For example, stay a few nights in the beautiful Railay and/or the lively Ao Nang before you leave for Khao Sok. Khao Sok 4 Days/3 Nights. Day Trips from Phuket to Khao Sok National Park - Viator In this article we explain how to travel to Khao Sok. Khao Sok National Park is located in Southern Thailand, within the province of Surat Thani. If you want to experience the absolute best of Khao Sok on a tight schedule, then you should check out this 2-day/1-night luxury tour. Whether you choose to hike to a hidden waterfall, go spelunking in one of Khao Soks many limestone caves, swim in the refreshing water of Cheow Lan Lake, or simply relax in your overwater bungalow, Khao Sok has something for every taste! Join our special, Travel from Surat Thani to Khao Sok (best option), Travel from Koh Phangan to Khao Sok via Surat Thani, Travel from Koh Samui to Khao Sok via Surat Thani, Travel from Koh Tao to Khao Sok via Surat Thani, From Khao Sok bus stop to the center or accommodation in the village, (night) train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. Canoe your way through the dense jungle The travel time is between 7 and 10 hours. Thats why many people spend the night in this small but nice village. Despite the fact that the train journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani is quite a long ride, we really enjoyed it! Most travel agencies on the islands can help arrange your entire trip. As such, it is still relatively unaffected by over-tourism. Depending on which tour operator you use, you need to get on a minivan at one of the tour operators. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Time is also money so just take the shared minivan as described below if your budget allows it. The park is traversed by a limestone mountain range from north to south with a high point of 950m (3,117ft). [4], In 1944, the inhabitants of this region were stricken by a deadly epidemic. It highlights some of the parks top activities as well as explains how to get to the park. There are dozens of bus companies that travel between Bangkok and Surat Thani as well as an overnight train. From the Gulf of ThailandIf you are coming from the islands in the Gulf of Thailand Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao the ferry will drop you off at Don Sak Pier which is ~40 miles east of Surat Thani. Day 1: Leave for the area around Khao Sok National Park headquarters in the morning from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, or Surat Thani. When you stay on a floating bungalow, you can take in the waters as you please: dive into the lake right from your bungalow; go kayaking; or enjoy the gorgous karst backdrop. Cheow Lan Lake is about an hours drive from the village of Khao Sok. The trip will not take more than 3 hours but take it easy and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. How to get to Khao Sok National Park Recommended option Local Bus, bus 3h 49m Take the Local Bus from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Takua Pa Its perhaps the best value on Cheow Lan Lake! Here you can ask questions about Khao Sok and surroundings and share information with each other. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Click on the top right corner to enlarge the map. Joint transfers to/from Khao Sok National park via the major southern tourist destinations are available including Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Koh Samui, Khanorm and Surat Thani. Wild mammals include Malayan tapir, Asian elephant, tiger, sambar deer, bear, gaur, banteng, serow, wild boar, pig-tailed macaque, langur, white handed gibbons, squirrel, muntjak, mouse deer, and barking deer. A kayak safari is only possible through a tour, you cannot do this independently. If youre planning a trip to Khao Sok National Park, there are several things you should know. Its best to always wear long pants when hiking and check your legs often for the little blood-suckers. Check actual prices and availability for the trekking tour here. There are two possible routes you can take, the fast route that takes about three hours to get to Khao San and the scenic route that takes half an hour longer. You can rent a car somewhere else on the island as well, there are many rental locations at the island of Phuket. You can use this map to navigate when you are in Khao Sok National Park. - Participate in an exciting program such as jungle trekking & canoeing Check current prices and availability here. There are also a lot of nice tours in and around the park. Khao Sok became a national park in 1980. Travel by air-conditioned vehicle through the countryside, with a mini trek through the jungle at Ton Prai waterfall. If you would like to eat somewhere else, Pawns restaurant and Khao Sok Bistro & Bar are two good places to eat. Another great place along the river is Arts Riverview Lodge. Another activity that you must do in Khao Sok is to hire a longtail boat and explore Cheow Lan Lake. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. From the airport you take the bus to Phuket Town, but you have to get off earlier. Great place to sit and enjoy a nice meal. If you click on the star symbol next to the title, you can save this map to your Google Maps account. The travel time here will also be between four and five hours with a higher chance of arriving in Khao Sok earlier than via Ao Nang. Traveling by night train is quite an adventure in itself and you will have to do this at least once when you travel in Thailand! Both accommodations are beautifully located along the river. Plus, if you do a group tour, the guides are skilled at spotting wildlife that youd most likely miss. If youre tired of the overcrowded beaches of Phuket, Phi Phi Island, and Koh Samui, then escape to the solitude of Khao Sok. Then you can truly disconnect and enjoy the adventure! - Enjoy