Khao Sok: All Your Questions Answered
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This list gathers the questions from our guides, with the answer exactly as it appears on the page and a link to the full guide.
85 questions
In Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. The village of Khao Sok is on Route 401 between Surat Thani and Takua Pa, and the park entrance is at kilometre 109.
From: HomeRead the full guide
Foreigners paid 300 THB (adult) and 150 THB (child) in September 2026, for a ticket valid 24 hours. The lake is a separate zone with its own fees. Confirm the price on arrival.
From: HomeRead the full guide
The dry season, from January to March or April, is the easiest for trails. The rainy season runs from late April to early December, and the quietest months are May, June, September and October.
From: HomeRead the full guide
By road: about 1 h 45 to 2 h 30 by minivan from Surat Thani, 2 h 30 to 3 h 30 from Krabi and 4 to 5 hours by shared minivan from Phuket.
From: HomeRead the full guide
Yes, on a day boat trip. The lake has its own entrance, roughly 65–67 km from the village, so plan it apart from a forest walk.
From: HomeRead the full guide
Only the first stretch of trail, up to the Bang Hua Raet waterfall about 3 km from the headquarters, can be walked alone. Long hikes, night safaris and caves need a guide.
From: HomeRead the full guide
In September 2026, foreigners paid 300 THB for an adult and 150 THB for a child, on a ticket valid for 24 hours, in cash. Thai nationals pay 40 THB (adult) and 20 THB (child). Confirm at the ticket office, as fees can change.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
No. The lake is a separate fee zone with its own entrance, roughly 65–67 km from the land zone by road. At the lake pier you pay a new entrance fee plus a small cleaning charge of about 40 THB per person.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
Published hours are roughly 8:00 to 17:00 all year, but they vary by zone and season and the park does not give one reliable timetable. One source lists 16:30 as closing time. Check locally.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
Not for the first stretch of trail, up to the Bang Hua Raet waterfall (about 3 km from the headquarters). Beyond it, and for all longer hikes, night safaris and cave visits, a guide is required.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
January to March or April is the driest and best for trails. May, June, September and October are the quietest and cheapest months, but rain can close caves such as Nam Talu.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
It is never guaranteed. Animals are hard to spot under the canopy, and the Rafflesia kerrii blooms unpredictably, mostly from January to March or April.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
About 145 km from Surat Thani (1 h 45 to 2 h 30 by minivan), about 160 km from Krabi (2 h 30 to 3 h 30) and 4 to 5 hours from Phuket by shared minivan.
From: Khao Sok National ParkRead the full guide
For a visitor who walks with a guide and follows the park's closures, the main risks are everyday ones: leeches, insect bites, heat, slippery trails and heavy rain. The serious risk is water in the caves during rain, which is why some caves close and others are off limits when rain is forecast.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
Leeches are a normal part of walking in a wet rainforest, especially in the rainy season. Long trousers, closed shoes and regular checks keep most encounters harmless.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
The park reference lists Asian elephants and Asiatic black bears among the animals of Khao Sok, but wildlife is hard to see under the canopy and no sighting is guaranteed. We cannot promise one, and we would be wary of any tour that does.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
Yes for anything beyond the first part of the trail: long hikes, night safaris and caves require a guide. See the park guide for the details.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
Nam Talu is closed in the rainy season because of the risk of sudden rising water. Bang Hman needs a guide and is off limits if rain is forecast. Confirm the current status with the park or your guide.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
We have no source on water quality or currents, so we cannot say where swimming is safe. Swim where the raft-house staff say it is fine, wear the life jacket they give you and never swim alone or after dark.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
We do not give health advice. Ask a doctor or a travel-medicine service, and check your government's travel-health page for Thailand.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
191 is the general emergency line, 1155 the tourist police (English, 24 hours), 1669 the medical emergency and ambulance number, and 1672 the tourist assistance centre of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Signal is weak on the Khao Sok trails and on the lake, so keep the numbers saved offline.
From: Is Khao Sok safe?Read the full guide
About 165 km² of water with more than 100 islands. Other sources give about 185 km² for the whole reservoir, which was created by the Ratchaprapha Dam in 1987.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
No. The lake is a separate fee zone with its own entrance. You pay a new entrance fee at the pier plus a cleaning charge of about 40 THB per person.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
The official park rate for renting a long-tail boat from the pier starts at 1,800 THB, for the boat. The final price depends on the route and the operator.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
The lake entrance is roughly 65–67 km by road from the village, so it is a separate outing rather than a walk.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
A day trip is simpler and keeps your accommodation on land. An overnight stay adds a night on a raft house. Both are covered in our floating bungalows guide.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
It is not guaranteed. The wildlife of Khao Sok is mostly in the forest, under the canopy, and is hard to see. Treat sightings as a bonus.
