Khao Sok National Park - One of Thailand's most beautiful places

Discover the Hidden Gem of Thailand: Khao Sok National Park

One of the greatest and most underrated experiences in Thailand is exploring Khao Sok National Park. As you step into this breathtaking region, one question will inevitably come to mind: Why aren’t more people here, and why isn’t this area world-famous?

The answer might remain a mystery, but one thing is certain—Khao Sok is a treasure worth discovering. Its lush rainforests, towering limestone cliffs, and emerald lakes create a surreal escape that feels like stepping into another world.

At the risk of revealing a well-kept secret, here’s our advice: Don’t skip Khao Sok if your travels take you south in Thailand. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or an unforgettable connection with nature, this incredible destination will leave you in awe.

For many travelers, Khao Sok is located almost perfectly. If the trip starts in Bangkok and you are taking the night train down to Koh Samui, Koh Phangnan and Koh Tao, you simply get off the train in the morning in the city of Surat Thani. From here you will be driven to Khao Sok, then to the ferry and off to paradise.

Where to Stay in Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok is home to unique and eco-conscious accommodations that allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the rainforest and its serene surroundings. Here are our top recommendations:

Anurak Community Lodge:
This award-winning eco-lodge is a haven for environmentally conscious travelers. Located on the edge of the national park, Anurak blends comfort with sustainability, offering stylish bungalows that harmonize with their natural surroundings. The lodge emphasizes eco-friendly practices, such as no single-use plastics, solar energy, and community involvement. Guests can enjoy guided nature walks, cycling tours, and kayaking, making it an excellent choice for adventurers who want to give back to the environment.
Our Jungle House:
For those looking for a more rustic yet enchanting stay, Our Jungle House is the perfect escape. The property offers treehouses and riverside bungalows that provide a close connection to nature. Wake up to the sounds of wildlife and the flowing Sok River, and enjoy activities like jungle treks, tubing, and wildlife spotting, all while supporting sustainable tourism.

Whether you’re looking for eco-friendly lodgings, rustic charm, or floating luxury, these accommodations provide an unforgettable stay in the heart of Khao Sok National Park.

Khao Sok offers a variety of unique and eco-friendly accommodations that bring you closer to nature:

At times there is an inferno of sounds from cicadas, geckos and birds. They are pleasant natural sounds filling the jungle. Every now and then, green flashing lights are flying around the terrace. It is fireflies completing the experience.

All wooden houses are of course equipped with a mosquito net preventing unpleasant surprises during the night. They may not be the best and softest mattresses, but they are probably the only thing not perfect about the place. The wooden houses are equipped with a fan. They are clean and neat and the houses are far apart, so you get the sense of being more or less alone.

A beer on the terrace in the evening accompanied with the sounds of the night is a special experience. You can also get a drink at the bar located as an extension to the restaurant of Our Jungle Resort. An excellent restaurant by the way. Especially breakfast is good as it differs from other places in Thailand by having really good bread and good coffee.

Khao Sok and the Lake:
Our Jungle House is reason enough to go to Khao Sok, but the highlights are the Lake and the rocks. It is a 90-minute semi-dull drive to the lake at Khao Sok, but the reward is great. A dam was built to redirect the water from the rivers and the result was a huge lake area spreading out over the national park. This national park holds the oldest rainforest in the world.
On the way out on a long-tailed boat, the great rock formations are approaching. During half an hour, one stunning postcard scene replaces another. It is as if 500 mountains and rocks were once sprinkled over the lake in an elegant chaos of disorganized beauty.

500 Rai Floating Resort:
Located on the stunning Cheow Lan Lake, 500 Rai Floating Resort offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This luxurious resort is made up of floating villas that blend modern comforts with unparalleled views of the emerald lake and limestone cliffs. Guests can take part in guided lake tours, wildlife safaris, and kayaking, or simply relax on their private deck with the tranquil waters below. Perfect for honeymooners or anyone seeking an extraordinary adventure, 500 Rai is a destination in itself.

There are fantastic wooded limestone cliffs with some places eroded so you can sail through. Breathtaking mountain formations rise majestically and almost frightening peacefulness covers the area. Khao Sok is maybe a bit similar to Halong Bay in Vietnam – some would say more beautiful. The Khao Sok Lake is alluring. When sitting in the long-tail boat you get the urge to go out in a canoe, to allow yourself to drift closer to the rocks.

There are plenty of opportunities for getting closer, especially with an overnight stay at the lake, which fortunately has chosen not to be commercialized. One could easily imagine one luxury hotel after another. Instead, the only option is a primitive bamboo hut with a mattress and a mosquito net. But with these surroundings, it is good enough. Go for a swim or take a kayak and find your own private paradise on the lake. You can have it all to yourself with only a monkey up in a tree, an eagle circling around the rocks and shoaling fish trying not to get caught by the bigger fish in the lake.

Khao Sok has it all and a bit more. It is one of the experiences from Thailand that will be refreshed many times after returning home. Contact us for further information.