hassle free round trip transfers between Khao Sok National Park and Phuket And if youre coming from Koh Phi Phi youll need to catch the ferry back to Phuket first. On these two islands a stop will be made first to drop off passengers or let them on board. During the day, you can take a Thai cooking class or find a swimming pool to cool off from the heat and humidity. Have a good trip! This area is estimated to be over 160 million years old, built through tectonic movements, climate changes, erosions and sediment accumulations. The Coffee Club at DMK Airport (Bangkok) | Image: ThailandMagazine.com. If you want to travel directly from Krabi airport to Khao Sok, you will need to travel to the bus station in Krabi Town first. Tip: Use the map below to see where the best things in Khao Sok National Park are located. On average, expect to spend around $374 per person for a 2-day tour and stay in Khlong Sok. The travel time is a bit shorter (1 to 2 hours) compared to the trip from Koh Phangan but otherwise the same. To visit Khao Sok National Park you need to travel to the nearby village called Khlong Sok. Hiking in Khao Sok National Park is in one word amazing. 17 likes, 0 comments - . If you prefer to arrange your trip to Khao Sok independently, you can book a stay in a floating bungalow. The world's only known amphibious centipede, Scolopendra cataracta, was discovered on a stream bank near the national park in 2001. During your journey, you will cruise, hike and kayak through different regions of the lake, discover caves, relax on boat rides, and even go on a safari in the early hours of the morning. If you like our Thailand itinerary, the next destination is Bangkok. You can explore the lake in the afternoon when you arrive or early the next morning before your tour departs. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form. For a journey by bus from Khao Lak to Khao Sok you will lose 120 baht. An additional advantage of travelling by night train is that you save one night in a hotel! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This cookie is set by Google and is used to distinguish users. We use cookies on our website. This is a lot of money, but the park is amazing and worth visiting. 2023 Travel Your Memories. You can spend that amount of money in Khao Sok or on Cheow Lan Lake! You can spend that amount of money in Khao Sok or on Cheow Lan Lake! And it really is challenging, at least for the longer trails. You may also want to invest in a dry bag to store your valuables while youre kayaking or crossing streams. Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. Khao Sok National Park to Phuket Rassada Pier - Rome2rio Bamboo holds topsoil very tenaciously, preventing soil erosion on hillsides and riverbanks. Check Ferry & Bus Schedules from Koh Samui to Khao Sok. Khao Sok National Park can sometimes be difficult to predict in terms of weather because at one moment the weather can be good and suddenly it starts raining. "Sip Et Chan Trail." There are many options available, overnight or just during the day but also in group or private. . Many people first stay one or two nights in Khao Sok and then go to the Cheow Lan Lake for a day trip or multi-day tour. This place is nice because of the view and the ambiance. If you want to do trekking with a guide, we recommend a tour. KHAO SOK National Park, Thailand - where nature meets adventure! 56 reviews 74 helpful votes 1. Check current prices here. Website created by Red Pineapple. Her most recent adventures include working in the Bolivian Amazon jungle, surfing in Sri Lanka, and exploring Laos via a slow boat up the Mekong River. Keep in mind that you still need to be able to get here. Your email address will not be published. If you order a ticket via 12GoAsia, please report to the Phantip desk in the arrival hall, from that moment everything will be arranged for you. Wildlife Many of Thailand's exciting mammal species can be found in the park; elephant s, gaurs, sambar deer, sun bears, Asian black bears, Malayan tapirs, crab-eating macaques, gibbons, Indochinese serows, mouse-deers, porcupines, marbled cats, wild boars, Asiatic wild dogs. Phuket is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Thailand, and for good reason! These 2-day/1-night tours typically include meals, activities inside the park, and overnight accommodation in a rustic floating bungalow. Make sure you dont miss out on this unique opportunity important to book the Khao Sok National Park tour as early as possible to safeguard a spot. First you take the ferry to Surat Thani which takes at least 4 hours to travel and then you have to go from Surat Thani to Khao Sok. Read all about the beautiful lake in our extensive article. Wear loose-fitting long pants, long-sleeved hiking shirts, and hiking sandals. But if you are headed to Khao Sok, then you must spend a night (or two or three) in a floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake. For example the time we wanted to rebook tickets or they helped us find a sold out train ticket. Search experiences that may have limited interaction with crowds. This was from Bangkok to Surat Thani with Air Asia. Ask locally which route is most suitable at that time, this can vary due to weather conditions because you cannot walk some routes if it has rained a lot, for example. Check out our favorite books and travel guides. Search tours and activities you can do from home. This also applies to both accommodations, so if you know your dates it is recommended to book immediately. Khao Sok Bistro & Bar is our other recommendation. Be aware that leeches are quite common in Khao Sok, even when youre not in the water. Visitors to the park must pay an entrance fee of THB 300 (about $9) upon entry. