Khao Sok -
Jungle from prehistoric times
This mountainous national park is covered by the world’s oldest (around 160 million years old) evergreen tropical rainforest. A longtail boat ride deep into the national park across the vast reservoir offers breathtaking scenery!
Khao Sok -
A jungle story
This vast area of evergreen tropical rainforest survived poaching and destruction from both legal and illegal logging of tropical hardwoods, partly thanks to its long inaccessibility (the Surat Thani–Takua Pa road was not built until 1961). Another reason was the communist students who retreated into this jungle from 1975 to 1982.
Because they waged their armed struggle from here, neither poachers nor illegal loggers dared enter the region. While the uprising was still underway, Khao Sok was declared a national park in 1980. After the fighting ended in 1982, a dam was built to secure the water supply for southern Thailand from a vast reservoir.
A great documentary about Khao Sok!
Getting there by car
From Phuket Airport 143 km approx. 3 hrs.
From Khao Lak 87 km approx. 2.5 hours
From Surat Thani 109 km approx. 2.5 hrs.
Pick-up service from tour operators
Full three-day tours at the luxury Elephant Camp or Rainforest Camp are available for around €650. But there are other packages at Khaosok.com.
-----------------------------
For a more authentic stay that still meets good standards, look for accommodation in so-called raft houses here on Trivago.
Jungle tour - what to keep in mind
This is a photo from my first tour with a guide I hired. Don’t do what he does! You must wear long pants! And sturdy shoes with good grip!! So no flip-flops or sneakers. Especially during the rainy season, leeches love to take advantage of any gap in your clothing to get to your skin ;) Most importantly: many people find them disgusting, but they don’t transmit any diseases (unlike ticks!). I use so-called leech socks, which you can tie tightly to keep your feet safe!
A jungle experience—a world of its own
EVERY jungle tour is a unique experience! If you’re prepared to accept the following:
1. The jungle is not a zoo! You can’t book a guaranteed sighting of any particular animal. I’ve seen 18 elephants on a night safari shortly after arriving at a national park. Others who had spent two days in the park hadn’t seen a single elephant.
2. Our forests are mostly monocultures. You can touch pretty much everything here. In the jungle, some plants can cause a burning sensation on your skin for days if they come into contact with water. Listen to your guide and don’t hesitate to ask questions!
3. The animals in the jungle are shy!! There’s nothing worse than groups talking loudly on a tour and then complaining that they didn’t see anything. QUIET!
4. It’s not just elephants and tigers that are amazing. There’s so much beauty to discover. Take a moment to stop and look around! Your guide will point out animals and plants you might otherwise miss. At first, the jungle is just a green wall to us!
Where to Stay in Khao Sok
There are basically two types of accommodation. One is the so-called raft houses on the reservoir. They’re only accessible by boat and offer a truly unique experience.
They have since been modernized and meet high standards.
Staying here is far more impressive than staying in a hotel somewhere on the shore. Especially if you get up early, while the morning mist hangs over the lake and the surrounding jungle comes to life.
On the other hand, there are places to stay near the national park headquarters on the Khao Sok River. From here, you can explore easy trails on your own—or, even better, with a good guide. That also opens up more challenging trails! There are also good hotels in the surrounding area.
Khao Sok Trails
Some visitors come from Khao Lak, Phuket or Surat Thani for a day trip to the breathtaking mountain scenery of Khao Sok. Of course, that’s a good way to get at least a taste of it. But I strongly recommend making time for at least one night. The sounds and atmosphere of the jungle after sunset and at dawn will stay with you forever!
Trails for every taste
Khao Sok offers a wide range of trails, from family day trips to multi-day jungle treks for experienced hikers. This excellent map from Khao Sok Centre Tours gives you a good overview.
The tours around the national park headquarters are a little easier. From the lake, there are fewer marked trails (apart from the cave). But the wildlife here is less disturbed, so it’s easier to spot many jungle animals!