Incredible massages with great service. While other regions of the planet were suffering severe draughts, the Khao Sok region still received enough rainfall to sustain the forests. Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park - 8 ways to travel via - Rome2rio Exotic birds and primates fill the trees, while the forest floor is home to an array of insects including the recently discovered Scolopendra cataracta, the worlds only known amphibious centipede. The properties are connected by road. During a Khao Sok National Park tour, you will stay in a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, a man-made lake, originated by flooding the jungle to build a dam that now creates power for the entire region. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The entire park is covered in a combination of evergreen rainforest and rich vegetation. Now, this stunning lake is again booming with animals and vegetation. Home to towering limestone cliffs, an emerald lake, and luscious vegetation, it is a treasure trove of natural beauty. Its something you can easily do even if youre not visiting the official area of the National Park or Cheow Lan Lake. There are around 200 species of plants per hectare in Khao Sok, with a combination of ginormous trees, trailing vines and exotic flowers. Fun Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand And you do not float. One Day Tour Khao Sok Cheow Lan Lake from Krabi, Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class, Amazing One Day Trip At Cheow Larn Lake From Khao Lak, Package tour 3 days 2 nights at Khao Sok, Surathani, Southern Thailand: See & Experience it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours, Khao Sok: Full Day Bamboo Rafting Tour from Khao Lak, Khao Sok National Park Hiking and Canoeing Day Tour From Khao Lak, 3-Day Private Khao Sok Safari from Phuket, Surat Thani or Krabi. There are different types of floating bungalows and accommodations on Cheow Lan Lake. While each species that calls our National Park home is incredibly special, there are a few which are particularly interesting. evergreen rainforest and rich vegetation in Khao Sok National Park. 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. And if the idea of being in a dark underground cave seems a little daunting, dont fret. Manage Settings Zeavola: unexpected barefoot luxury in Koh Phi Phi. Khao Sok National Park | The Ultimate Lake Tour Guide - Nomad And In Love Rainforest Camp is a unique development of elevated, luxury, canvas tents. You could also take a look at this Southeast Asia packing list. If youre arranging the tour with your accommodation, please ask them which sanctuary they are working with. Click here to find car rentals in Surat Thani. A Khao Sok National Park day trip from Khao Lak costs between 70 and 110 USD, and a day trip from Phuket or Krabi costs between 100 and 150 USD. Go river tubing, kayaking, and canoeing. Khao Sok National Park is home to around 200 of these wild elephants which roam free in the rainforest. And do YOUR OWN research. Its a great way to see the rainforest. Note: Khao Sok National Park isnt the most affordable destination because the national park fees and tour costs do add up. Kindly note that we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and its partners. Re: Gopro And Drones. Canoeing is a great way to see the sights and is the quietest method of transport if you're hoping to spot some of our more timid little creatures, such as spectacled langurs, on your journey. For a truly unique experience, you can even. And we would especially love to return to stay at one of the treehouses at Our Jungle House. Through the use of monitoring equipment in the form of forest cameras, we are able to keep track of the elephants and learn more about them. 8 Best Things to Do in Khao Sok in 2023 - A Complete Guide to Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Take a trek deep within the rainforest and you may encounter a pangolin, tapir, gaur, deer or even a wild elephant! You will likely partake in at least one water activity. When we reached the floating bungalows, we had a lunch stop and then two options were presented. TOP RECOMMENDED Thailand experiences & tours. We definitely recommend you to stay on a hotel on the lake for at least 1 night. A first timer's guide to Khao Sok National Park and its tours We first started our day on a long tail boat which brought us to the floating bungalows (about 1h30 from the pier). There are four types of Asian elephant; Sri Lankan, Indian, Sumatran, Borneo. Together we can help these elephants have a better life by not supporting bad practices. And there are even some night safaris that you can do in a kayak on the river. Your IP: Khao Sok National Park was at the top of our list of things to do for our first 3-month visit to Thailand. See if you can find the Rafflesia flower, which is one of the largest (and most smelly) in the world. We had no problems, but we might have just been lucky. Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park - Tripadvisor Khao Sok National Park is located in Southern Thailands Surat Thani province and covers an astounding area of 739 square kilometres! Bring at least one power bank to charge your phone or camera batteries if there is no power on the lake. Koh Phi Phi Island Itinerary: beaches and tour guides + more. You can find plenty of other facts about Khao Sok threats and conservation here. We feeded the elephants and took a walk with them! Find out more here. 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 We love what we do and put a lot of work in our free articles. So you can go the luxurious way or even stay in one of the hostels. And the biggest attraction of Khao Sok is the vast Cheow Lan Lake. As we did a trek the previous day, we decided to take a kayak and enjoy the views. Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links. The park covers an area of around 2,600 square kilometers. Click here to book your transfer from Khao Lak to Khao Sok. On our second day, we went on a day trip to explore Cheow Lan Lake. Also, its always smart to bring clothes that you are okay with getting wet or that dry quickly. I stayed at Anurak Community Lodge which is located just outside Khao Sok National Park. Theres a restaurant on site which includes a breakfast buffet (and great views). The Khao Sok National Park has two main centers of activity at: the headquarters at Khao Sok town and the floating bungalows of Cheow Lan Lake, 65km to the east. Khao Sok National Park is located in the tropics, and youll be in and around the jungle and rainforest. The locals often compare its landscapes to Guilin in China and Halong Bay in Vietnam, but for those like us who love our fantasy movies, it is better known for its Jurassic Park/Avatar-like scenery. Visit Khao Sok in January through March for your best chance of spotting this rare flower. So, you decided to book a trip to Khao Sok now what? What are the best day trips from Khao Sok National Park? And then sometimes transfer to another bus in Surat Thani before going on the