From what to pack and details about the accommodation, to the amazing activities on offer, read this before visiting Khao Sok National Park, Thailand.
If you want to take in Thailand’s raw beauty, then a trip to Khao Sok National Park should be at the top of your list. With epic limestone cliffs, a bright emerald lake and a chance to get up close to wildlife, our time in Khao Sok was the highlight of our trip to Thailand.
In all honesty, we had several dilemmas about whether to visit Khao Sok National Park on our recent holiday. We were only in Thailand for just over two weeks, and from our research it seemed like it was awkward to get to. To really soak it up we’d need two or three days there, with some big travel days at either end. We wondered whether it was worth it, or whether we should skip it and enjoy our trip at a slower pace.
So what happened? Well… we went for it! The adventure won, and what an incredible adventure it turned out to be! I’m SOOOOOO happy we visited. Khao Sok is genuinely one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been on my travels. The colours, the landscapes, the rawness – it’s a very special place. It reminded me a little of another favourite – Raja Ampat (a.k.a Indonesia’s secret paradise!)
When we were researching our trip, we had lots of questions. While there are lots of great posts around, I couldn’t find one that covered absolutely everything. So, that’s what I’ve attempted to do. I really hope you find this Khao Sok travel guide helpful. It’s taken me a long time to put together, but you’ll find lots of info on what to expect on your trip, what to pack and how to make the most of it. As always, if you have any questions, please leave a comment at the bottom of the post or send me an email.
Planning your trip to Khao Sok National Park? Here are a few quick highlights:
The Ultimate Guide To Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Everything you need to know before visiting Khao Sok National Park.
Nature, adventure, wildlife and incredible scenery.
2–3 days, with an overnight stay on Cheow Lan Lake if you have time.
Longtail boat trips, cave adventures, kayaking, swimming and wildlife spotting.
Stay in Khlong Sok for easy access to the park, or spend a night in a floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake.
Minibus or private transfer to Khao Sok, followed by longtail boats for exploring Cheow Lan Lake.
Pack a small overnight bag, dry bag, swimwear, water shoes, insect repellent and a head torch.
Is Khao Sok National Park worth visiting?
In my opinion, absolutely! Before our trip, I wasn’t convinced that Khao Sok was worth the extra travel time. We were only in Thailand for just over two weeks, and adding Khao Sok meant some long journeys and a slightly more complicated itinerary.
The scenery around Cheow Lan Lake is some of the most spectacular I’ve experienced in Thailand, and staying overnight in a floating bungalow made the whole experience feel even more special. It’s not the easiest destination to reach and the accommodation on our tour was very basic, but for me, the incredible landscapes and experiences more than made up for that.
If you have the time, I’d definitely try to include Khao Sok in your Thailand itinerary.
How to get to Khao Sok National Park
The majority of people travel by minibus to the town of Khlong Sok. The small town has several guesthouses and hotels, perfect for travellers keen to explore the region. After spending a few days in Ao Nang, we booked onto a bus from Krabi, while others reached the area from Khao Lak or Surat Thani – the closest airport to Khao Sok National Park.
A week before arriving in Khlong Sok, we contacted our hotel to check there was availability for on the 2 day/1 night tour of Khao Sok. We reserved two spots and then paid on arrival. We knew the tour included a few boat trips, accommodation and meals, but there was a lack of detailed information on what to expect.
If I was doing the trip again, I’d book this tour in advance so I had peace of mind it was taken care of. There are a few options you can look at via my preferred booking platform GetYourGuide. There’s this this Khao Sok tour where you stay in treehouses or this organised tour which departs from Khao Lak or Krabi, where you stay in floating raft houses on the lake itself.
Khao Sok National Park vs Cheow Lan Lake
One thing that confused me when I was researching our trip was the difference between Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan Lake. They’re closely connected, but they’re not quite the same thing. Khao Sok National Park covers a huge area of rainforest, while Cheow Lan Lake is the spectacular reservoir within the park, surrounded by those famous limestone cliffs. Our overnight experience was based around the lake, which is where we stayed in the floating bungalows.
