what to do in khao sok national park
Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand - Khao Sok National Park Attractions Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park Popular things to do Top Picks Tours & Sightseeing Outdoor Activities Multi-day Tours Day Trips & Excursions Water Sports Private & Custom Tours Walking Tours Food, Wine & Nightlife Ports of Call Tours Sporting Events If you are wondering what to do in Khao Sok National Park, lets talk about the fun things to do there and travel tips so you can plan an epic Khao Sok National Park itinerary. Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park - Tripadvisor 5. The combo transfer worked great for us, as it was the cheapest way. Well my friends trekking in Khao Sok was a bit of a challenge. As if caught, it will be: Please be careful or Please don't do that and a stern warning. Khao Sok National Park is one of Thailands most beautiful and diverse natural areas. Koh Phi Phi Island Itinerary: beaches and tour guides + more. Facts about Khao Soks flora, over 200 species of plant in one hectare. Although you must know that some of these hiking trails are inside a protected area and require a ticket and sometimes even a guide. The forest is also home to the province of Surat Thanis official flower, the Bua Phut (Rafflesia kerrii). So we recommend bringing your swimming suit and a towel for drying off later. With stunning views and a kayak in front of each tent, we think youll agree that Rainforest Camp is reason enough to visit Khao Sok. How many will you spot in Khao Sok? You can easily get to Khao Sok National Park from Krabi or Surat Thani. Famous for the limestone or karst mountains which loom dramatically over the lake, the terrain in Khao Sok was pushed upward to form the peaks seen throughout the region and giving Khao Sok its mountainous landscape. Thailand's beautiful Khao Sok National Park is best known for the impressive Cheow Lan Lake, but there are some other great things to do in Khao Sok too. Due to Thailand having remained in a similar equatorial position throughout the last 160 million years, the climate has been relatively unaffected by ice ages. You can book a combo transfer of ferry + minivan from Koh Tao to Khao Sok National Park for about $35 that starts at 9 PM in Koh Tao and arrives at 9 AM in Khao Sok. While going down the river on the bamboo raft, you can also see some animals. Also don't make the mistake to book the cheapest tour you can find. A forest of high trees surrounds all the treehouses, and you can hear the sounds of birds, monkeys, and crickets. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Click here to book your transport from Koh Tao to Khao Sok. The best time to visit Khao Sok National Park is from December to April in the dry season. Complete Guide to Khao Sok National Park, Thailand If youre coming from Bangkok, the quickest way to get there would be by flying to Krabi or Surat Thani. If you have more time in Khao Sok National Park, you could also explore Khao Sok River. With several trails to trek, and opportunities to try more . Note: When you book the combo transfer to Khao Sok from Koh Samui or Koh Pha-ngan, you will first go with the ferry across to the mainland. On Cheow Lan Lake, all the floating bungalow accommodations have on-site restaurants, providing you with breakfast and lunch. Included on. Its something you can easily do even if youre not visiting the official area of the National Park or Cheow Lan Lake. A few hours later, we met up again with the group for a quick fruit snack before heading back. Guests visit in a small group and will prepare lunch for the elephants before hand-feeding them. Fun fact: The Kaew Cave is actually in the Khlong Phanom National Park, which borders the Khao Sok National Park. Khao Sok National Park is located in the southern peninsula of Thailand as part of the Surat Thani Province. While other regions of the planet were suffering severe draughts, the Khao Sok region still received enough rainfall to sustain the forests. And to our surprise, during our breakfast at Our Jungle House, a monkey stole some fruit from our plate. No matter the general safety situation, we always advise against traveling outside your country without valid travel insurance. Your IP: Thailand is home to well over 1000 species of orchid! The ride was really nice and our guide told us a lot about the nature. That way, you can find the one closest to some of the attractions you want to visit. The story of the cicadas life is quite sad because they spend about five years (some 17 years) in the ground before they come up. , but also some unusual plants that are unique to the rainforest. Please note that the bungalows at Cheow Lan Lake are pretty basic. One of our. Eco-tourism also plays an important role, ensuring that the many guests who visit Khao Sok National Park every year (whose park fees provide vital funding toward park maintenance) are able to do so sustainably and with minimal negative impact. Find out more here. There are a host of activities to take part in during a trip to Khao Sok National Park youll be spoiled for choice! One of the adventurous things to do in Khao Sok National Park is river tubing, kayaking, or canoeing. Elephant Experience, Discover more facts about Khao Sok and Thailands other National Parks here, In a picturesque scene similar to that found in Halong Bay, Khao Sok National Park boasts a beautiful expanse of water in the form of Cheow Lan Lake. Go river tubing, kayaking, and canoeing. Khao Sok National Park blog The fullest Khao Sok National Park travel The park consists of a thick native rainforest, waterfalls, majestic limestone cliffs and an island stubbed lake. Wild Thailand: exploring Khao Sok National Park - Lonely Planet Last Updated: May 12, 2023 From what to pack and details about the accommodation, to the amazing activities on offer, read this before visiting Khao Sok National Park, Thailand. And you could also jump in the river for a short swim, but as it was very shallow, we didnt do it. This fun activity is suitable for everyone and helps you to experience the stunning natural beauty from a truly unique perspective. The park covers an area of 285 square miles (739 sq km) of which includes 63 square miles (165 sq km) that are accounted for by Cheow Lan Lake. Visit Khao Sok today! The opportunity to get up close and personal with one of these gentle giants is something you simply MUST do when you visit its the highlight of most guests trip. There is nowhere more romantic for a honeymoon or holiday in Thailand than Khao Sok. Boasting all of the creature comforts, including private bathrooms, deluxe beds and two restaurants, you can experience all of the best bits of camping and resort accommodation, combined. Read more: Environmental effects of sunscreen (Wikipedia), > Click here to see our recommended reef-safe sunscreen <. A Traveller's Guide to Khao Sok National Park, Thailand - Culture Trip Incredible massages with great service. Click here to find car rentals in Surat Thani. Of course, you must be lucky to see the big animals. And especially if you decide to give yourself more free time there and especially if you stay two nights and not only one. No trip would be complete without a guided active tour through the jungle. Facts about Khao Sok topography, limestone cliffs and ancient rainforest. Alt text: Thai students, who had joined communist insurgency groups, set up a stronghold in Khao Sok. We also packed our trusted raincoats that fit a camera bag underneath. Although, I still managed to enjoy my stay in Khao Sok with two pretty packed days. The best place to stay to explore waterfalls, go on treks, do a night jungle safari, go tubing, kayaking, or rafting down the river is in Khao Sok Village. Also, its always smart to bring clothes that you are okay with getting wet or that dry quickly. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. An ideal respite for when youre tired of the hustle and bustle of nearby cities or just need to escape from daily life, the rainforest has a magical way of reconnecting you with nature. As we were around water a lot, especially on the lake, we had our waterproof bag to put all our valuables like our camera gear, drone, and money. What are the best day trips from Khao Sok National Park? When youre going on the river for bamboo rafting, canoeing, or on the lake, its advisable to take a spare pair of clothes so you can change into if they (when) they get wet. And yes, even though there are no reefs or corals here, its a lake that we should preserve. Khao Sok National Park (Thai: ) is in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. But, its absolutely A LOT more relaxed than other nearby touristic places. Instagram The scenery is stunning, and while it does cost a bit of money, its really worth it. There are few places still so untouched by man, that allow animals to thrive in their natural habitat were exceptionally proud to be one of them. Krabi There are regular flights from Bangkok to Krabi and also some international flights direct into Krabi from locations such as Singapore and Australia. Elephant Trekking vs. Elephant Hills is a Khao Sok based tour operator who offer recommend tours for guests visiting the park. We highly recommend this as its the most affordable and reliable way to have your connections line up perfectly. An experience not to be missed! We cooked a few different dishes including curry, bamboo shoots, vegetables as well as tempura banana flowers. So, you decided to book a trip to Khao Sok now what? Khao Sok National Park is one of Thailand's most beautiful national parks and a magical hidden gem destination. Khao Sok National Park is truly a beautiful little paradise. For visitors arriving from Koh Samui, transfers are included in all our recommended tours. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. When you mix humidity with heat, it gets pretty exhausting. Did you know you could see elephants in Khao Sok National Park too? On our visit to Khao Sok National Park, it was the dry season. Due to the high mountains and the fact that it is influenced by both the Northeast (Pacific Ocean) and Southwest (Indian Ocean) monsoons, Khao Sok has the highest level of rainfall in Thailand (3,500 mm per year). And if we missed something and you have any questions, leave a comment. Khao Sok National Park is safe to visit for all travelers. Khao Sok National Park and the Floating Bungalows - Salt in our Hair The park is home to wild elephants, gibbons, hornbill birds, and even black tigers! Coming to Khao Sok National Park from Surat Thani is convenient, with frequent vans for 8 USD in 3 hours. The park covers an area of around 2,600 square kilometers. Similar to Phuket airport but on a smaller scale our recommendations for Krabi airport would be the same. Khao Sok National Park was at the top of our list of things to do for our first 3-month visit to Thailand. Complete Guide: What To Do In Khao Sok National Park An interesting fact about Khao Sok, and many other tropical parts of the world for that matter, is that monthly temperatures dont vary significantly throughout the year. What do you get by combining the lush, peaceful environment of Thailands tropical rainforest with stunning tented accommodation, wildlife that is out of this world and active tours that have to be experienced to be believed? Elephants can travel as far as 195km in a day!