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This 739-square-kilometer rainforest in southern Thailand predates the Amazon, sheltering wild elephants and the giant Rafflesia kerrii flower. You can trek muddy jungle trails to Nam Talu Cave, then sleep in a floating raft house on Cheow Lan Lake surrounded by limestone karsts.
Find Guided ToursKhao Sok National Park covers 739 square kilometers of Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand. The terrain sits mostly at 200 meters above sea level, rising into limestone karst mountains that peak at 960 meters. These crags belong to the Phuket mountain range.
Around them grows an evergreen rainforest older than the Amazon. Thailand's equatorial position shielded this pocket of jungle from historical ice ages, leaving an intact ecosystem that now anchors the 3,500-square-kilometer Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok Forest Complex. That footprint gives wild Asian elephants and tigers room to roam. It also supports the giant Rafflesia kerrii flower.
While other regions of Thailand were rapidly deforested in the 20th century, Khao Sok survived through sheer accident — a deadly epidemic in the 1940s cleared the area of early settlements. Decades later, communist student insurgents used the dense jungle as a stronghold from 1975 to 1982. Their armed presence kept loggers and commercial miners out. On December 22, 1980, the government officially declared the territory Thailand's 22nd national park.
Two years later, the Ratchaprapha Dam project altered the park's geography for hydroelectric power. The dam flooded a central valley, creating the 165-square-kilometer Cheow Lan Lake (known officially as the Ratchaprapha Reservoir). Rising water swallowed the lowland plains but left the limestone mountains exposed. Now, those submerged peaks form a network of steep karst islands rising directly from the water. You'll find floating raft-house resorts anchored right over the flooded jungle.
Discover the full history and cultural significance on our About page.
Long-tail boats navigate past karst limestone towers rising straight from the emerald water. Take a photo at Kri Sorn Viewpoint. Then spend the night in a floating raft-house. You step out of bed directly into the 165-square-kilometer reservoir created by the Ratchaprapha Dam.
Bring a headlamp, a waterproof bag, and rented grip shoes for the slippery approach. After a muddy jungle trek, you wade and swim through an active underground river inside Nam Talu Cave. Skip it entirely if heavy rain is falling upstream due to flash flood risks.
Between December and March, guides lead hikers up a steep forest incline looking for the giant Rafflesia kerrii. This parasitic plant spans up to 90 centimeters across and blooms for just a few days. Sightings take luck and a tough uphill slog.
Night safaris operate only around the park headquarters. Guides use spotlights to reveal the rainforest's late shift. Watch the canopy for flying squirrels and slow lorises. Down below, check the undergrowth for civets and tarantulas. These walks aren't permitted out on the lake.
Book English-guided tours ranging from four-hour river trips to 48-hour lake safaris, starting at $58 with free 24-hour cancellation.
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December to April delivers the driest trails and peak Rafflesia blooms. You will pay top baht and fight for raft-house reservations, making shoulder months a smart alternative.
March closes out the dry season and the Rafflesia bloom. Rain picks up by May, softening the trails but opening up boat availability on Cheow Lan Lake.
Wet season humidity sets in and trails turn to mud. You will face frequent rain, but early summer provides a quiet shoulder period with fewer crowds fighting for boats.
September and October dump heavy rain, averaging 375mm in September alone. Flash flood risks shut down caves and remote trails, though skies begin clearing by early November.
The core dry season brings firm trails and low humidity. The rare Rafflesia flower starts blooming, but raft houses book up fast and prices hit their peak.
The visitor centre and headquarters operate daily from 08:00 to 16:30 year-round. Evening access is restricted entirely to guided night safaris. Out on Cheow Lan Lake, long-tail boats stop running between sunset and sunrise. Night safaris are banned on the water.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Foreign Adult (Headquarters) | 300 Baht |
| Foreign Child (Headquarters) | 150 Baht |
| Foreign Adult (Cheow Lan Lake) | 300 Baht |
| Foreign Child (Cheow Lan Lake, ages 3-14 or under 140cm) | 150 Baht |
| Thai National Adult | 40 Baht |
| Thai National Child | 20 Baht |
| Lake Pier Fee | 40 Baht |
| Coral Cave (Adult) | 200 Baht |
| Coral Cave (Child) | 100 Baht |
Bring cash. The park only accepts Thai Baht at the gates and the pier. Because the headquarters and Cheow Lan Lake operate as separate zones, you pay full admission at both if your itinerary covers both areas. Secure your lake boats and raft-house beds well in advance if visiting during the dry season from December to April.
For complete schedules and ticket prices, visit our Hours & Fees page.
You'll likely route through Surat Thani, Phuket, or Krabi before catching a bus or minivan to the park. Surat Thani is the closest major transport hub with an airport and train station.
