Top Attractions in Khao Sok National Park. more. Located in the Surat Thani Province, the park covers an area of 739 km and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, snakes, boar, monkeys, and many species of birds. As the name suggests, it has a mountainous landscape, with the highest peak being Khao Phra Si Hua, at 543 meters. The elephants were so friendly and cute! He excels in knowledge about spiders as he researches them. Anurak Community Lodge, Khao Sok National Park. Getting to Khao Sok National Park from Phuket is easy, with many minivans throughout the day that cost about $25 and take about 3 hours. Otherwise, the entrance fee should be TBH 300 which is valid for 24hours. 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. And we took our reusable water bottles to refill them and did not rely on the small plastic bottles the whole time. If you want to see free-roaming elephants in the wild, you can see them around Cheow Lan Lake or in the Khao Yai National Park, about 3 hours from Bangkok. If youre renting a car in Surat Thani, the roads to Khao Sok National Park are great, with fantastic views along the way to enjoy. Included on. The train or flight option is the most comfortable way to get to Surat Thani. We bought the ticket for our night safari and then the next day used it again on Cheow Lan Lake. There are some nice waterfalls in Khao Sok National Park worth visiting, especially after more rain. Imagine waking up stretching and slowly opening your eyes to find epic views like this. One of the things we would advise against doing in Khao Sok National Park or any location in Thailand is visiting any of the elephant, tiger, or other animal shows or so-called sanctuaries. This fun activity is suitable for everyone and helps you to experience the stunning natural beauty from a truly unique perspective. And the biggest attraction of Khao Sok is the vast Cheow Lan Lake. Theres a restaurant on site which includes a breakfast buffet (and great views). Fun about 1 hour hike to a unique cave accessed via a. Also, make sure to read the reviews on Google. Trekking or going on a hike while in Thailand should be on everyones list at some point. Khao Sok National Park | The Ultimate Lake Tour Guide - Nomad And In Love No matter the general safety situation, we always advise against traveling outside your country without valid travel insurance. The forest is also home to the province of Surat Thanis official flower, the Bua Phut (Rafflesia kerrii). If you are stretched for time its possible to organise a day trip, but if you really want to make the most of your time and explore all that the park has to offer, we recommend visiting for at least two days. By the time the students had left Khao Sok, it had been officially established as a National Park. Great places to go near Khao Sok National Park in July (updated in 2023 Visiting the natural wonders of Khao Sok National Park Located pretty much halfway between the southern peninsula's two coasts and easily accessible from Khao Lak, Phuket and Surat Thani, Khao Sok National Park is becoming increasingly popular place to spend a few days on travellers' routes.. It is an incredibly stunning park and one of the best places to explore in Thailand. While there are different seasons in Khao Sok National Park, the packing list is about the same for all seasons. And you do not float. Its a popular destination because there are many Khao Sok activities every traveler should do while in Thailand. The minimum ages on these tours is 4 years old. If you wish to explore further into the rainforest, trek, or take part in one of the recommended tours, its suggested that you be of moderate physical ability. Fun fact: Khao Sok National Park is one of the only places in Thailand that still supposedly has tigers, although none have been seen for the past few years. Getting out on the water is a must-do while youre visiting, so why not join a tour that includes a guided canoe safari and coast down the Sok River with an English-speaking local guide pointing out wildlife and explaining plant species? 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. see the beautiful . Khao Sok National Park was at the top of our list of things to do for our first 3-month visit to Thailand. The park consists of a thick native rainforest, waterfalls, majestic limestone cliffs and an island stubbed lake. We highly recommend this as its the most affordable and reliable way to have your connections line up perfectly. Those tours are usually super crowded and that makes the . A variety of lodges and resorts are located in nearby Klong Sok village, but if you want to make your stay truly memorable, head to the floating tents on Cheow Larn Lake. If you've had enough of beach-bumming, venture inland to the wondrous 738-sq-km Khao Sok National Park. If you want to take in Thailand's raw beauty, then a trip to Khao Sok National Park should be at the top of your list. These buses go hourly from Krabi, from 7 am until 4 pm, and take from 4 to 5 hours to drop you at your Khao Sok hotel. Its part of the fun and this place was a major key point in my rainforest experience. And yes, even though there are no reefs or corals here, its a lake that we should preserve. :) Traverse the prehistoric limestone cliffs, learn about the history of the area from a local Thai guide and enter caves that slowly formed over millions of years. Khao Sok National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world and is home to hundreds of indigenous animal and plant species Cultura Exclusive / Philip Lee Harvey / Getty Images Some say the biodiversity of Khao Sok exceeds that of the Amazon. