Besides countless islands and beaches, Thailand also has gorgeous national parks. Khao Sok in the Southern Province of Surat Thani is one of the most popular one due to the gorgeous scenery and variety of eco-systems.
You’ll find dense jungle, intact wildlife and one of Thailand’s prettiest lakes. Despite its popularity with visitors from all over the world, Khao Sok has kept its quiet, rustic charm and it’s very unlikely you’ll experience any crowds. The infrastructure still is quite basic, which draws in more nature-conscious people who are looking for adventure.
There are tons of activities like hiking, bird watching, kayaking and more. Pretty Cheow Lan Lake – actually an artificial lake built to generate power – is the best known site of the park and the base for unforgettable boat rides through a landscape that seems out of a fantasy world! Steep limestone cliffs emerge from the turquoise lake surface, while you may spot gibbons and exotic birds in the canopies.
The lake is home to dozens of “floating huts” or “raft huts” which give visitors the chance to spend the night far from civilization in the middle of nature. However, you should know that these simple bamboo huts only provide the most basic amenities (thin mattress on the floor, shared bathroom and shower, no phone service and limited hours of electricity). If you can put up with them for a night, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic experience and surprisingly good meals. As our guide used to say “This is not a 5-star hotel but a million-star-hotel, because you sleep right underneath them”.
Useful information and recommendations:
The tourist village of Khao Sok is the main base where most of the resorts, restaurants and basic stores are located. There are frequent buses and minivans to many Southern Thailand destinations e.g. Phuket and Krabi, however the easiest access is from/to Surat Thani airport (approx. 1.5 hrs) and Surat Thani town (approx. 2 hours). All resorts can organize tours into the park (ranging from a few hours to several days). The majority of resorts are in the mid-price range (and quite similar) but I want to recommend two places in particular:
Khao Sok Riverfront Resort: Best location, in the centre of “town” and next to the Sok River. Comfortable bungalows with AC (not a standard in many resorts!) and the resort’s restaurant Rafflesia Cafe may be the best in the area! You can book a room here.
Our Jungle House: Smacked in the middle of the jungle, this is the place for eco-conscious travelers who want to get as close to nature as possible. There are individually styled bungalows with open bathrooms but you shouldn’t be afraid of bugs and other jungle creatures. The management and staff is very engaged. We also booked the lake tour through them and were very happy! You can book a room here.
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5 Comments
wenn ich die bilder seh kommt es mir vor wie aus einem anderen leben. asien – ungreifbar weit entfernt… wunderschön sieht es aus!
Da geb ich dir recht, mir kommt das auch schon eeewig lang her vor…
Loved Thailand when we traveled to Asia in 2017. A nice reminder. Khop pun khraap. 🙏🏻
Mai pen rai 😉 Thailand never disappoints!
Indeed. 🙏🏻