Khao Sok National Park (Guilin of Thailand)

Khao Sok National Park, an amazing place, is located in Surat Thani in Southern Thailand. It is covered by the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world and is a remnant of rainforest which is older and more diverse than the Amazon Rainforest. Covering an area of 739 sq km straddling Ban Ta Khun, Phanom and Khiriratniyom counties, the national park has 80% of mountainous areas with alternate earthen and huge limestone mountains shooting straight up in the air, deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, exciting caves, wild animals and much more. The forests are well known for their luxuriance and pure natural condition.

Khao Sok includes the Klong Phra Sang reservoir, dammed by the Ratchaprapha (Chiao Lan) dam. The park comprises the largest area of virgin forest in Southern Thailand. It is also called the Guilin of Thailand because of its landscape that looks much like the mist-shrouded peaks of Guilin in China.

Khao Sok has a wide variety of animals and some rare plant species including Kerriodoxa elegans and the world's biggest flower, Bua Phut or Rafflesia kerri. Besides, Palm Phra Rahu, or Maxburrettia furtadaona, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as one among the endangered plant species around the world, grows here as well. More than 155 species of birds are also found in the park. In the heart of Khao Sok is Ratchaprapha Reservoir with several islets ideal for trekking, canoeing, swimming, bird-watching and nature studying. A camping area and bungalows are available for visitors.

Recommended time: December-April

Khao Sok Attractions

Wang Yao, Bang Hua Raet and Wing Hin Waterfall
(3 km from the park office) Bang Hua Raet is a scenic two-leap waterfall. The first leap flows from the canal of the same name to meet the Sok Canal.

Wing Hin Waterfall runs to join it at the second leap. There is a pool for swimming called Wang Yao situated 40 metres above Bang Hua Raet Waterfall.

A must for visitors to the park is Tang Nam in the form of two cliffs facing each other with the Sok Canal running through them. (6 km from the park office or 3.2 km from Wing Hin Waterfall / on foot only).

Ton Kloi Waterfall
9 km from the park office. A single-leap waterfall whose water source is from the Sok Canal has natural stone fields for tourists to take a rest in.

Ton Sai Waterfall
A small waterfall, flowing from the Sok Canal is 2 km from Ton Kloi waterfall.

Than Sawan Waterfall
As the water falling from a sheer cliff, an impressive rainbow-shaped curve is formed. (3 km from Tang Nam)

11-leap Waterfall
With a pool for swimming, the water jumps down a cliff, making a perfect view of a set of 11 steps. (4 km from the park office / on foot only)

Mae Yai Waterfall
A single-leap waterfall with a height of 30 metres is located adjacent to Surat Thani-Takua Pa Highway at Km 113 (3 km from the park office).

Chiao Lan Reservoir
Chiao Lan or Ratchaprapha Reservoir is suitable for cruising to enjoy scenic views of mountains and islets.

Kaeng Kho Cave
Where many bats live, contains beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Nam Thalu Cave
Nam Thalu Cave that offers you a chance to see unique cave creatures. This cave trek takes about three hours to complete. The trail follows a lovely creek. It eventually reaches a large entrance to the cave system. The creek flows through the cave and you'll be in shallow water for a while, then deeper water. This is a very popular trek with day trippers from the river area of Khoa Sok.

Khao Sok Activities

Khao Sok is a fantastic place to go on vacation. Elephant trekking, trekking on foot, canoeing and jeep safaris are all possible activities, which will give you the experience of a lifetime. Khao Sok is perfectly situated on the mainland between Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Samui, the most popular destinations in southern Thailand.

Accommodations in Khao Sok

Accommodations are available at the park. There are also houses on rafts in the Ratchaprapha reservoir.
Tree houses are provided by private companies.
Camping is allowed at a fee of 30 baht per tent but tourists have to bring tents with them.

Getting to Khao Sok

From Surat Thani Town, go along Highway 401 (Surat Thani- Takua Pa Route). Turn right at Km 109 and go a further 1.5 km to reach the national park office.

Khao Sok National Park Photo Gallery