Welcome to Khao Sok National Park, an essential stop for nature lovers exploring Thailand. With its undeniable beauty, Khao Sok quickly became our top pick among the country’s diverse landscapes. Whether you’re kayaking on Cheow Lan Lake, admiring majestic limestone cliffs, or trekking through the pristine jungle trails, Khao Sok promises an unforgettable adventure. On top of that, staying overnight in a floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake was the highlight of our entire trip to Thailand! Taking an early sunrise swim by jumping off our private balcony was just pure bliss. Join us for insider tips in our complete guide to Khao Sok National Park.
Introduction to Khao Sok National Park
The area that comprises Khao Sok National Park, estimated to be over 160 million years old, hosts one of the world’s oldest rainforests. At its heart lies the man-made Cheow Lan Lake, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and rock formations. The national park is home to hundreds of species of wildlife, including birds, monkeys, and elephants. Perfect for a wildlife safari, but more on that later.
Khao Sok National Park has two main areas: the village of Khao Sok, and Cheow Lan Lake. The village is your starting point for exploring the park, situated right at the entrance. If you want to visit Cheow Lan Lake, you’ll need to book a guided tour from the village. It can’t be visited independently, but we highly recommend it.
How to get to Khao Sok village
The easiest way to reach Khao Sok village is by catching a minivan from Surat Thani. This usually takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can travel from Ao Nang, Krabi, which takes around 4 hours. If you want to travel to Khao Sok village from another destination, we suggest checking 12go.asia.
Where to stay in Khao Sok village
Khao Sok village offers a variety of accommodation choices, ranging from pretty basic to luxurious. During our 3-night stay in Khao Sok National Park, we enjoyed a night at Our Jungle Camp, a stunning treehouse nestled in the heart of the rainforest. Additionally, we arranged an overnight tour of Cheow Lan Lake through Our Jungle Camp, where we spent the night in a floating bungalow – but more on that in the next paragraph. For our final night, we opted for Tanoshi Glamping, a romantic glamping resort featuring tented camps.
How to visit Cheow Lan Lake
As mentioned earlier, visiting Cheow Lan Lake requires booking a guided tour. You can either book your tour online in advance, or do it via your accommodation in Khao Sok. We opted for an overnight tour through Our Jungle Camp. They have two options: the explorer trip and the basic one. The main differences lie in the bathroom facilities and group size. The basic option features a larger group and shared bathrooms, but comes at a nearly 40% lower price compared to the explorer trip. Since experiencing Khao Sok National Park was high on our bucket list, we chose the explorer trip. We’re not going to lie, having a private bathroom made the difference in the end.
We were fortunate to have a fantastic group. There were 5 couples in our group, coming from the Netherlands, England, Poland, and Israel. We shared unforgettable moments together! Spending two days inseparable was so unique. Those late night conversations really hit different. What made it even more special was the complete lack of coverage or WiFi on the lake. This absence facilitated genuine connections, we undoubtedly formed lifelong friendships. If you need proof, we met with the couple from the Netherlands a couple days later on Koh Samui, and are still in contact with the couple from England as well!
If spending a night on the lake doesn’t sound appealing to you, there’s also the option to book a day tour. This is a great alternative and you’ll undoubtedly do and see lots of stuff. However, we must emphasize that sleeping in a floating bungalow was the highlight of our 6-week trip in Thailand. We highly recommend spending at least one night on Cheow Lan Lake – it’s an experience you won’t regret!
What to expect of an overnight tour of Cheow Lan Lake
The great thing about a tour is that everything is taken care of for you. This means you don’t have to worry about planning activities or deciding where to eat, and just live in the moment. Here’s what our tour looked like:
Day 1
Our adventure kicked off at 8 AM when we were picked up from our accommodation. First up was a thrilling two-hour rainforest hike, exploring mystical caves along the way. Our guide was really knowledgeable, you could tell he loved doing this. Not only did we learn a lot because of him, but we also got to see tons of cool animals like bats! Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious lunch which was the perfect time to get to know the other people in the group.
Next, we set out on a scenic tour of Cheow Lan Lake where we got to see the famous three rocks. Upon arrival at our floating bungalow, we had a few hours to relax with options for canoeing, swimming, or simply unwinding. Just before sunset, we set off on a boat safari to spot wildlife and enjoy the evening sky. Once again, our guide Ed spotted tons of animals from miles away, most impressively a bison. Dinner followed, and then we settled in for a night in our floating bungalow.
Day 2
We woke up just before sunrise to witness the magical dawn. Kelvin also took the opportunity for a refreshing morning swim. Then, we headed out for an early morning safari with the sun rising behind the lime rock formations. After breakfast, the rest of the morning was spent canoeing, swimming, or simply relaxing. We enjoyed one last lunch before returning to Khao Sok village just after noon.
How much does it cost to spend the night on Cheow Lan Lake
We paid around € 230 for both of us for the overnight tour of Cheow Lan Lake. This covers a rainforest hike, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner. Additionally, it included 2 boat safaris and private time for swimming or canoeing, all while staying in a floating bungalow with a private bathroom. We really thought this was well worth it! If this exceeds your budget, though, opting for the basic trip instead of the explorer trip can save you about 40%.
However, the entrance fee and pier fee were not included in this price. We had to pay an additional entrance fee of 300 baht per person (approximately € 8) and a pier fee of 40 baht per person (around € 1), totaling about € 20 for both of us on top of the tour fee. This means we paid € 250 in total for the overnight tour.
These prices are based on the tours offered by our accommodation, Our Jungle Camp. Alternatively, you can inquire in Khao Sok village to explore other tour options and prices. You can even check the pricing of tours online, which we highly recommend you do! That way you can get a nice overview of what to expect money wise, and also what activities every tour offers. Keep in mind that overnight tours can sell out quickly, especially during high season. Therefore, it’s advisable to book an overnight tour in advance, especially if you plan on spending only a few days in Khao Sok. We booked our tour 6 months in advance through Our Jungle Camp, we really wanted to make sure we got to check off this bucket list experience. While there may have been cheaper options available, the experience was well worth it! We’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Packing list for visiting Khao Sok National Park
During our stay at Cheow Lan Lake, we were restricted to bringing only a small backpack, as our larger one had to remain at the hotel. For a smooth stay, make sure to pack the essentials below.
- Mosquito spray: Given the abundance of mosquitoes in the jungle and near the river, it’s crucial to spray yourself before hiking and before bedtime. Our guide told us it can also help against leeches, although there weren’t any when we visited during the dry season.
- Cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen: With the hot weather in Khao Sok National Park, especially during activities like hiking or canoeing, these items are essential for sun protection.
- Swimwear and a towel: You’ll have the opportunity to swim and canoe at Cheow Lan Lake during free time, so don’t forget to pack swimwear and a towel.
- Power bank: Since there’s limited electricity at Cheow Lan Lake and no power outlets in the rooms, a power bank will prove useful. Ensure all your devices are fully charged before departing as well.
- Phone and camera: You’ll want to capture the stunning scenery, so make sure to bring your phone and camera for plenty of photos and videos.
- Drybag: If you’re planning to go canoeing, it’s highly recommended to bring a drybag to keep your belongings safe from getting wet. If you’re planning on only taking your phone(s) on the water, a 2 L bag should suffice.
- Toiletries: Basic toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and refreshing wipes are essential for maintaining hygiene during your stay.
We trust this complete guide to Khao Sok National Park has covered everything you need to know. Make sure to savor every moment of this unforgettable experience – it’s truly one for the books!
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