📍 Highway 401, Khlong Sok village, Surat Thani Province
Regular buses depart from Surat Thani town and the Phun Pin train station roughly every hour until 14:00. They head toward Takua Pa and Phuket. You get off at Khlong Sok village on Highway 401. From there, the park headquarters is just a two-kilometer walk or quick local ride. This is the cheapest approach.
Long-distance buses running between Phuket and Surat Thani stop directly at Khlong Sok village. They pass through Takua Pa along the way. Scheduled departures leave Phuket at 07:30, 08:20, 11:00, 12:20, and 13:30. The highway ride covers roughly 230 kilometers. Pack some water and prepare for a long travel day.
Shared minivans run straight from Ao Nang in Krabi to Khao Sok village or the Cheow Lan Lake pier. The 180-kilometer trip takes a few hours. Private taxis offer the same route for a much higher fare. A private car costs about 4,500 Baht one-way. Shared vans save money if you don't mind riding with strangers.
Trains depart Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station in the evening at 18:30, 19:30, and 22:50. You sleep on board and arrive at Surat Thani's Phun Pin station between 06:00 and 08:00. The journey covers 650 kilometers. From the station, you still need to catch a bus or taxi onward to the park. It beats paying for a hotel.
For detailed transport options and routes, visit our Directions page.
Bring Thai Baht cash. The headquarters and Cheow Lan Lake areas charge separate 300 Baht foreign adult fees. Cards aren't accepted at the gates or the pier. Keep smaller bills handy for the 40 Baht lake dock fee.
Khao Sok gets 3,500 millimeters of rain annually. Sudden downpours hit constantly, even outside the May to November wet season. Bring a rain jacket and closed-toe trekking shoes. You can rent specialty grip shoes locally for slippery, rocky routes like the Nam Talu Cave trek.
Book your Cheow Lan Lake boat and raft house weeks in advance. High-season availability dries up between December and April. The most reliable method is arranging transport directly through your floating accommodation. Walk-up hires at the pier often fail.
Bathing in just a swimsuit offends local cultural norms. Wear modest clothing over your swimwear in the rivers or waterfalls. Skip the soap in natural water sources. You must pack out all sanitary waste.
Leeches blanket the jungle trails during the wet season. They're harmless but cause minor bleeding, so tuck long socks into your boots. Watch out for macaques around campsites. Secure your bags and never feed them, since habituated troops will bite.
Flying a drone anywhere in the park requires written permission from the national park department. Staff rarely grant these permits. Unauthorized flights risk confiscation and fines up to 100,000 Baht. You'll also need to hire a licensed park guide for long hikes or cave routes.
Technically inside the national park, this reservoir functions as a distinct destination. You'll find floating bungalows and flooded karst towers. It's the most popular extension for anyone staying in the village.
This coastal strip makes an easy beach base after a few days of jungle trekking. Boats leave directly from here for diving trips out to the Similan Islands' coral reefs.
Head east to reach the primary transport hub. The town provides an airport and train station, while the Don Sak piers run ferries straight to the Gulf islands.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Khao Sok — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Planning advice, comparisons, and practical tips.
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Foreign adults pay 300 Baht and children 150 Baht in Thai cash at the park headquarters. The Cheow Lan Lake area charges a separate 300 Baht adult fee, plus a 40 Baht pier tax. You pay both if your trip covers both zones.
December through April brings the driest trails and a chance to spot the giant Rafflesia flower blooming. Skip September and October. Those months average 375mm of rain, which frequently triggers flash flood warnings and cave closures.
Public buses and minivans leave Surat Thani town and the Phun Pin train station roughly every hour until 14:00. The 100-kilometer ride takes one to two hours and drops you at Khlong Sok village for 80 to 120 Baht.
Drones are banned inside the park boundaries without prior written permission from the wildlife department, which staff rarely grant. Flying without a permit risks confiscation and fines up to 100,000 Baht. Don't pack it.
No. Jungle trails are unpaved, root-heavy, and muddy, while Cheow Lan Lake requires boarding long-tail boats without ramps. A few spots near the visitor center have step-free paths, but travelers using mobility devices should contact specific lake resorts like Panvaree directly to check accommodations.
Plan for two or three days. Most visitors spend one night near the headquarters for river activities, then book one or two nights in a floating raft house on Cheow Lan Lake. Secure your lake accommodation months ahead if visiting between December and April.
You can walk the short nature trails near headquarters alone, but park rules mandate a licensed guide for remote routes like the 8.4-kilometer Sip-et Chan Waterfall trek. Guides run about 500 Baht for a half-day and 1,000 Baht for a full day.
Pack closed-toe hiking shoes or water shoes with serious grip. Trails get muddy year-round, and cave routes require wading through underground rivers. You can rent specialized grip shoes from local guides for slippery treks like Nam Talu Cave.
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