final leg of the journey towards Khao Sok. by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Feb 24, 2023 | Asia, latest adventures, Thailand, Travel Tips. Although, I still managed to enjoy my stay in Khao Sok with two pretty packed days. Facts Facts about Khao Sok Elephant Hills Thailand Sunrise Over Khao Sok National Park Khao Sok National Park was established in 1980 as Thailand's 22nd 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. Described by some as a more beautiful Halong Bay, without the tourists, areas of eroded cliffs emerge from the blue-green lake in truly breath- taking formations. From March to May, its more humid, but the chance to spot wildlife is higher. We stayed one night in Our Jungle Camp and another in a treehouse at Our Jungle House. Is Khao Sok National park worth visiting? Khao Sok National Park Travel Guide: All You Need To Know, 2023 Khao Sok National Park (Thai: ) is in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. In most of the region, the ground level is about 200m above sea level with the average mountain height around 400m. And our stay in the village had an excellent mosquito net. Please note that the bungalows at Cheow Lan Lake are pretty basic. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Read more: Environmental effects of sunscreen (Wikipedia), > Click here to see our recommended reef-safe sunscreen <. 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. In places like this in our home countries, there would be thousands of mosquitoes, and we would be eaten alive. Then, we would go for a delicious breakfast buffet that also provides you in AWE. 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. Another water-based activity not to be missed is swimming in the waters of Cheow Larn Lake or gliding across its surface. 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. The easiest way to get to Khao Sok National Park from Krabi is with a minivan transfer for about 11 USD, taking 5 hours. Bring along your binoculars and youll also be perfectly located for bird-watching or simply enjoying the view. The wet season lasts from May to November, while the dry season lasts from December to April. Click here to book your van ride from Surat Thani. We will try to answer to the best of our knowledge. The national park is home to some lovely nature, so it's definitely worth visiting for at least a few days to see as much of it as possible! The minimum ages on these tours is 4 years old. Covering 739 square metres and sparsely populated, it feels like a hidden paradise that's away from the many tourist traps of Thailand. 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. We loved it there and plan to return for a few more days. Elephant Experience, https://www.khaosok.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Rafflesia-arnoldiil.jpg, https://www.khaosok.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo.png, 10 Reasons to Visit Khao Sok National Park. The main threats that Khao Sok is contending with are: However, there are significant efforts being made by a combination of governmental, private and volunteer organisations to protect Khao Sok and ensure its future success. Kayaks are included with all of our recommended tours, giving you the freedom to explore when, where, and how you choose to. Right next to the property on the river, we also saw a mangrove snake and a big owl. The National Park itself is made up of Khao Sok Town and the man-made Cheow Lan Lake, a 165 square kilometer area contained by the Ratchaprapha Dam and made in 1982 which provides a source of hydro-powered . Also, there was this cool spider called the trapdoor spider. 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. The most common way for visitors to explore Khao Sok National Park is an organized pre-booked tour package. Learn more facts about Khao Soks history, Want to know more? Those tours are usually super crowded and that makes the . When we arrived at our floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake, they said there were no mosquitos on the floating platforms for some reason. We stayed two nights in Khao Sok, which was a bit too short for my liking. Gopro And Drones - Khao Sok National Park Forum - Tripadvisor Khao Sok National Park is located in southern Thailand and is known for its ancient rainforest and diverse wildlife. The most common way to organize your overnight trip to the lake is to book it with your accommodation in Khao Sok. 6 Must-Visit Destinations Near Khao Sok National Park We went down the river for about 20 to 30 minutes and stopped on the side of the river for a short coffee or tea break. Khao Sok National Park travel guide Explore one of the best national Included on. A forest of high trees surrounds all the treehouses, and you can hear the sounds of birds, monkeys, and crickets. Here's everything you need to explore Khao Sok National Park. You can book the guided safaris directly at the national park headquarters or with your accommodation. If youre traveling from Bangkok down to southern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park is a convenient stop for a few days. Want to visit Khao Sok but not into groups? You can easily get to Khao Sok National Park from Krabi or Surat Thani. see the beautiful . There are some nice waterfalls in Khao Sok National Park worth visiting, especially after more rain. But at least you might be able to see some monkeys. They also have options for vegetarians and vegans or other dietary requests. And the best thing is that all our clothing from them is breathable. One of the highlights of staying overnight at Cheow Lan Lake is the possibility of seeing wild elephants. Before going on our Cheow Lan Lake tour, there was an entrance fee which was covered by our tour. The level of air moisture in Khao Sok National Park is likely to be much higher than what youre used to at home, but it makes it all the more easy to appreciate the breeze, shade and frequent showers. For your trip to Cheow Lan Lake, we highly recommend sunscreen as its very likely that you will be sitting somewhere where there will be sun directly on you. , there are plenty more ethical ways to make your dreams a reality. Far (enough) from the maddening crowds, Khao Sok National Park is around three hours drive from Phuket, allowing you to get the best of both city and country, beach and forest, out of your holiday. Remember to bring an action camera like a GoPro to take some cool photos and videos and not worry about it getting wet. Table of Contents Khao Sok National Park is a breathtaking destination in Thailand, known for its natural beauty and abundance of flora and fauna. Of course, you must be lucky to see the big animals. Khao Sok National Park. We have yet to find an actual elephant sanctuary in Thailand. The wild Khao Sok elephants are notoriously elusive, however you can guarantee an encounter on, Asian elephants roam free in Khao Soks chain-free elephant park. This is because you would first need to get a boat ride back to the lakes pier and then another ride of about 1 hour to Khao Sok Village.