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors. This of course depends on the type of transport, the hustle and bustle on the road and how many stops you have to make. Also here you can easily rent a car at various locations and drive to Khao Sok yourself. And the adventures dont have to end after sunset! From Phuket airport to Khao Sok you are 4 to 5 hours on the road, the price in total is 210 baht (around 6,-). In general, September and October are the coolest months, and March and April are the hottest. From the bus station in the city of Phuket there is a public bus to Khao Sok for 160 baht (around 5.50) per person. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you want to travel from Koh Tao to Khao Sok you take the same ferry to Surat Thani as Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Chumphon Airport (CJM) (CJM) and Phuket International Airport (HKT) (HKT) are also nearby and . Thankfully free of rebels today, Khao Soks jungle and lake represent two different zones in the park, with two different experiences depending on which one you visit. One part that can be visited is Khao Sok Lake and the area around it. Khao Sok is one of Thailands wettest areas, receiving record amounts of rainfall during the rainy season between May and November. The quality of public transport in Mexico is very. The terrace is a great place to relax because it is situated along the river. Tell the bus driver you want to get off at the bus stop to Khao Sok (near the highway police station). Stock up on bug repellant and wear long pants to fend off the leeches and mosquitos. Khao Sok National Park - Wikipedia As news spread of this discovery, more people immigrated to settle the region. If you want to know what a plane ticket costs, check the tool below which allows you to view and compare your flight tickets through Skyscanner. But there is a downside", "# # "", Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khao_Sok_National_Park&oldid=1159600949, This page was last edited on 11 June 2023, at 10:52. This cookie is set by Google. If you do not feel confident enough to do this on your own or would like to have a guide with you while hiking, it is recommended to follow this tour. Once arrived in Surat Thani there are several possibilities to travel on to Khao Sok, these are described here. The big advantage is that a local person knows what to look out for and what the dangers are in certain places. Located in the scenic Southern province of Phang Nga, the park actually sits in between some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. If you prefer to book your own travel you can also easily book combo ferry-bus tickets online on Bookaway.com. Stay at least one night in a floating cottage on the Cheow Lan Lake. Of course you can also check if someone from your accommodation can come and pick you up, sometimes this is a service from the hotel. The travel time depends on the ferry company you choose. The Ratchaprapha Dam that created the reservoir was completed in 1982. [citation needed] Liana trees grow rapidly wrapping around any vertical or horizontal support base such as takian or "rain trees". Enjoy hassle-free round trip transfers between Khao Sok National Park and Phuket And dont forget to visit Wat Tham Phanthurat, a nearby Buddhist temple overrun by wild monkeys. Just make sure you notify them in advance of your arrival time. An Inundation in Khao Soks Natural Splendour, Khao Sok Jungle Safari Full Day Tour from Phuket, Khao Sok National Park Safari Full Day Tour from Phuket, See more Virtual Experiences around the globe, St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria dei Fiori), Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Tours and Tickets, Pearl Harbor National Memorial Tours and Tickets, Art Institute of Chicago Tours and Tickets, Aquarium of the Pacific Tours and Tickets, Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) Tours and Tickets. Bring plenty of drinking water and mosquito repellent. Khao Sok National Park was established in 1980 as Thailand's 22nd national park. Large animals can usually be spotted along the lakeside during early mornings (no later than 7 a.m.) or before sunset. Khao Sok National Park in Thailand combines an aquatic and wilderness experience into one expansive park. In addition to the lake, Khao Sok National Park . Or you can book a variety of tours of Khao Sok online on GetYourGuide. Take some amazing photos at the Khao Sok Viewpoint Read below our 3 recommended activities that you can do in Khao Sok National Park. Take in stunning sights like the Nam Ta Lu cave and stop at Chiew Larn and Khao Sam Klur as you cruise along. Those interested in trekking can hire a local guide. Your email address will not be published. The Khao Sok National Park tour starts with a pickup and travels to the park entrance before boarding a speedboat that will take you to the stunning bungalows on Lake Khao Sok. ? Its area is 461,712 rai ~ 739 square kilometres (285sqmi),[1] and it includes the 165km2 (64sqmi) Cheow Lan Lake contained by the Ratchaprapha Dam. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. More info via our, Its also possible to travel from Krabi to Khao Sok. The public bus that leaves from Phuket Town also passes Khao Lak, from here it is another two hours drive. To create a new list, please delete some old ones. How to get to these pick up locations? There are a couple of accommodations to choose from in this small village. Meet the elephants and learn about sustainable practices Some floating bungalows are run by the Park management. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Add yourself to our public Facebook group Phuket in Thailand where you can make a call to travel together and share the costs. Also from your location in Phuket Town you can arrange your own transport, but its a lot easier to book in advance via 12GoAsia. Khao Sok National Park (Surat Thani) - Tripadvisor