From: Cheow Lan LakeRead the full guide
They are raft houses moored on Cheow Lan Lake, inside Khao Sok National Park, where you can sleep on the water. They range from simple rafts to higher-end raft resorts with individual bungalows.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
It depends on the operator, the season and what the package includes, so we do not publish a rate. Budget rafts sit at the low end ($) and comfort and luxury rafts at the high end ($$$ to $$$$). Check the live price on the offer you choose.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
It depends on the type. Budget raft houses usually have shared bathrooms. Comfort and luxury rafts usually offer a private bathroom and sometimes air conditioning.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
Budget raft houses are usually sold as a package of night, meals and boat. Always check the inclusions of the specific offer, including the lake entrance fee.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
It varies by offer. The lake is a separate park zone with a new entrance fee at the pier, plus a pier cleaning charge of about 40 THB per person. Ask before you book.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
No. The resort presents itself as a place to disconnect: there is no Wi-Fi and no mobile network on site, and it does not allow pets or outside food.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
They are two zones of the same operator. The Greenery is the newer, eco-designed one, with Superior rooms and a Family House, packages of stay, meals and boat, and a limit of 30 to 35 guests a day. Panvaree Resort is the original zone with bungalows and a floating restaurant.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
No air conditioning: the bamboo bungalows are fan-cooled. Electricity runs from 18:00 to 07:00, and bathrooms are shared depending on the package.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
Smiley Lake House and Praiwan Raft House are the budget end of the comparison. Their packages differ, so compare what each includes rather than the headline price.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
Yes: the tours above include a private option over two days and one night on the lake.
From: Floating bungalowsRead the full guide
For a first visit, the village for the forest side, plus one night on the lake for the water side. The village suits walkers and budget travellers, the lake suits anyone who wants to sleep on the water.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
No. You can see the lake on a day boat trip and sleep in the village or on the coast. The lake entrance is roughly 65 to 67 km by road from the village.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
Guesthouses, bungalows on the river and jungle resorts, from budget ($) to upper-mid range ($$$).
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
Budget raft houses such as Smiley Lake House sit at the $ level: mattress, shared bathrooms and a package with night, meals and boat. Check the current offer.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
It presents itself as the original treehouse resort of Khao Sok, at the edge of the jungle and away from the noisy part of the village, and it runs a conservation project that receives part of its profits, according to its own website.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
Around the park you will find guesthouses, riverside bungalows, treehouse resorts in the village and raft houses on Cheow Lan Lake, all described above. Check each property's own page for its exact location.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
Yes, many excursions leave from Khao Lak. Check the journey time for your specific tour, since it varies.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
It depends on the zone, the season and the operator. This guide gives price levels ($ to $$$$), not rates. Compare live prices for your dates.
From: Where to stayRead the full guide
By shared minivan in 4 to 5 hours, or by private transfer, which is the most comfortable option. Tours from Phuket that include Khao Sok are also listed on the tours page.
From: Getting thereRead the full guide
About 145 km, or 1 h 45 to 2 h 30 by minivan. Sources quote 370 THB per person from the Phantip office in the city and 400 THB from the airport.
From: Getting thereRead the full guide
The distance is about 160 km and the trip takes 2 h 30 to 3 h 30 by minivan or taxi. A shared bus or minivan costs roughly 320 to 450 THB per person.
From: Getting thereRead the full guide
Yes. By road it is about 780 km and 8 to 10 hours, or you can take the train to Surat Thani (Phun Phin station) and continue by bus or minivan.
From: Getting thereRead the full guide
No. The lake has its own entrance, roughly 65–67 km from the village by road, and its own fees. See the lake guide.
From: Getting thereRead the full guide
For walking, January to March or April, in the dry season. For fewer people and lower prices, May, June, September and October, with the caveat that some caves close in the rain.
From: Best time to visitRead the full guide
Our sources give no daily pattern. They say the rainy season runs from late April to early December, with the heaviest rain from May to October. Ask your operator about current conditions.
From: Best time to visitRead the full guide
Averages run between 22 and 36 °C all year. Monthly highs from January to September range from 30 to 33 °C, and lows from 22 to 24 °C.