Information About The 2 Day / 1 Night Tour of Khao Sok National Park
The two day / one night tour is the most popular option for visitors wanting to explore Khao Sok National Park. For me, this felt like the perfect amount of time to soak up what the park has to offer. It gives you the freedom to immerse yourself in the impressive scenery, enjoy a few activities and stay overnight in a floating bungalow.
You might have spotted that there are day tours to Khao Sok, but I wouldn’t recommend them as I feel like you’d be missing a lot! The evening and early morning are when there’s an air of magic to the lake experience. You might only visit this special place once in your lifetime, so make the most of it and stay overnight.
How much does the 2 Day / 1 Night Tour of Khao Sok National Park cost?
We booked the tour through our hotel in Khlong Sok. We researched a few options online, but as the rate seemed to be standard across all of the tour operators, we decided it’d be nice to support our hotel. That way, we could also chat to them to confirm all of the key information once we’d checked in.
The Khao Sok tour includes all transport (bus from Khlong Sok and the boat over the lake), lunch and dinner on the first day, plus breakfast and a snack lunch on the second day. It also includes one night’s accommodation in floating bungalows on Cheow Lan Lake. In terms of activities it includes a few boat and cave tours while in the national park.
There’s usually a charge of 300 THB per person to enter Khao Sok National Park. This was included in our tour price, but this wasn’t the case for everyone in our group, so it’s something worth checking when you book.
Obviously, if you do decide to book in advance, you can check the prices of the tours here.
What is the 2 Day / 1 Night Tour of Khao Sok National Park?
I should probably add a disclaimer here, that not all tours will be exactly the same, and where you visit and the accommodation you stay in will depend on your tour operator. However, from my pre-trip research, most of the trips sounded pretty similar to one another.
As a guide, here’s how our tour was structured:
Day 1 – Khao Sok National Park Tour Schedule
Morning: Pickups from Khlong Sok village. One hour drive to Ban Ta Khun.
Stop in Ban Ta Khun market area where you can buy items including snacks, drinks, waterproof bags, head torches and sandals. We were told it would be a good idea to stock up on snacks if you get hungry often, or spirits if you don’t drink beer (as that’s all that’s available for sale at the floating bungalows).
Short drive Ratchaprapa Dam for Cheow Lan pier, then board a boat to the floating bungalows. The boat journey to our accommodation took around 45 minutes.
Check into accommodation and then enjoy a group lunch in the main restaurant area. Food throughout the trip was great and included curries, fish, rice and vegetables.
Afternoon: 5 minute boat trip to the start of the jungle / cave hike.
2-3 hour hike through the jungle to Nam Talu Cave. Then an adventure through the cave (more on that below!) and then back to the boats.
Relax time at the floating bungalows before the night safari and dinner, with options of swimming and kayaking
Night safari to see wildlife and landscapes
Evening: Group dinner – again more great curry and fish, followed by drinks (optional!) and bed.
Day 2 – Khao Sok National Park Tour Schedule
Morning: Early morning boat trip
Breakfast – pancakes, fruit and coffee
Relax time before checkout with options of swimming and kayaking
Boat trip to Pra Kay Petch Cave to see stalagmites and stalactites
Boat trip to see the scenery of Cheow Lan Lake including a stop at the three limestone hills (iconic view!)
Stop off at a beach on the lake for a picnic lunch of rice packs and fresh fruit, before heading back to the pier and catching a transfer back to Khlong Sok village.
Who books the 2 Day / 1 Night Tour of Khao Sok National Park?
I loved how mixed the group was for our trip to Khao Sok. Our tour group consisted of 22 people, aged between 21 – 65. There were a mix of nationalities too, including English, Dutch, Australian, German, Russian and Ukrainian. We were travelling as a couple, but there were small groups of friends, a few other couples and a mother and daughter. The tour guide gave all instructions in English.
Khao Sok National Park Activities
In addition to the boat trips to get to and from our accommodation, our tour included two cave tours and two boat trips.
