Khao Sok

Understand

There are 2 main sections of Khao Sok National Park. The west entrance is where Park HQ is located along with the main hiking trails. The east entrance is where Ratchaprapha Pier is located where you go to get to the floating rafthouses. The 2 entrances are 65 km apart and over 1 hour of driving, so please take that into consideration when planning your trip. “Khao Sok” is used as a catch-all term to describe the general area where the park is located. This usually includes the area from Ratchaprapha Pier west to the Surat Thani -Phangnga border, along Highway 401. “Khao Sok Village” is the 2km stretch of road from Highway 401 to Park HQ. “Khlong Sok” is both the name of the river in the area as well at the administrative subdistrict (ตำบล คลองศก).

1 Khao Sok National Park HQ. Khao Sok National Park entrance. Hiking trails, camping, and visitor center. 2 Rajjaprabha Dam Pier (Cheow Lan Lake Pier). This is the boat pier to the floating rafthouses.

History The Royal Forest Department declared Khao Sok the 22nd national park of Thailand on 22 Dec 1980.

Landscape The park has a total area of 738 km2 (285 sq mi), which covers parts of the Khlong Yee and Khlong Pra Sang forests as well as portions of the Krai Son and the Khao Pung sub-districts in the district of Ban Ta Khun and the Khlong Sok and Panom sub–districts in the province of Surat Thani.

Flora and fauna

Climate

Getting there

By plane The closest airport is Surat Thani International Airport (URT). There are multiple flights daily from Bangkok (DMK IATA and BKK IATA) and Chiang Mai (CNX IATA).

1 Surat Thani International Airport (URT IATA), 73 Moo 3, Hua Toei, Phunphin district (64km east of Ratchaprapha Pier; 105km east of Khao Sok National Park HQ). Four airlines serve this airport. There are routes to Bangkok (both airports). Thai AirAsia also flies from Chiang Mai. (updated May 2025) Once you arrive in Surat Thani, there are buses or minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel. Only buy the tickets directly from operator you are using. There is a Tourism kiosk at the airport, but they sell bus, minivan, and ferry tickets at inflated prices.

3 Phantip Office - Surat Thani Airport Branch, Surat Thani International Airport (Ground Floor, beside exit), ☏ +66 77-272-230, +66 77-282-331, [email protected]. Surat Thani (Airport) – Ratchaprapha Dam (1.3 hrs, 250 baht) Surat Thani (Airport) – Khao Sok (2 hrs, 250 baht) Car rentals are also available at the airport. See the Surat Thani wikivoyage page for more information.

By train The closest major train station is the Surat Thani Railway Station in Phunphin district.

4 Surat Thani Railway Station (สถานีรถไฟสุราษฎร์ธานี), Phunphin District, Surat Thani. Once you arrive in Surat Thani, there are minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel.

5 Phantip Office - Surat Thani Train Station Branch, ☏ +66 77-272-230, +66 77-282-331, [email protected]. Surat Thani (Train Station) – Khao Sok (3 hrs, 200 baht) Surat Thani (Train Station) – Ratchaprapha Dam (3.3 hrs, 200 baht)

By bus From Surat Thani: Minibus service: departure every hour from 07:30 till 17:30 (but the last one can be cancelled).

6 Phantip Office - Suratthani Town Branch, 293/6-8 Talad Mai Road, Muang Surat Thani, ☏ +66 77-272-230, +66 77-282-331, [email protected]. Surat Thani (Town) – Ratchaprapha Dam (2 hrs, 250 baht) Surat Thani (Town) – Khao Sok (2.5 hrs,

Getting around

Walking is the primary mode of transportation, as the road to the park is 2 km and the farthest one can walk into the park is about 20 km. There are motorbike and bicycle rentals available near Park HQ if you want to explore the surrounding area.

See

Rafflesia Flower (The way to see it is not through the main entrance of the park. Go down to the intersection of the highway and the road to the park. From there, go right to km111 and on your right you will see a wooden ladder. Go up that and when you get to the first fork take a right. From there the little path crosses some streams and such so look hard if you can't find the trail again.). To see the Rafflesia flower you have to go when it is in bloom around late-Jan or early-Feb. This will take you most of the day if you start early (about 09:00), but you could be back in time to go to the temple with all the monkeys. If you find a tour group, just follow them until they get to a flower. The Englishman at the restaurant next to the park said, "you don't need a guide, but if you go by yourself it's not guaranteed that you will see the flower." Don't forget to buy a ticket before you go.

Inside Park HQ 1 Khao Sok National Park Visitor Center.

Western Track The Western Track is also known as Route 1: Bang Hua Rat Waterfall - Ton Kloi Waterfall Nature Trail or the Wide Trail. The route covers 9 km which visitors can walk on their own. The trail is usually closed past Wang Yao, yearly from 1 June - 14 December, due to the rainy season (ie. dangerous conditions). You may be able to hire a guide to go further.

Wing Hin Waterfall. 2 Bang Hua Rat Waterfall (นำ้ตก บางหัวแรด, Bang Hua Raed Waterfall). Popular for rafting activities, this waterfall with small rapids is 3km from the visitor center. Wang Yao (วังยาว). Bang Leiap Nam Waterfall (วังยาว). Closed yearly from 1 Jun - 14 Dec. Than Sawan Waterfall (น้ำตก ธารสวรรค์). Closed yearly from 1 Jun - 14 Dec. This waterfall rushes down over a sheer cliff, like a rainbow curve, into Khlong Sok. It is about 9 km from the Park's headquarters, or around 3 km from Tang Nam. Tang Nam. Closed yearly from 1 Jun - 14 Dec. Features separated parts of the mountain as a result of erosion by water, which has becom

Do

Tours can include tubing down the river, caving, kayaking, and zipline riding in the forest canopy. Many tours will include drinks, food, and/or basic accommodation. Ask your guide in advance about dietary concerns (vegetarian or in Thai, "jay", for example), if lunch is to be provided for you on the tour. Doing any 2-4 day tour in the national park will easily please any traveler. Your guesthouse or local tour company can easily help set you up. Choosing a tour that involves at least one night in a floating raft house in the national park lake is an unforgettable experience. Suggested itinerary Khao Sok 4 Days/3 Nights Day 1: Leave for the area around Khao Sok National Park headquarters in the morning from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, or Surat Thani. Visit the elephant camp and explore nature by canoeing down the Sok River. In the evening, enjoy the sounds of the rain forest. Day 2: Visit the jungle cave temple. Go hiking in the national park by yourself or by hiring a local guide. The trails inside the park are well marked and there are several waterfalls on the way. In Jan-Feb it's possible to find the world's biggest flower, the Rafflesia blossom. Day 3: Continue to Chiew Lan Lake about 70 km away and depart from the Rajjabrapa pier. On the way to the raft houses, sail amidst spectacular rock formations and make a detour for Guli