Khao Sok: Essential Guide + Top Things to Do

Khao Sok National Park is a massive, ancient rainforest in Southern Thailand—some say it’s even the oldest jungle on Earth! It stretches over 3,600 square kilometers, full of unspoiled wilderness, refreshing waterfalls, and diverse wildlife (wild elephants!).

One of its highlights is Cheow Lan Lake (or 'Khao Sok Lake'), famous for its stunning limestone cliffs that shoot up from emerald-green waters. It’s a place that feels worlds away from the typical tourist spots.

Khao Sok is paradise for nature & wildlife lovers—you can head out on wildlife boat safaris (wild elephants!) or trek through one of the world’s oldest forests, where you might spot creatures like langurs, gibbons, and even the amazing hornbill birds.

For water lovers, there’s river tubing or kayaking on a pristine, emerald-green lake. And if you're up for a little more adventure, you can explore caves or even camp out in the jungle

YES! Khao Sok National Park is worth it! Amazing views, diverse landscapes, unique accommodation options and tons of time in nature.

Thought it's IG-worthy, it still has a very authentic vibe. The locals here are also some of the friendliest we've met in our travels in Thailand.

There's lots to do here so there's something for everyone! Nature + Wildlife lovers would especially love it as the chances to spot wildlife are very good! It's great for solo travellers and backpackers as there are a lot of budget accommodation options, and many activities are on a join-in basis.

It's great for families with younger kids (as young as 3 years old as most of the nature activities are very accessible - the trails for hiking are not too difficult and wildlife spotting can be done from the comfort of a longtail boat tour.

The nearest airport is in Surat Thani (URT), with less than a 2 hour drive to Khao Sok village. You can also easily come from Phuket (HKT) and Krabi (KBV) airports. It's approximately a 3-hour drive from either Phuket or Krabi, so you should definitely add this on to your Thailand itinerary!

From the airports, you can take private or shared transfers. Some travellers also come from Khao Lak, which is about 1 hour away from Khao Sok village and most of the shared vans will stop there as well. If you are coming from Bangkok, you can take a sleeper train to Surat Thani! And of course there are multiple daily flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani airport.

If you are looking to get the most out of your trip, we would recommend staying at least 3 days, 2 nights. Spending a night in Khao Sok village (or the outskirts) followed by one night on the Khao Sok lake. This will allow you to hike through the jungle spotting wildlife, enjoy fun activities such as tubing or taking a jungle cooking class in Khao Sok village and finish off with fun water activities and boat safaris on Cheow Lan Lake.

If you are absolutely low on time you can getaway with a 2 day and 1 night trip, staying on Cheow Lan Lake.

Khao Sok is open year-round, but if you want a more authentic experience, it’s best to avoid the high season (July-August and December-January). We especially love visiting in September and October—fewer crowds, flowing waterfalls, and the jungle at its lushest!

During the dry season (November-April), there’s less rain and more visitors, especially around December and January. Wildlife spotting is a bit easier then, but for lush greenery and quieter trails, the rainy season (May-October) is ideal—just pack for a few showers! Keep in mind, July and August can still be busy because of European summer holidays.

Going on a wildlife safari on Cheow Lan Lake is the highlight of any trip to Khao Sok National Park. If you're lucky, you might even spot wild elephants! While seeing them isn’t guaranteed, you can boost your chances by visiting during the dry season (February to May), staying overnight for more safari opportunities, and choosing a floating bungalow near their habitat. (We’ve seen elephants every time we’ve stayed at this raft house!)

In addition to elephants, you’ll also encounter monkeys and incredible birds like hornbills. It’s truly an unforgettable experience!

When you book a stay at a raft house, your package usually includes both an afternoon or evening boat safari and a morning safari.

A trek in Khao Sok National park is a great opportunity to experience a South East Asia tropical rain forest teeming with wildlife! You'll easily spot monkeys, hear gibbons calling, and if you are lottery lucky, maybe even glimpse a clouded leopard or tiger (though that's super rare!). While you can hike some parts solo, grab a guide for the wilder areas. They'll keep you safe and teach you tons about the jungle's secrets. It's worth it!