Nam Talu Cave Hike
The hike to the entrance of Nam Talu Cave took around an hour, and involved walking along paths carved through bamboo forests, and crossing several streams and rivers. The route is very pretty, and it wasn’t long before I felt fully immersed in the nature of the national park.
At the entrance of Nam Talu Cave, we were equipped with head torches, and everyone packed essential items into dry bags. The cave is 850m long, and the route through is a dark, wet one! We spotted bats, frogs and spiders along the journey.
While you don’t need to be at peak fitness levels, you do need to be open to adventures and happy to clamber, walk and swim! If you’re claustrophobic, scared of the dark or not confident in the water, I’d avoid this element of the trip. I wore a bikini and water shoes for the cave trek (more on what to pack below), as it was really wet!
It took around one hour to reach the other end of the cave, and although I found it challenging and a little scary at times, it was one of those rewarding travel experiences that I’m SO happy I did!
Pra Kay Petch Cave
On day two, we visited Pra Kay Petch Cave. This was a much more relaxed adventure. It took just 15 minutes to walk through the cave, and inside were a beautiful array of stalagmites and stalactites.
Boat Safaris In Khao Sok National Park
We went on two longtail boat safaris – in the evening of the first day, and early morning the next day. They were described as safaris as there was a chance we’d see some incredible wildlife.
We did! We spotted monkeys, plenty of birds and a few other animals around the shoreline. I wouldn’t say it’s the most wildlife-rich place I’ve ever been, but it’s always amazing to see animals in their natural habitats.
Other activities in Khao Sok National Park
No matter where you’re staying, you can enjoy regular jumps into the lake, along with plenty of swimming and kayaking. It was definitely a refreshing way to wake up and a wonderful way to take in the landscapes.
If you don’t fancy the longer trip, you can also book day trips like this one to Khao Sok, which includes a bit of time kayaking. Or look at companies like Royal Vacation DMC, which offer some interesting tours around Thailand.
Khao Sok National Park Packing List: Useful Items
If you’re planning to spend a few days in Khao Sok National Park, then the best thing to do is decant your essentials into an overnight bag, and store your main backpack or suitcase at your hotel in Khlong Sok.
In addition to basics like clothes and toiletries, here are a few items I’d recommend packing if possible:
Bug & Bite Essentials
Insect repellent – A must for tropical destinations. I usually take this good-quality repellent, and if you’re travelling with children, I’d choose one like this which is specifically designed for kids.
Bite relief – Don’t just pack the repellent, take something to deal with bites too. It’s great to travel with an after bite cream, but personally I swear by my Bite Away Pen, which I take on almost every trip. It takes the itch away immediately.
Sun Protection
Sun cream – A good SPF is one of the most important things in your suitcase. I really like this Sun Bum SPF for travel. It feels nice on your skin and lasts a long time.
Sunglasses – Protect your eyes as well as your skin. I’ve owned these Ray-Bans for years and they’re one of my travel essentials.
Sun hat – Ideal for sightseeing, beach days and those long afternoons in the sun. This one has travelled the world with me.
After sun / aloe vera – Because sometimes even the best intentions don’t stop you getting a little too much sun! I like this lightweight Ultrasun option.
Rain & Water Essentials
Lightweight rain jacket – Tropical rain showers can appear out of nowhere, so I always pack this waterproof jacket that folds down small.
Compact umbrella – A tiny umbrella is worth throwing into your daypack, especially during rainy season. I love that this one is small enough to fit into a handbag.
Microfibre travel towel – Small, lightweight and quick-drying. This one is perfect for swimming, beaches, waterfalls or picnics!
Dry bag – One of those things you might not realise you need until you’re standing beside a waterfall with an expensive camera! This drybag is ideal for keeping phones, cameras and other valuables dry.
Waterproof phone case – Another of my must-buys, if you’re planning to snorkel, visit waterfalls or spend lots of time around water, this waterproof phone case is really useful little addition to your packing list.
Things You’ll Use Every Day
Lightweight daypack – My go-to for sightseeing and day trips. This small backpack has enough space for a water bottle, camera, sun cream and other essentials without being bulky.
