Khao Sok Travel Guide: Located in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand, Khao Sok is neither a city nor an island, but one of the country's most famous and beautiful national parks. To give it the attention it deserves and to make your research easier, I've decided to list it as a destination in its own right, rather than just a day trip from Surat Thani. Often, when we think of Khao Sok, we mainly talk about Chiew Lan Lake (pronounced: Chi-ha-la) and its breathtaking scenery, which in places is reminiscent of Halong Bay in Vietnam. However, don't confuse the lake with what I call the "land entrance" to Khao Sok National Park (where buses and minivans from Surat Thani, Khao Lak, Phuket, or Krabi disembark). Both are quite a distance away. Access to the lake is via the Ratchaprapha Dam. The drive between the park's land entrance and the dam takes about an hour. I highly recommend the two-day excursion with an overnight stay in a floating hotel on the lake. It's often one of the most cherished memories travelers make during their stay in Thailand, and it's also one of my favorite tours. The scenery is simply magical! You can go directly to the floating hotels on the lake to organize the trip, but due to the language barrier, this isn't always easy. The most convenient option is to book the tour through the agency Khao Sok Lake Tour (guides and advice are in English). Of course, other agencies also offer this service. Alternatively, you can go to the park's land entrance and stay overnight there. Take advantage of this opportunity and book the two-day excursion with an overnight stay the following day at one of the agencies on the street or directly at your hotel. I recently heard that it costs 2500–3000 THB per person. The bungalows on the lake are simply furnished, without air conditioning or electricity (except for 2–3 hours per night), but you'll hardly find cheaper accommodation. The offerings are no longer as exceptional; it's increasingly becoming a tourist trap, but still acceptable if your budget doesn't allow for anything more. It's also worth noting that Khao Sok Lake has become very popular since recovering from the COVID pandemic, and it can get quite crowded in January/February and probably November as well. It's a place with a more tranquil, natural setting, especially if you opt for a group tour. Prices have also skyrocketed, particularly for overnight stays in floating hotels. Since these are guaranteed to be fully booked, some operators have significantly increased their prices, so despite the exceptional location, you might end up feeling like you're not getting good value for your money. Overall, disappointments are much more common than before. For me, staying overnight in a floating hotel on the lake is no longer a must-do. All the information you need about getting around Khao Sok can be found in our "Getting Around in Khao Sok" section.

Accommodation in Khao Sok: Most accommodation in Khao Sok is concentrated either near the small road leading to the land entrance of Khao Sok Park or spread across Chiew Lan Lake, where the floating hotels are located. The simplest floating hotels offer very basic bungalows with just a mattress on the floor and a small, basic bathroom. Electricity is only available for 2-3 hours per night. Therefore, there is naturally no air conditioning or even a fan (since there is no electricity), which is the case for most of the night. If you want more comfort, the prices increase significantly, but in either case, the location is fantastic! Where to stay in Khao Sok? Each area of ​​Khao Sok has its own charm: Find out which one best suits your budget and preferences, and weigh the pros and cons of each. Map. Check out our guide to the areas of Khao Sok. Find accommodation in Khao Sok. Choose a destination: Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories from 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // Prices not available in the city selection are retained ("All prices are now only available") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Khao Sok. Caligo Resort Hotel in Khao Sok, Ban Ta Khun (9.2/10) Book now More details Panvaree The Greenery Hotel in Khao Sok, Chiew Lan Lake (8.7/10) Book now More details Our Jungle Camp - Eco Resort Hotel in Khao Sok, Khao Sok Park Land Entrance (8.7/10) Book now More details Our Jungle House Hotel in Khao Sok, Khao Sok Park Land Entrance (8.6/10) Book now More details The Laguna Chiewlarn Hotel in Khao Sok, Chiew Lan Lake (8.0/10) More details Khao Sok Country Resort Hotel in Khao Sok, Khao Sok Park Land Entrance (8.2/10) Book now More details arrow_circle_right View all accommodations in Khao Sok

Practical information about Khao Sok: It's generally recommended to book a guided tour for visiting Khao Sok Lake rather than going to the dam on your own and renting a private longtail boat. A simple lake tour is significantly more expensive than a comprehensive tour that includes hikes, cave visits, and other activities. As mentioned earlier, staying overnight in the floating hotels on Khao Sok Lake is a highly recommended experience, even though it's not particularly expensive at the moment. There's an all-inclusive package for groups starting at 2,500 THB (according to current information, this includes the most basic floating bungalows). Due to the large group sizes, shared rooms (three people per room), and often noisy nights, this package is geared more towards backpackers. The latter isn't necessarily due to a lack of air conditioning, but rather because the participants tend to party at night. Nevertheless, the varied program offers good value for money. So, if you don't have the budget for a private two-day trip with an overnight stay on Khao Sok Lake, take a look at the offers from Smiley Bungalows. I booked this package on my first visit to Khao Sok Lake and it was good, although a private tour is of course even nicer!

How do you get to Khao Sok? If you are traveling to Khao Sok from Surat Thani, Phuket, or Krabi by public transport or minibus, you will reach the road leading to the land entrance of Khao Sok National Park. The minibus stop is located there. Buses between Surat Thani and Phuket, which also travel via Khao Lak and Takuapa, stop there, as do minibuses from Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Khao Lak, and Krabi. Buses from Phuket depart from Bus Station 2. If you wish to visit the lake and do not want to spend at least one night near the land entrance (approximately a one-hour drive), but instead prefer to stay in a hotel near the dam, you will need to arrange your transfer through your hotel or an agency like the one mentioned above. This is the only way to get directly to the Ratchaprapha Dam, which is not accessible by public transport. If you'd like to stay overnight in a floating hotel on Chiew Lan Lake, a two-day or one-day excursion is recommended instead of driving to the dam on your own and renting a longtail boat. It's cheaper. The closest airport to Khao Sok is Surat Thani Airport. There are numerous flights from Bangkok, as well as direct flights from Chiang Mai with Air Asia. Surat Thani Railway Station is also the closest, though it's about 20 kilometers outside the city. One of the most popular ways to get to Khao Sok from Bangkok is to take the overnight train to Surat Thani and then a minibus from the parking lot to the left of the station (see here or further down this page). [arrow_circle_right] View all ways to get to Khao Sok

My selection of tours & activities in Khao Sok: 2 days / 1 night: Impressive mountain temple, natural pool and Chiew Larn Lake (Instructional language: English) Discover the highlights of Khao Sok in just 2 days! Start with one of Thailand's most beautiful mountain temples, then relax in a natural pool with crystal-clear water and spend the night near Khao Sok Lake, which you will explore the next day. Details & booking More tours & activities in Khao Sok

How do you get from A to B in Khao Sok? To get around in Khao Sok, besides renting a scooter while adhering to the rules for legally driving a scooter in Thailand (motorcycle license + international driving permit), you are very dependent on the hotels, as there are no taxis or tuk-tuks.

How do you ask for directions to Khao Sok in Thai? I want to go to Khao Sok / Yak pai thi Khao Sok. Where is Khao Sok? / Khao Sok yu thi nai?