Want to do a deep dive into the jungle? Camp overnight in Khao Sok National Park! You'll spot nocturnal animals like civet cats, and enjoy a cozy campfire dinner cooked in bamboo. For the best experience, grab a local guide who can keep you safe and teach you about the jungle's secrets. It's pretty special!

If you like the sound of experiencing the jungle at night and enjoying a camp fire cooked meal, but are not willing to risk spending the night, you can consider the half day, half night jungle hike.

The limestone karts which tower around the perimeter of the lake add an awesome feeling to this already picturesque body of water. As you take the long tail boat from Ratchaprapha Pier to your raft house you will get to soak in the views. Hopefully your boat driver will make a stop at Khao Sam Kler, which is one of the most famous rock formations. The name of it means three friends, as you will see that it has three karsts standing side by side.

Cheow Lan Lake has three main caves to explore. Coral Cave and Pra Khie Phet are easy peasy, taking about 30 minutes to walk through. Nam Talu is the more adventurous one, involving wading through water (and closed in rainy season due to flash floods!).

Which cave you visit depends on the location of the raft house you stay, and you'll need a boat to get there. A cave excursion is typically included in the rafthouse stay booking.

The locals living around Khao Sok National Park have been living off the jungle most of their lives. Some of the cool tricks they've picked up is using bamboo for cooking. Taking a cooking class to see how that works is one of the unique aspects of this part of Asia. Do note that some of the classes are a bit more demonstration than full on cooking class. Best time to do this is when staying in Khao Sok village.

Khao Sok National Park is a great place for birdwatching! It's home to over 300 different species of birds, including 9 different species of the majestic hornbill, the Malayan Banded Pitta and the Blue Eared Kingfisher. Whether you are a pro or just getting started, this is a great spot for birders!

Expert birding guides are quite rare in Khao Sok, so you should plan your birding trip in advance if you want a good guide!

The Khao Sok River is great for floating down the river while tubing or bamboo rafting. This may not be available during the end of the dry season and start of wet season (February-June) as the water levels are too low. Most accommodation providers in Khao Sok village will be able to help you organise this experience on the spot.

Most of the raft houses will have plenty of kayaks, SUPs and occasionally other fun water toys for you to use free of charge. It's a great opportunity to cool down and enjoy the beautiful emerald waters and take in the views of the limestone karsts around you.

Staying in a floating rafthouse on Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park is a pretty special experience that you can't find elsewhere. While these iconic rafthouses may be simple, you'll wake up surrounded by nature, take refreshing swims in the lake, and enjoy stunning views right outside your door.

We highly recommend spending at least one night in a rafthouse, even if you’re also planning to stay at a nearby resort. Consider splitting your stay: one night at the resort and one night in the rafthouse to really get the best of Khao Sok!

Best part? Staying at a rafthouse usually includes activities around Cheow Lan Lake.

Khao Sok National Park is one of the places where you might potentially spot the Rafflesia, a gigantic flower and the world's largest! Its blooms are unpredictable, so ask local guides about your chances when you visit. Beware, in addition to being the largest flower, it is also the world's stinkiest!

Accommodation options in Khao Sok village are abundant and range from cool treehouses to homestays to hostels. Staying in this area is also convenient because the entrance to the jungle part of the national park is very close and the village also has lots of restaurants and convenience shops in case you need to stock up on intrepid explorer basics such as insect repellent and leech socks. The down side is that during high season it does get quite busy and might feel a bit crowded.

When you are staying on Cheow Lan Lake, your only option is a raft house a.ka. a floating bungalow. Most of the raft houses are quite basic (shared bathrooms, electricity only available for very limited hours), however there are a few nicer options.

The lake does get pretty crowded with travellers as it's the main attraction. If you want to avoid the crowds, you will want to find a raft house that's a bit tucked away in a quiet corner.

Most raft house stays will be all inclusive: boat transfer from the pier to the lake house, all meals during the stay and activities.

If you would like to avoid the crowds and get a more intimate experience completely immersed in jungle and countryside, you can opt to stay in the outskirts of Khao Sok village. Comfort levels range from cozy bungalows to friendly homestays. Do note that if you would like to explore the Khao Sok National Park jungle or get to a mini market, it will require a bit of a drive (15-30 minutes depending on where you are staying).