Reusable water bottle – A reusable bottle is one of my travel staples. I particularly like these ones, which have a built in straw to make drinking on the go much easier.
Travel Tech & Gadgets
GoPro – If you’re heading somewhere adventurous, a GoPro camera is brilliant for capturing snorkelling, hiking, rafting, wildlife and other activities where you don’t want to risk your phone.
Power bank – I use my phone a lot when travelling, so a power bank like this one which stores a lot of charge is essential.
Universal plug adapter – One of my favourite travel gadgets. This universal adapter can charge multiple devices via USBs and plugs all at once, and it works around the world.
Head torch – Also available to hire or borrow in Khao Sok.
Padlock – The doors of the bungalows didn’t lock, so bring a padlock if you’re nervous about leaving any of your belongings unattended.
I’d recommend charging everything before your trip e.g. camera batteries, kindle, phone.
An unexpected moment in Khao Sok
Do you want to hear something funny about our trip? As we were heading to Surat Thani Airport straight after our tour, we arranged with the tour guides that we’d take all of our luggage on the trip, rather than decanting down to an overnight bag for the tour as most people do.
There was a big misunderstanding, and when we arrived at the pier on the lake, we discovered our suitcases had been put in the tour operator’s office overnight. They thought we wanted them to take care of them!
So we arrived at the floating bungalows without any essentials. No toothpaste, no change of clothes… just cameras, suncream, phones and what we were wearing! We managed, but it wasn’t ideal as you can imagine. If you’re planning to arrange something similar – check everyone understands the plan!
What are the floating bungalows like in Khao Sok National Park?
So, here’s where my experience might vary from what you find. As we booked via our hotel in Khlong Sok, we didn’t know which raft house we’d be taken to on the Cheow Lan Lake. To be honest, I was expecting to rough it for a night in pretty basic accommodation, but I was a little surprised by just HOW basic it was. That’s not me being a princess!
Our bungalow had one big double mattress on the floor, with a mosquito net over it… and that was it. There were a couple of sheets, and a light outside.
It didn’t lock (hence why I mention a padlock might be useful if you’re worried about the security of any of your belongings). There wasn’t a fan either, but we managed to sleep ok as the temperatures were more comfortable by the evening.
The bathroom situation was a little tricky too. There were two on either side of the site, but to reach them you had to walk across floating planks and then clamber up the side of a hill. There were toilets and showers there, but the water was cold.
However, it wasn’t all basic. The food in the restaurant was flavoursome and plentiful.
Some of the photos I saw of the accommodation on similar tours looked a little bit less basic, so take that into consideration when you’re making arrangements. To be honest, I really didn’t mind any of it as it was only for one night, and the overall experience was totally incredible, so please don’t let what I’ve said put you off. Just lower your expectations for the accommodation!
There are a few luxurious options on the lake, if you’re looking for somewhere with a few more amenities.
Luxury places to stay in Khao Sok National Park (Cheow Lan Lake):
500 Rai Floating Resort – The smartest option on the lake, rooms here come with AC and en-suite bathrooms. Some have outdoor jacuzzis, plus there’s a pool and restaurants on site.
Panvaree Resort – Rooms here have proper beds, balconies, terraces, en-suite bathrooms, plus a TV and fridge.
Overall thoughts on the two day / one night tour of Khao Sok National Park
WOW, wow and wow!! I think the photos speak for themselves, but this is such a stunning area of natural beauty – you just HAVE to visit if you get the chance. It’s not the easiest place to get to, it’s not the most luxurious of experiences, but as soon as you get there, you’ll realise you made the right decision. I absolutely loved it!
While some of my blog content is sponsored, our trip to Thailand was a holiday, and 100% funded by us! I’ve written about this experience because I felt so passionately about sharing it – I just couldn’t keep it to myself. Any questions, please leave them in the comments below or send me an email.
Planning your trip to Khao Sok National Park? Here are a few quick highlights:
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Hi can you let me know from where did you book the package.? can you share me the link or name of the tour operator
I am planning to visit Khao Sok in Feb 2020 will be staying at Ao Nang so also help me in way yo reach the village from Ao Nang
Hi there – I booked through Green Valley Resort where I was staying!
