The Khao Sok National Park is an area of 739 km² in southern Thailand. The park includes a drier monsoon forest in the north and the evergreen rainforest used for tourism in the south. In this you can essentially see the deciduous trees that are typical there, which can probably be up to 60 m high, ferns, lianas and bamboo. The foliage of the tree canopy still lets in enough light. From time to time animals can be observed in the forest, for example monkeys, pheasants, geckos, deer and snakes. Tigers, bears and tapirs are very rare because they avoid being near people. You have a better chance of seeing such animals on the paths that branch off from the main paths and can actually be booked with guides. The 162 km² large area is an important part of the park Chiao Lan Reservoir. There are numerous spartan to superbly furnished floating quarters. Especially here you can enjoy nature, which is quiet during the day and filled with animal noises at night. In the north-west of the lake is the Khlong Saeng wildlife sanctuary, which is probably not developed for tourists.
background
language
getting there
The most touristically developed and most easily accessible parts of the national park are the Ratchaprapha dam and the village at the main entrance to the national park. Other parts of the national park can practically only be reached by private transport.
By plane
NokAir offers combined flight and bus tickets from Bangkok-Don Mueang (DMK) via Surat Thani Airport to the Ratchaprapha Dam. You fly for an hour, have 45 minutes to change trains and then take the bus for another two hours (a total of just under four hours). The normal price is 3350 THB per person and direction, saver prices are available from 1750 THB. Further south, the airports in Phuket and Krabi can be used.
By train
The closest train station is in Surat Thani. From there it is about 1½ hours by bus or minivan to the national park.
By bus or taxi
From Surat Thani
From Surat Thani there are minivans to the Ratchaprapha Dam approximately every hour (depending on when enough passengers come together). They leave from Talat Kaset 2, take about 1½ hours and cost 200 baht per person.
From Phuket
The 465 buses (Phuket – Khao Lak – Takua Pa – Surat Thani and back) run nine times a day in each direction on the national road 401 through the southern part of the national park, where you can get off if you wish. Departure from Phuket 5:30, 6:40, 8:20, 9:40, 10:40, 11:40, 13:00, 14:00 and 16:00; from Phuket 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 8:20, 9:30, 11:00, 12:20, 13:00 and 15:00. Fare approx. 150 to 200 baht, depending on whether the bus is air-conditioned or whether it is a minibus. Travel time max. 5 hours.
From the airport in Phuket
Minibuses and taxis can be ordered at a cost of 2500 to 3200 Baht. Booking them on site is also quite easy at one of the 3 to 4 taxi stands. Travel time 2.5 hours. Unfortunately, the 465 bus does not stop here.
From Krabi
A company minibus drives every day Pichet (Line 444) from Krabi above Phang-nga and Khao Lak in the national park. The departure from the Old Market (Talat Kao) in Krabi is 11:30 AM. Driving time 3.5 hours with a distance of 150 km. 300 baht per person. With the taxi it is faster due to the direct connection, approx. 2.5 hours, but costs a total of 3000, -... 3200, - baht.
From Khao Lak
Of Khao Lak about 2½ hours are needed.
From Bangkok
From Bangkok you can take buses from the southern bus station Sai Tai Use direction Phang-nga, which stop at the junction to the Ratchaprapha Dam. It takes about 10 hours to drive from Bangkok.
mobility
The preferred modes of transport are taxis and chartered minibuses.
Tourist Attractions
- caves
- 1 Namtalu cave. The cave is near the Rachabrapha Dam, it can only be reached by boat. A 500 meter long river leads past bizarre stone formations and stalactites. It is also a home for numerous bats.
- Khang Khao Cave (Khang Cow Cave). Numerous bats live here too. The cave is about 1.7 km long and has many stalagmites and stalactites.
- Other caves: Coral Cave, Diamond Cave, Si Ru Cave
- 2 Fishcave. The name of the cave may have its origin from the numerous fish living in the water right in front of this cave.
- Waterfalls and rapids
The waterfalls in the park generally only overcome a height difference of a few meters or are just rapids.
- 3 Sip et Chang ("Eleven steps"), approx. 4 km from the park entrance, local youths jump down here from time to time,
- 4 Bang-Hua-Raet, maybe 50 m long rapids, about 3 km from the park entrance
- 5 Wing Hin, just a rapids
- 6 Wang Yao pool, Rapids
- 7 Cascades
- 8 Bang Liab Nam waterfall
- Tharn Sawan Waterfall
- Ton Kloi (Tan Gloy) waterfall, about 9 km from the park entrance, more wide than high.