Khao Sok has two main areas to explore: Khao Sok village and Cheow Lan Lake (the park's highlight!). The village has nicer accommodations, while the lake offers the unique experience of staying in a floating raft house (which you totally should!). Both spots have their own charm, so check out the "Where to Stay" section for more details.

The distance between these two hubs is about 65km or about 1 hour drive. If you stay in Khao Sok village, most accommodation providers will offer transfers to Cheow Lan Lake where many of the activities take place.

While staying in Khao Sok village you can explore the jungle via a day hike or camping overnight at the park, go birding and enjoy other fun activities such as tubing or bamboo rafting on the Khao Sok River.

When staying on Cheow Lan Lake you will be able to go on wildlife boat safaris, go caving, kayaking or canoeing and of course take in the sights of the lake and the towering limestone mountains.

See the What to Do section below for more details!

We'd recommend at least 3 days here.

Day 1: Arrive early from Phuket to Khao Sok village and go tubing or bamboo rafting on the river before you check into your accommodation; go for a day to night hike at the National Park.

Day 2: Transfer from Khao Sok village to Cheow Lan Lake where you will stay on a raft house; go caving and an evening wildlife safari before night fall.

Day 3: Go for a morning wildlife safari. Depart from the raft house and take in the views of the lake as you head back to the pier. You will usually arrive back to the pier by mid-morning. Travel on to Surat Thani or Krabi.

You will need to pay entrance fees at a few places:

(1) When entering the Khao Sok National Park from the HQ area: THB 300 baht per adult & 150 baht per child
(2) When taking a boat from Ratchaprapha Dam to the raft houses: THB 300 baht per adult & 150 baht per child
(3) When entering Coral Cave: TBH 200 baht per adult & 100 baht per child

Please make sure you have baht on hand as other forms of payment are not accepted. These fees are usually excluded from any tours or packages you may be purchasing.

Aside from the usual change of clothing and toiletries, you should consider:
mosquito repellent, leech socks, rain poncho (even if you are going in the dry season!), dry bag, smaller bag for overnight on the lake, swimwear, quick dry towel, binoculars for spotting wildlife, change of shoes or sandals (lots of opportunities for your shoes to get wet!). Oh and plenty of baht when you go to the lake as there are no ATMs there.

If you are staying in Khao Sok village you should have no problem getting reception and connecting to wifi as most places will have it.

The data coverage on Cheow Lan Lake is very spotty (make sure to tell your friends and family back home you will be going off grid for a day or two!) and most raft houses do not have wifi.

Majority of the activities around Khao Sok National Park are on a join-in basis. However, you can choose to arrange for private guides to take you trekking in the jungle or even to to arrange your trip to Cheow Lan Lake. This will help you avoid the crowds + give a more personal experience.

Some of the really rare experiences such as camping on the banks of Cheow Lan Lake are only available on a private tour basis.

Yes! If you don't have the time or don't want to stay on the raft house, you can opt for a day lake tour which will give you a chance to see the beautiful scenery, although you may not be able to catch some of the wildlife since the best time to spot animals is very early morning and late afternoon/early evening.

During day trips you will most likely stop at one of the raft houses for lunch and to use the facilities (toile, wash your hands).

Although Khao Sok is still a relative unknown in Southern Thailand compared to Phuket or Krabi, the word has gotten out in the last few years, attracting quite a few more visitors. If you are looking to avoid the crowds, you can plan your trip during shoulder season: September-October and April-May. This may mean getting wet or having to skip some water activities, but in our opinion it's worth it to have a more intimate experience here!

We'd also highly recommend going for private trips that will take you to spots where no other visitors are going, such as going for a sunset longtail boat lake tour.

It really depends on which part of the park you go, but there are a lot of very flat and accessible trails. In fact a good portion of the Khao Sok National Park trail is well paved. There are some harder trails which require a bit of steep hike to get to a view point. If you are looking for more of a challenge you can ask your guide. Do be aware that some trails may not be available during rainy season.