Thanks so much for this great post! So informative. I’ve been trying to figure out for the Nam Talu Cave tour if it’s possible for someone who doesn’t’ swim to go part of the way. How far along on the route is the area where someone would need to swim? And would it be ok if they stayed back while other people went ahead? Or do you think they could get across with a life vest? Thanks so much for any insights!
Thanks Monica! I wouldn’t risk going on it if you or someone in your party can’t swim. Water levels may vary a bit throughout the year but there was a little bit of swimming when I went, and I just worry that you wouldn’t enjoy it if you were worrying about it! I’m not totally sure if there’s an option to wear a life vest instead. A few of our group were claustraphobic or couldn’t swim, so stayed in the jungle area outside the cave. Personally, I’d skip the excursion in favour of some kayaking or something else, as it’s a longish activity to be waiting around for people, esp in a mozzie filled jungle!
Love your post and thank you, we want to do the same trip but we are staying in ao nang, and we’re looking to book the trip from here. As far as you are aware is it the same 2 day 1 night tour but we will just get the bus from (and back) to our ao nang hotel ?
Kind regards
Debra
Hi Debra, Thanks for your message! I actually started in Ao Nang, but it’s quite a long way to get to the nearest village to Khao Sok where the tours start from. After quite a bit of research we discovered the best option was to get a minibus to Khlong Sok, then start the 2 day / 1 night tour from there the next day. Ao Nang is pretty far so I don’t think it’d be easy to do in a shorter timeframe. Hope that helps – it’s worth the effort!
Hi there,
Thanks for the informative post! Just wondering a few things. What time did your tour end at on the second day? I’m just wondering if you stayed another night, or did you leave the same day for Surat Thani? We’re hoping to head to Ko Samui the same day, or is that too much travel do you think? Also, did you just book the tour with the hotel when you arrived?
Thanks a million,
Maríosa
Hi Mariosa – hope I’m not too late replying. Our tour ended after lunchtime on the 2nd day. We got dropped in a nearby town to catch a bus, but most people headed back to the village where we started the tour from. I think it’s a lot to think about and plan, but it’s definitely possible to do back to back journeys. Just check all the times in advance as best you can. We booked the tour with the hotel before we arrived (via email) and then paid when we checked in. Hope that helps! Genuinely one of my fave places in the world so don’t miss it!
Hi, are there any ways I can book like this trip not with the Resort you were in? I’m just a backpacker. Thanks❤️
It’s best to go on a tour as the transport part can be tricky otherwise. You can try to arrange directly with one of the accommodations on the lake. They can then organise transport to pick you up.
Hello there,
I know it’s 2023 but I was wondering if you could answer a question.
If I wanted to stay three nights in Khlong Sok village and Khao Sok national park (one stop on my backpacking journey), should I book three nights at the hotel, and then book a 2D/1N tour OR should I book one night at a hotel, book the tour (which is one night) and then book another night back in Khlong Sok village.
Basically what I’m trying to say is, is the your included in your ‘three night’ stay at the hotel, or are they separate I guess?
– I’m very sorry if this is too confusing to understand, I’m just trying to budget as best as possible.
Also, whenever I seem to try and find hotels/places to stay around Khlong Sok village on google, all that comes up is Khoa Sok National Park accommodations in the lake. Is there a way around this, or do I need to just be more specific with my searches.
Thank you so much,
Nye.
Hi Nye, Thanks for your message. I’m not sure I totally understand but when we visited we booked a hotel in Khlong Sok, then went on the 2D/1N tour as a separate arrangement. It wasn’t one of the nights included in the tour. If you’re struggling to find accommodation I’d recommend using Booking.com and dragging around the map to find Khlong Sok. Sometimes places don’t come up on their own, but you should be able to find it. I hope that helps! Chloe
Hi Nye,
I completely understand your question and wondering if you did end up booking 3nights or 1 night then tour then 1 night again? I’m in the process of planning my own trip.
Also thankyou for this post Chloe, very informative.
Cheers,
Emily