From: Best time to visitRead the full guide
Our sources report no seasonal closure of the lake, but conditions vary. Confirm with your tour operator, and see the lake guide.
From: Best time to visitRead the full guide
Blooming is random, mostly from January to March or April, and it is never guaranteed.
From: Best time to visitRead the full guide
Walk the forest trails, take a boat trip on Cheow Lan Lake, sleep in a floating bungalow, join a guided night safari and visit caves with a guide.
From: Things to doRead the full guide
Only the first stretch, up to the Bang Hua Raet waterfall about 3 km from the headquarters, can be walked without one. Longer hikes, night safaris and caves need a guide.
From: Things to doRead the full guide
Maybe, but no tour can promise it. Animals are hard to see under the canopy, so treat any sighting as a bonus.
From: Things to doRead the full guide
Sometimes. It blooms at random, mostly from January to March or April, and is never guaranteed. Ask a guide whether a bloom is known.
From: Things to doRead the full guide
The lake is what most photos of Khao Sok show. It is a separate zone with its own entrance and costs; see the lake guide before deciding between a day and a night.
From: Things to doRead the full guide
Two days and one night: travel to the dam, take the boat to a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, sleep on the water and return the next morning. It is the most booked format.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
Two days and one night is enough to see the lake in the morning and evening light. Three days let you add the forest and a guided night safari on the land side.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
Yes, as a boat trip on the lake or a visit to the land side. The two entrances are about 65 to 67 km apart by road, so one day does not cover both.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
It depends on the raft and the package. For example, Praiwan Raft House lists boarding between 11:30 and 12:30. Confirm the meeting time and the return time with your operator.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
Usually the night, the meals and the boat. The lake entrance fee and the pier charge of about 40 THB per person can be extra. Read the inclusions of the specific tour.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
It varies. 500 Rai Floating Resort has no Wi-Fi and no mobile network; Praiwan Raft House has electricity from 18:00 to 07:00. Bring a torch and a power bank.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
Nothing is guaranteed: wildlife is hard to see under the canopy. Treat the safari as a chance, not a promise.
From: ItineraryRead the full guide
It can be, from the village or from Surat Thani, but the lake and the land side are separate visits about 65 to 67 km apart. A single day covers one of them well. From Phuket, a day trip is a lot of driving.
From: Is Khao Sok worth visiting?Read the full guide
Yes if you want fewer people and green scenery, no if you need every cave and trail. Nam Talu cave is closed in the rainy season, and Bang Hman is off limits if rain is forecast. See the best time to visit.
From: Is Khao Sok worth visiting?Read the full guide
We do not publish park ratings, because we have no source for them. Tour reviews are shown live on each GetYourGuide listing, linked from the tours page.
From: Is Khao Sok worth visiting?Read the full guide
For the lake at dawn, yes: it is the most distinctive part of the visit. Prices vary by raft and season, so we give none here. See the floating bungalows guide.
From: Is Khao Sok worth visiting?Read the full guide
Possibly, but no sighting is guaranteed. Our sources note that wildlife is hard to see under the canopy, so treat any animal as a bonus. See is Khao Sok safe? for what else to expect on the trail.
From: Is Khao Sok worth visiting?Read the full guide
Yes. There is no account and nothing to pay: the plan is built in your browser.
From: Trip PlannerRead the full guide
Yes. Use the copy-link button: your days, pace and interests are saved in the address.
From: Trip PlannerRead the full guide
Yes. Each tour is a listing on GetYourGuide, the same ones as on the tours page. Prices and dates are on the live listing, so check them before you book.
From: Trip PlannerRead the full guide
It depends on how long you have. For one day, a full-day boat trip on Cheow Lan Lake is the usual choice. For two days, an overnight raft-house tour adds the lake at dawn. See the lake guide before you choose.
From: ToursRead the full guide
Yes. Day tours and private long-tail boat trips exist, and the pier is a separate entrance from the village. Tours that start from Phuket also include the lake.
From: ToursRead the full guide
The listings we chose are titled as ethical care visits and an experience with a workshop. We have not visited them, so read each listing and its reviews on GetYourGuide before booking.
From: ToursRead the full guide
The dry season, from January to March or April, is the easiest for trails. The quietest months are May, June, September and October. Details are in the seasonal guide.
From: ToursRead the full guide
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From: Editorial standardsRead the full guide
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