversity, and – most famously – the stunning Cheow Lan Lake.

If you are a fan of nature, adventure, and off-the-beaten-track experiences, Khao Sok deserves a spot on your Thailand itinerary. In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know – from how to visit and where to stay, to the best things to do and when to go.

How to Visit Khao Sok National Park

There are two main ways to explore Khao Sok – with an organised tour or independently. Both have their pros and cons depending on your travel style.

Visiting Khao Sok With a Tour

Booking a tour is the easiest and most convenient way to experience Khao Sok, especially if you don’t have your own transport. There are several tour options available, including day trips with jungle treks and boat rides, overnight tours and private guided experiences

When my husband and I visited, we booked a 2-day/1-night tour package, which included an overnight stay in a floating bungalow. The tour covered:

• A boat safari on Cheow Lan Lake
• A guided jungle trek
• All meals
• An overnight stay in a floating bungalow
• Transport from our hotel to Cheow Lan Pier

We first travelled to Khlong Sok Village by bus and stayed there overnight. We booked our tour directly with our hotel, and the following morning, we were picked up by minivan and taken to Cheow Lan Pier. We could conveniently leave our main luggage at our hotel in Khlong Sok Village, and take only our valuables and essentials to the national park.

Price: Overnight packages usually cost between 2,500-4,000 THB, depending on the accommodation you choose. If you book your tour through your Khlong Sok Village accommodation, you typically won’t be able to pick your specific lake bungalow. If you’re looking for a more luxurious bungalow experience, it’s best to book online or through a tour agency.

Visiting Khao Sok Independently

It’s possible to visit Khao Sok without a tour, but with some limitations.

You can still hire longtail boats on Cheow Lan Lake, walk some jungle trails and explore nearby viewpoints. However, certain areas require a licensed guide, so you may need to hire one separately.

You can also stay overnight on the lake independently, but you’ll need to book the accommodation yourself, and organise boat transfers to and from the pier.

Price: 300 THB for foreign nationals to enter (This fee is included in the tour packages). Plus accommodation costs, transportation and possibly hiring a local guide.

Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park

1. Take a Boat Tour on Cheow Lan Lake

The highlight of any Khao Sok trip is taking a scenic boat ride around the beautiful Cheow Lan Lake. Despite the name, it’s actually a man-made reservoir created by the Rajjaprabha hydroelectric Dam. Your longtail boat will whizz you across the still, turquoise waters, past floating bungalows, between towering limestone formations and past hidden coves.

The lake is so large that you may not even see any other boats during your trip, making it feel like you have this whole area to yourself. Boat trips are included in overnight tours, but independent travellers can hire a private boat.

Price: Expect to pay around 2,000 THB per boat for 2 hours, departing from Cheow Lan Pier (Ratchaprapha Pier).

2. Stay Overnight in a Floating Bungalow

This was easily the most magical part of our trip. Waking up in the morning, stepping out onto the wooden deck with a steaming cup of coffee, and being greeted by the dazzling colour of Cheow Lan Lake, surrounded by limestone cliffs with the sound of birdsong around you is a truly spectacular way to start a day.

We stayed at Khao Sok Smiley Lakehouse, a floating lodge with friendly staff, tasty meals and well-organised activities. It wasn’t a swanky place by any means, but we slept well and enjoyed relaxing there in our free time. There were kayaks and life jackets so we could go out on the lake during our downtime. You can also take a refreshing dip in the lake, in the cordoned-off area, but you are asked to wear life jackets. So it was more like refreshing bobbing up and down!

Meals are typically served in a shared dining area, giving you the chance to enjoy your food while socialising with fellow travellers – especially great if you’re travelling solo.

3. Explore Jungle Caves

Khao Sok National Park has countless caves to explore, making it an ideal destination for those of you who see yourselves as adventurers. Now, I must admit I am not a cave person (I find them claustrophobic!) so I skipped this part.

My husband and the rest of our tour group were taken to a large cave, which required a steep climb up some boulders to enter. Once inside, they were met with pitch darkness and the flapping and squeaking of hundreds of bats. There were also lots of creepy crawlies to discover inside too, including some rather large spiders! Don’t worry though, they are all harmless and more scared of you than you are of them (at least that’s what the guide told them anyway….)

If being surrounded by bats and bugs doesn’t sound appealing, do as I did and just chill out on the boat while waiting for everyone else.

4. Go on a Jungle Trek

Khao Sok is believed to be one of the oldest rainforests in the world, making trekking here extra special. There is so much to see in this incredibly diverse habitat, with hundreds of different flora species to find like Rafflesia flowers and giant Dipterocarps trees. During your trek you might encounter some of Khao Sok’s wonderful wildlife, including tarantulas, praying mantises, frogs, and monkeys. If you’re lucky you may even spot a rare Gibbon!