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Koh Phi Phi Island Itinerary: beaches and tour guides + more. And we arrived at Khao Sok Village right before check-in time in our accommodation. Top 6 activities in Khao Sok National Park Our guide Rango was amazing. If youre traveling from Bangkok down to southern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park is a convenient stop for a few days. The park is the largest area of virgin forest in southern Thailand and is a remnant of rain forest which is older and more diverse than the Amazon . Rangers patrol the park, educating visitors and local people about how best to protect the environment. Great value for money, and fast driver in a VIP van. When joining a tour, youll have increased opportunities to make the most of what Khao Sok has to offer. As stated above, there are trekking options around the lake too if youd like to explore the rainforest while youre there. Remember to bring an action camera like a GoPro to take some cool photos and videos and not worry about it getting wet. We traveled to Khao Sok National Park with our favorite clothes from Unbound Merino, which were great because the material is warm but still thin and light to pack. So if you dont come close to them, they dont see you, which is great because were not really fans of spiders. A mixture of evergreen and tropical rainforest, the flora in the park thrives, protected by a team of dedicated rangers, conservationists and locals. We first started our day on a long tail boat which brought us to the floating bungalows (about 1h30 from the pier). During our trip, we got a huge dose of limestone mountains with gorgeous views. And if the idea of being in a dark underground cave seems a little daunting, dont fret. From there, you have just 2 hours and a half ride in a minivan, bus, or by taxi to Khao Sok. An experience not to be missed! Please check what elephant crushing is on Wikipedia or YouTube; you will understand why we do not support elephant tourism. But its in Thai. And its during the safari that you can see free-roaming elephants. Click here to check Our Jungle Houses tour packages. The 7 BEST Things to Do in Khao Sok - KHAO SOK National Park, Thailand But at least you might be able to see some monkeys. And they give back to the community through many initiatives and eco-efforts. There are two distinct areas in Khao Sok National Park that you can visit, which are 67 km or 1-hour drive apart, the Khao Sok Village and the Cheow Lan Lake. Specifically, Khao Sok National Park consists of: Thai students, who had joined communist insurgency groups, set up a stronghold in Khao Sok. From March to May, its more humid, but the chance to spot wildlife is higher. Your email address will not be published. The entire park is covered in a combination of evergreen rainforest and rich vegetation. As always, all opinions are my own. You can choose amongst many hikes in Khao Sok National Park. Note: Khao Sok is also famous for being the home of many leeches that are especially easy to come by during the rainy season. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. By Living + Nomads - June 29, 2023 Thailand is not only famous for its ancient golden temples with majestic and magnificent beauty but also attractive by many beautiful natural attractions. predicted highs and lows over the course of the year in Khao Sok National Park vary less than they do between midday and midnight! :), Join our newsletter for travel tips, experiences, updates & plans. As our visit was in January, in the dry season, the water level was about 2 to 3 meters lower than what it can be in the more wet part of the year. 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. Everyone! (it says three and a half hours when booking, but its usually more). Cicadas are the animals that you will definitely hear when you come to Southeast Asia because they are crazy loud and tough to miss. The elephant experience in Khao Sok is cruelty-free and is a great occasion to interact with elephants. However, they might not include entrance fees, so make sure to check that. One of our. One of the most sought after experiences on any visit to Thailand is of course to meet an Asian elephant. Click here to book your transfer from Krabi to Khao Sok. It's a popular destination because there are many Khao Sok activities every traveler should do while in Thailand. Established: 1980. TIP: Use code SHIPPEDAWAY for a special 10% discount at Unbound Merino. There are some great things to do in this area and you can spend anywhere from 2 to 7 days here. Heres a list of waterfalls of Khao Sok National Park that people love: We decided not to visit any as they were mostly dry during our visit. We only work with the most reputable tour operators, so you can rest assured youre in the best possible hands. The ATV experience was also really good. prepare food for the elephants before hand-feeding them. For most travelers, two to three nights in Khao Sok National Park is enough to see and experience the main things. The rainy season is from June to October. Its area is 739 km and includes the 165 km Cheow Lan Lake, which is contained by the Ratchaprapha Dam. Cheow Lan Lake of Khao Sok National Park is one of the only places in Thailand with free-roaming elephants. The exquisite rainforest and mountainous area are further protected . 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