- plants
- One grows in the park Rafflesia-Art. Rafflesia are the largest flowers in the world. An estimated 10 to 20 flowers are formed in the national park per season, which lasts until February. The flowering time of a plant lasts about a week. It can happen that a flower cannot always be found, even during the season. In any case, guided tours are to be taken, because in the past a large part of the plants, which could not be seen by the untrained eye, were trodden down by wild visitors. The tours are registered with the park administration. They cost around 2000 Baht. The ascent can be very strenuous for some people, drinking water should not be forgotten (however, the guides also take care of this).
- 9 Big tree
- More Attractions
- Lum Khlong Sok rapids, which can be ridden in rubber dinghies, near the Bang Hua Raet waterfall
- 10 Tam Nang pond, approx. 6 km from the park entrance
- 11 3 rocks "3 brothers"
activities
- Jungle hike. The official routes into the forest are only short. A guide is required to get further into the forest. This costs 1,000 Baht per person.
- Short visit to the national park. The entrance fee is 300 baht for foreigners, 100 baht for students and 40 baht for Thais each time. At the entrance there is a 1 Visitor center, with some already yellowed photographs. The path through the forest is initially a relatively wide, winding and hilly path. The first river attraction comes after approx. 3 km. There you have to branch off 200 m from the main path and then you will see the Bang-Hua-Raet rapids. After a further 300 m on the main path you come to the small Wing Hin rapids. Then the path becomes narrow, rocky and steep.
- From 4:00 p.m. the animal world becomes more active, so that the different calls of birds and other animals (monkeys) can be experienced up close.
- Multi-day visit. The prices for a 3-day trip range between approx. 8,000 and 20,000 Bath
- Canoe or kayak tours on Cheow Larn Lake.
- Canoe or kayak tours on the Sok River. A tour runs about 3 km past the Fishcave, on imposing steep high cliffs. You cannot paddle yourself, there is a maximum of 2 fellow travelers and a Thai paddler per boat. With a bit of luck, a snake can be seen on a tree, a larger lizard and frogs on the bank. The schools of fish at the Fishcave offer an interesting spectacle.
- Ride an inflatable boat through the Lum Khlong Sok rapids (near the Bang Hua Raet waterfall)
- Boat trips with motor ships, the harbor for the boats is at the dam.
- Elephant rides.
- Elephant care. This can be a more lasting experience than riding an elephant. For example at the Rainforest Camp.
trips
Regional organizers offer excursions to the Khao Sok National Park.
- 2 Khao Lak Land Discovery, 21/5 Moo 7 Phetkasem Road, Khao Lak, Khu Khak, Takua Pa, Phang-nga. 82220 Thailand. Tel.: 66(0) 764 854 11, Email: [email protected].
Tips and hints
The wettest months are from May to November. In the rainy months, you should bring rainproof clothing, including a rainproof backpack and shoes. The ground is loamy, so things get dirty easily. In the rainy season, leeches can become a minor problem.
The best time to visit Khao Sok National Park is from December to April. It is less humid here, there are few or no mosquitoes during the day, the Rafflaesia only blooms during this time (until February).
If you want to see animals, use the early morning hours or late evening hours. During this time the monkeys and other animals are active because they are here looking for food.
security
When it rains, the Nam Talu Cave is not to be visited. Take enough water with you on longer hikes through the rainforest. There are several types of nettles in the rainforest.
kitchen
On the organized tours, it is inevitable to end up in bulk processing. The level of the food is then sometimes correspondingly lower.
nightlife
There are no party locations. However, anyone who understands nightlife, for example, to explore nocturnal creatures, is well served.
accommodation
- at sea
- 1 Rainforest Camp. floating tent platforms in the tranquility of nature.
- Baan Khao Sok Resort, also has tree houses.
- 4 Saichon Rafthouse
- 5 Smiley Lake House
- 6 Tree Tops Rafthouse
- 7 Kee Ree Warin Rafthouse
- 9 Tone Toey Rafthouse
- Krai Son Rafthouse, beautifully located
- not at the lake
Many quarters advertise with so-called tree houses. However, these are not built in or on trees, but stand on concrete pillars, which are modeled on tree trunks. Nevertheless, living in such a bungalow can be an experience because of the special equipment and elevated location. Even if you are not in the middle of the rainforest, you can at least hear the calls of the birds from a distance, or up close the special sounds of the frogs living there.
- 10 Our jungle house
- 11 Khao Sok Floating Bungalows. Tel.: 66 (0)85 7863810, Email: [email protected]. Price: THB 2,500-10,000.
- Arts Riverview, close to the river, where you can bathe immediately. European toilets and a cold shower waterfall in your own washroom. The stone shelves in the bathroom have already broken off, so the utensils have to be on the floor. There are no closets, just a chair and few electrical outlets. WiFi only in the reception area. Friendly helpful staff. Restaurant with delicious food.