There are numerous trails to explore here, but while some can be done independently, it is highly recommended to go with a guide for safety and wildlife spotting. The trail we did was not very difficult (I am by no means an expert hiker!) – there were some steep parts and tree roots to clamber over, but our guide and the other tour group members helped each other get across.

It can get rather hot and sticky walking through the humid forests, but it’s an incredibly cool experience. Just dress appropriately (trainers/sneakers – not flipflops!) and bring lots of water with you.

5. Join a Wildlife Safari

Khao Sok National Park is home to an abundance of truly amazing wildlife, such as hornbills, macaques, tapirs, and elephants. There are even tigers here, though they are very, very rare.

While it’s not always possible to see these incredible creatures, the best way to at least try and spot them is to go on a wildlife safari. An expert will take you around on a boat and through the jungle to help you spot any animals that are in the area. These are offered as night safaris and sunrise safaris, and are included in 2-day/1-night tour packages.

We sadly didn’t see much on our safaris, but we did spot some wild elephants roaming on the shoreline, as well as some tarantulas in the jungle. Apparently there were some gibbons in the distance too, but I didn’t see them.

6. Kayak on Cheow Lan Lake

Another fun activity to do while in Khao Sok National Park is to hop into a kayak (typically available at your accommodation) and head out for a peaceful paddle on the perfectly still lake. 

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge kayaker, so I mostly just sit at the front relaxing and taking photos while my husband does the hard work! Be sure to wear a hat and cover up well to avoid being punished by the brutal sun! If you get too hot, paddle into the shade in the shadows of the limestone cliffs.

Best Time to Visit Khao Sok National Park

The warmest and driest time to visit Khao Sok is between November and April, during Thailand’s dry season. You can expect sunny weather and ideal conditions for boating and trekking, but this is also peak tourist season, meaning larger crowds and higher prices. December to March is especially busy, with Cheow Lan Lake becoming overcrowded, floating bungalows selling out quickly, and tours often feeling rushed. If you’re hoping for a more relaxed and authentic experience, these months are best avoided.

Alternatively, the rainy season from May to October brings lush scenery and fewer visitors. While you may encounter occasional downpours, this is when the jungle truly comes alive and wildlife sightings are more likely. The best balance is during the shoulder months of September to November and May to June, when waterfalls are at their most spectacular and the scenery really pops.

Where to Stay in Khao Sok Village

If you are staying overnight in Khlong Sok village before heading to the National Park, you will have several accommodation options to choose from, ranging from budget guesthouses to jungle lodges, to small resorts.

We stayed at Khao Sok Morning Mist Resort, which had cosy cabins in a lush garden full of tropical flowers and plants. It was clean and comfortable, perfect for short stays before and after our tour.

If you are visiting independently then you may wish to stay closer to the park entrance near the pier. There are numerous hotels and camps in this area, so you can get up nice and early to avoid the crowds.

How to Get to Khao Sok National Park

There are a few ways to get to Khao Sok National Park, depending on where you are departing from. Most will take you to Khlong Sok Village (Khao Sok Village), which serves as the main base for exploring Khao Sok.

From Surat Thani

Surat Thani is the closest airport to Khao Sok National Park. If you are heading here from Bangkok or Chiang Mai, the journey is pretty easy. From Surat Thani you can then get a bus or mini van to Khlong Sok Village for around 300 THB. This journey takes roughly 2 hours.

Surat Thani train station is also on the main rail line heading south, so it’s also possible to do an overnight journey here. These need to be booked in advance to get a comfortable sleeper seat.

From Phuket

If you are staying in Phuket then you can get a bus to Khlong Sok Village in around 2 to 3 hours depending on where you depart from. Tickets cost roughly 550 THB. It is also possible to do a day trip to Khao Sok from Phuket. 

From Krabi Town

If you are staying in Krabi Town or nearby Aonang you can get a mini van to Khlong Sok Village in around 3-4 hrs for roughly 400 THB. You can also visit Khao Sok as a day trip from Krabi.

Is Khao Sok National Park Worth Visiting?

Absolutely – 100% yes.

If you’re planning a trip to southern Thailand, don’t skip Khao Sok National Park. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in Thailand full stop. While it is becoming more and more popular, its location means it is still somewhat off the beaten track (for now at least).

I hope this post has convinced you to Khao Sok to your Thailand itinerary. If you’re planning a trip, check out my other Thailand blog posts, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi and much more!

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow