Last February, we decided to get away for the weekend in Khao Sok National Park. I had been putting off going due to the assumed backpacker atmosphere i.e. no air conditioning, local food, no luxurious hotels, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’m okay to rough it every once in a while, but when you live in the middle of impoverished villages, the last thing you want to do on your holiday is visit more underdeveloped areas.
I soon discovered why our friends continue to visit Khao Sok each year.
Getting There:
Khao Sok National Park is located in the Surat Thani province of southern Thailand.
Click here for Khao Sok Map
Plane, Train or Automobile:
There are various bus, train and flights available for Surat Thani. Tour agencies can arrange everything if you aren’t confident planning yourself.
The drive is about 2 ½ – 3 hours from Phuket International Airport to the Khao Sok National Park Dam.
No matter what means of transport you choose, you should head towards the Khao Sok National Park Dam, where you will be required to buy tickets and take a long tail boat to your accommodation.
Look for the Surat International Tours Co., Ltd signs. There are park entrance security guards that will give you a card to place in the car window. They did not charge us, although I have been told there is a fee for entering sometimes.
Once you have arrived at the Dam Pier, there is also an 80 Thai Baht fee for parking and you will be given another card to place in your window.
We unloaded the car at the pier before parking as the lot is far and on the other side of a steep hill. There is a small mini-mart at the pier, but I highly recommend packing your own cooler beforehand.
You buy your ticket at one stand. They required each person to fill out a form with your nationality and contact information. Not sure why…
After purchasing your ticket, you walk across the way and hand it to the guy sitting in the other booth. The process is kind of pointless, but that’s the system they have set up. Then, you’re ready to board your boat.
Ferry:
There are ferry options from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan as well.
Road Tripping Tips:
I recommend renting your own car depending on where you are coming from because the drive is beautiful. Road signage is pretty obvious because you take a main road, but ensure to look up the driving directions or have a GPS handy! Also, remember you will be driving through local villages and there may not be convenient food or bathroom breaks. I always pack a cooler when road tripping in Thailand and most gasoline stations offer toilets.
Where to Stay:
Khao Sok National Park is big and diverse in plants, animals and insects. Day and night safaris are offered if you are seeking wildlife and there are many other outdoor activities to choose from. Ensure you stay in an area that will allow you to do the activities you’re interested in.
We stayed at the Pleanprai Rafthouse . The bungalows are very basic and do not have toilets. At these particular bungalows, there are 2 communal toilets located on either side of the front desk.
The cost was 2,000 THB per person including all meals. We paid for everything in full upon check out. They offer a limited mini-mart with beer, water and snacks which are all chargeable to your tab. They also charge you per place of food consumed, so if they offer to bring more food during meals, make sure you actually want to food before agreeing – they charge you for it!
All meals were served family style and always included rice, a vegetable and 2 proteins (chicken and fish usually) and fruit.
The links below will give you an idea of the other accommodation available.
http://www.khaosok-tourism.com/khaosok-hotel.htm
http://www.khaosok-tourism.com/khaosok-rafthouse.htm
My Experience of Khao Sok:
The freshwater is crystal clear and perfectly calm for swimming. We brought tubes to float in, otherwise you have to wade water because it’s too deep to stand.
Our bungalows provided kayaks to use free of charge (except for 500 THB deposit for each paddle). Aside from an assortment of birds, we didn’t spot any wildlife on our kayaking adventure, but we certainly could HEAR the animals rummaging around.
We packed flashlights, but the bungalows provided lanterns to each room when the sun went down. It got extremely dark at night and walking over to the public bathrooms proved to be a challenge so we took to peeing in cups.
To my surprise there were no mosquitos anywhere so we slept comfortably with the windows open in the cool night air. At night time, the temperature dropped so I recommend packing a jacket or pants.
We packed 2 large coolers full of beers, liquor, mixers and snacks. Meals were at a set time and the kitchen was closed otherwise.
Other than drinking, swimming and kayaking there isn’t much to do floating in the middle of a lake.
It was lovely for 1 full day and night, but I would have gotten bored after more than 2 days. The best part is that you are essentially “trapped” at the floating bungalows. It’s extremely peaceful and relaxing.
Other helpful links:
Angela Killian 
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