Khao Sok National Park covers more than 700 square kilometres of the Surat Thani–Phang Nga border zone. The forest is reputedly older than the Amazon and shelters Asian elephants, leopards, Malayan tapirs, hornbills, and the occasional Rafflesia bloom — the world's largest parasitic flower. The park entrance village is small and low-key: a strip of guesthouses, kayak rental stalls, and guides offering overnight jungle treks.
Cheow Larn Lake (also written Ratchaprapha) is the crown jewel: a 60-square-kilometre reservoir formed by a dam in the 1980s, ringed by vertical limestone outcrops rising from the water. Floating raft houses on the lake offer one of Thailand's most atmospheric overnight stays — mornings here, with mist lifting off the water, are genuinely extraordinary. Kayaking, cave exploration, and guided night walks fill the days.
Getting to Khao Sok from Koh Samui
Khao Sok sits almost exactly between the Gulf and the Andaman coasts, which makes it a natural stopover on any cross-peninsula journey. Our Koh Samui to Surat Thani ferry puts you on the mainland; from Surat Thani, it is around 100 kilometres west to the park — roughly two hours by minivan. Many travellers combine Khao Sok with an onward trip to Khao Lak or Phuket. Use our homepage search to plan your Samui departure.
Visit between January and April for the driest weather and the best lake levels. The park stays open year-round, but heavy rain in the wet season can restrict trails and make the lake crossing choppy.