
Destination guide
Khao Sok
Thailand
Khao Sok National Park (pronounced "cow soak") is a jungle reserve in Southern Thailand. It is one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Thailand.
AI insights
Local-ledAI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and mostly LOCAL creators' videos on this page
Plan your jungle camping expeditions exclusively between December and April, as this is the only window when these trips are permitted; you must secure an English-speaking guide and a park ranger through your accommodation to participate.
If you are searching for the Rafflesia flower, schedule your visit for late January or early February; while you can attempt the trek solo, hiring a local guide significantly increases your chances of locating a blooming specimen compared to searching on your own.
Base yourself at resorts that provide mountain bike rentals or shuttle services, as these are the most efficient ways to travel between the town, your accommodation, and the park headquarters, given that the park's 20km trail system is for deep-jungle trekking rather than local transit.
When visiting the waterfalls along the Khlong Sok, plan for a full-day commitment if you intend to visit both Tang Nam and Than Sawan; while they are within 3km of each other, they are located 6km to 9km from the park headquarters, requiring significant trekking through jungle terrain.
Seek out river-facing restaurants and bungalows to enjoy Thai cuisine and cocktails with a view of the limestone cliffs; many of these owners are local experts who provide the most reliable information for booking lake and jungle tours.
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Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
Best time to go
Best window:
March, May, July, August, September and October are the months to avoid — punishing heat and very heavy rain. No month here is easy — pick by what you can tolerate.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
Getting around
Walking is the primary mode of transportation, as the road to the park is 2 km and the farthest one can walk into the park is about 20 km. There are motorbike and bicycle rentals available near Park HQ if you want to explore the surrounding area.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Rafflesia Flower
The way to see it is not through the main entrance of the park. Go down to the intersection of the highway and the road to the park. From there, go right to km111 and on your right you will see a wooden ladder. Go up that and when you get to the first fork take a right. From there the little path crosses some streams and such so look hard if you can't find the trail again.
To see the Rafflesia flower you have to go when it is in bloom around late-Jan or early-Feb. This will take you most of the day if you start early (about 09:00), but you could be back in time to go to the temple with all the monkeys.
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Ton Kloi Waterfall
Namtok Ton Kloi originates from Khlong Sok. It is a one-tiered waterfall with a stony ground for visitors to take a rest beside it. It is about 9 km from the Park's headquarters.
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Sip Et Chan Waterfall
Waterfall flowing along the cliff in layers that looks like the stairs of 11 steps. At the bottom, there is a pool for swimming. It is accessible on foot.
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Bang Hua Rat Waterfall
Popular for rafting activities, this waterfall with small rapids is 3km from the visitor center.
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Tang Nam
Features separated parts of the mountain as a result of erosion by water, which has become two cliffs facing each other with Khlong Sok flowing through them.
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Than Sawan Waterfall
This waterfall rushes down over a sheer cliff, like a rainbow curve, into Khlong Sok. It is about 9 km from the Park's headquarters, or around 3 km from Tang Nam.
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What to do
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
Cheow Lan Lake
3 sources agreeAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 2 others
Stay in a floating bungalow surrounded by limestone cliffs on a lake Lonely Planet called 'wondrous,' set inside a rainforest older than the Amazon.
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Khao Sok rainforest trek
Worth itAlso recommended by National Geographic Traveler and 1 other
Walk trails through a jungle hosting 48 mammal species and over 300 types of birds in what National Geographic Traveler dubbed Thailand's secret garden.
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Sonchana Farm & Elephant Sanctuary
An eco-tourism elephant sanctuary program and family run cooking class. The 2-hour program is run twice daily.
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Diving in Rajjaprabha Dam
Explore underwater caves, forests, and villages in Khao Sok National Park. Several companies offer diving excursions, including: Thailand Dive & Sail, Ban's Technical Diving, Blue Label Diving
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Jungle Camping in the National Park
Jungle camping can only be done December through April. All camping trips require an English-speaking guide and a park ranger. Please contact your hotel or the resort.
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What to eat
Rasta Bar
Opposite Bua Pood souvenir shop
Rastafarian-style interior. Reggae music, cocktails, and other beverages and chill with atmosphere. Pool table and nightly fire shows.
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Chill Out Bar
Across the street from Smiley's Bungalows
The name says it all. Plays mostly Bob Marley and serves up some great cocktails.
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The Misty Restaurant at Morning Mist Resort
53/3 M.6 T.Klong Sok
Outstanding view of the mountain and the garden.
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Where to stay
Khao Sok Riverside Cottages
From Khao Sok drive eastwards on highway 401 for 2 km and take a left at the Riverside Cottages sign. Then drive 2.5 km to the end of the road, where you will find the resort
Friendly place, owned by an American-Thai couple. Riverside Cottages is in green surroundings along the river, overlooking Khao Sok National Park. The resort is a couple of kilometers east of Khao Sok town and park Headquarters.
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Las Orquideas Resort
200 m from park entrance
Small, with only 5 bungalows, all of which are surrounded by flowers and exotic plants, all of which have large verandas and huge windows overlooking the rugged mountain tops of the national park.
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Khao Sok Nature Resort
Opposite Art's River View
Run by Mr Tee and Mrs Ae, it was the first tree house accommodation in Khao Sok. The property is huge and contains a restaurant, fruit garden, orchid garden, etc. It is framed by limestone cliffs and a river.
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Morning Mist Resort
53/3 M.6 T.Klong Sok
Beautiful garden setting with 200 different flowering plants, excellent restaurant and good cocktails. Free WiFi; swimming pool and tours desk.
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Khao Sok Paradise Resort
119 Khlong Sok, Phanom District
Chill jungle resort with wifi, A/C & included breakfast.
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Khao Sok Rainforest Resort
On the left side of Khao Sok Bridge. The distance from Rte 401 at km109 to the resort is approximately 2.5 km
Lies along two streams in which you can swim and enjoy nature. Several types of rooms: riverside bungalows, mountain side bungalows, tree houses, and family rooms.
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Travel essentials
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.








