Khao Sok National Park: Everything You Need to Know + Avoid the Crowds [2025]

Khao Sok National Park is a massive, ancient rainforest in Southern Thailand — older than the Amazon, and some even say the oldest jungle on Earth. Spanning over 739 square kilometers, it’s full of unspoiled wilderness, waterfalls to cool off in, and wildlife like hornbills, civet cats, and even wild elephants if you’re lucky.

Its highlight is Cheow Lan Lake (or Khao Sok Lake), where towering limestone cliffs rise straight out of emerald-green waters. It’s the kind of place that feels worlds away from Thailand’s usual tourist spots.

Khao Sok is where adventure and chill collide. Stay in a floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake, where you wake up to unreal views and can jump straight into emerald waters. Spend your days exploring limestone cliffs and hidden caves, paddling through quiet corners of the lake, or hiking jungle trails that seem to go on forever. Along the way, you might spot wildlife, stumble on hidden waterfalls, or even go bamboo rafting.

Note: The lake is HUGE, so which raft house you stay at determines the little adventures you’ll get to go on!

Beyond the lake, there are even more things to do in Khao Sok. Take a jungle cooking class, stay on a farm with a local family, trek with the Tarzan of Khao Sok, or go river tubing when the season’s right.

YES! Khao Sok National Park is 100% worth it. With amazing views, diverse landscapes, unique stays like floating bungalows and treehouses, and tons of time out in nature, it’s unlike anywhere else in Thailand, or even Southeast Asia.

From jungle hikes to boat trips on Cheow Lan Lake, every corner feels magical. Though it’s IG-worthy, it still has an authentic vibe (for now!). And the locals here are some of the friendliest we’ve met on our travels in Thailand!

There’s lots to do in Khao Sok National Park, so there’s really something for everyone! Nature and wildlife lovers will especially love it, since the chances of spotting animals here are high, even from a longtail boat ride on Cheow Lan Lake.

It’s also a great spot for solo travellers and backpackers, with plenty of budget-friendly accommodation and join-in activities. Families with younger kids (as young as 3) will find it super accessible too: hiking trails aren’t too tough, and wildlife spotting can be done without leaving the boat!

The nearest airport to Khao Sok National Park is Surat Thani (URT), less than a 2-hour drive to Khao Sok Village. You can also easily reach Khao Sok from Phuket (HKT) or Krabi (KBV) airports, both about a 3-hour drive away, making it easy to add Khao Sok to your Thailand itinerary.

From the airports, you can:

- Take a private transfer (fastest and most convenient)

- Join a shared minivan (budget-friendly, with stops in Khao Lak)

- Travel from Bangkok via sleeper train to Surat Thani, then continue by road. Multiple daily flights also run from Bangkok to Surat Thani.

If you want to make the most of your Khao Sok National Park trip, stay at least 3 days, 2 nights (3D2N). Spend one night in Khao Sok village (or the outskirts) to do jungle hikes, spot wildlife, maybe go tubing or take a jungle cooking class, then one night on Cheow Lan Lake for the famous floating bungalows, boat safaris, and water activities.

If you’re short on time, you can squeeze in a quick 2D1N trip to Cheow Lan Lake. But if you want to go deeper, we did 4 nights in Khao Sok: 2 nights on the lake, 1 night at a family farmstay, and even hiked and learnt jungle survival skills with the local “Tarzan of Khao Sok”, which we absolutely loved!

The best time to visit Khao Sok is from September to November and April to June. During these months, the jungle is lush and green, waterfalls are at their most spectacular, and there are fewer tourists. This means you’ll have more space to enjoy the lake, hikes, and wildlife, making it a great balance between nature, weather, and avoiding the crowds.

The worst time to visit is from December to March, when Khao Sok experiences its highest tourist numbers. Cheow Lan Lake becomes overcrowded, and hiking trails and caves are packed with 80–100 other people at a time. Rafthouse stays fill up quickly, tours feel rushed and chaotic, and prices are higher. If you want a relaxed, authentic experience, it’s best to avoid these months.

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 drier shoulder 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 Asiabn 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.

Khao Sok is often compared to Halong Bay for its stunning limestone karsts, but it’s much less crowded! These towering formations make the lake feel magical. On your Cheow Lan Lake boat ride, you’ll see incredible karst views, including Khao Sam Kler (“three friends”), the most famous rock formation with three karsts side by side.

If you want to go there you can make sure it's included in your Cheow Lan Lake itinerary, or you can ask your boat driver if they’ll be passing by!

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 of the overnight stays will include some water activities - look out for it in the itinerary!

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 truly unique 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!

Khao Sok National Park is one of the places where you might potentially spot the Rafflesia, a gigantic flower and the world's largest (up to 90cm wide and 7kg in weight)! 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 (no AC, shared bathrooms, electricity only available for very limited hours), however we recently found a modern rafthouse with AC with reasonable pricing!

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 much more personal experience! We've been to Cheow Lan Lake 6 times now, and the one we went with a private guide really stood out!

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.