Getting to Khao Sok

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.

Understand

There are 2 main sections of Khao Sok National Park. The west entrance is where Park HQ is located along with the main hiking trails. The east entrance is where Ratchaprapha Pier is located where you go to get to the floating rafthouses. The 2 entrances are 65 km apart and over 1 hour of driving, so please take that into consideration when planning your trip.

“Khao Sok” is used as a catch-all term to describe the general area where the park is located. This usually includes the area from Ratchaprapha Pier west to the Surat Thani -Phangnga border, along Highway 401. “Khao Sok Village” is the 2km stretch of road from Highway 401 to Park HQ. “Khlong Sok” is both the name of the river in the area as well at the administrative subdistrict

1 Khao Sok National Park HQ. Khao Sok National Park entrance. Hiking trails, camping, and Visitor Center. edit

2 Rajjaprabha Dam Pier (Cheow Lan Lake Pier). This is the boat pier to the floating rafthouses.

By Bus

From/to Phuket or Khao Lak: There is a bus service (approximately one bus per hour; the last one starts from Phuket around 14:00). Transit time is 4 hr from Phuket and 2 hr from Khao Lak (including a 20 min stop in Takua Pa that you may use to visit the local market). Price: about 160 baht from Phuket.

From/to Surat Thani: Air-con public bus from Surat Thani runs every hour starting at 07:00, passing the Surat Thani Train Station (at Phun Phin) 15 min later (so first bus from here is at 07:15). Tickets can be purchased at the Surat Thani Bus Station located at Talat Mai 31 or at a stall on the train station's bus stop. Transit time is around 2 hours. Price is 120 baht. There should also be a minibus service departing every hour from 07:30 to 17:30 but the last one can be cancelled. The public bus is comfortable and more reliable.

From/to Krabi: There is only one minibus per day. From Krabi at about 11:00 and from Khao Sok at 08:30, 10:00, 12:00 (Dec 2013). Transit time is 2-3 hr. Price: 300 baht if you book it directly at the bus stop. Make sure to ask the driver before to drop you off at the street in Krabi where you want to go, otherwise the minibus from Khao Sok may not go to Krabi town or Krabi's Talat Kao Bus Station and drop you off at a makeshift "Minibus Station" a few kilometres out of Krabi town from where to get somewhere useful is via one of the taxis waiting there. Alternatively, you can walk out to the road, turn left (downhill), and walk approximately 150m to the main road and catch a 'sorng-taa-ou' (small covered open pick-up with benches at the back) for 20 bath per person at the store on the corner. It will take less than 10 minutes to arrive via Th Issara at Th Maharat, between Soi 8 and Soi 6 (sorng taa-ou for Ao Luk, the airport and other places start from Soi 6 and Soi 8 also). From there it is less than 500m to the pier and the start of Chao Fah Road where many guesthouses are located. There is no direct bus from Khao Sok to Krabi (you would have to change at Surat Thani) and so the minibus still is the easiest option.

From/to Ko Lanta & Ko Jum: Minibus + ferry costing 650 baht leaves at 08:30 from Khao Sok and the ferry gets to Ko Lanta at 13:30. The ferry stops on the sea to drop off passengers to long-tail boats heading to Ko Jum. This ferry (which starts at Krabi) only runs during the high season which typically starts between 12th & 14th of November (it varies every year and you should check with your Ko Jum hotel beforehand). During the low season the minibus from Khao Sok will still go to Ko Lanta but will take an alternative route via car ferry which does not go via Ko Jum. There is no ferry or public boat to Ko Jum during the low season and the only way to get there is to charter a private boat.

From/to Chumphon: Minibus to Chumphon costing 500 baht leaves Khao Sok at 09:00 and gets to Chumphon at 14:00.

From/to Trang: Minibus to Trang costing 600 baht leaves Khao Sok at 08:30 and gets to Trang at 14:00.

From/to Ko Samui: Minibus + ferry to Ko Samui costing 500 baht leaves Khao Sok at 09:00 and the ferry gets to Ko Samui at 15:30. During the high season there is also an afternoon minibus + night boat costing 600 baht. The minibus leaves Khao Sok at 15:00 and the night boat arrives at Ko Samui at 06:00 the next day.

From/to Ko Phi Phi: Minibus + ferry to Ko Phi Phi costing 750 baht leaves Khao Sok at 08:30 and gets to Phi Phi at 16:00.

From/to Had Yai: Minibus to Had Yai costing 600 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Had Yai at 16:00.

From/to Ko Pha-Ngan: Minibus + ferry to Ko Pha-Ngan costing 650 baht leaves Khao Sok at 09:00 and gets to Ko Pha-Ngan at 16:30. During the high season there is also an afternoon minibus + night boat costing 700 baht. The minibus leaves Khao Sok at 15:00 and the night boat arrives at Ko Pha-Ngan at 06:00 the next day.

From/to Satun: Minibus to Satun costing 800 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Satun at 17:00.

From/to Pakpara: Minibus to Pakpara costing 800 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Pakpara at 17:30.

From/to Sugaigolok: Minibus to Sugaigolok costing 900 bahts runs at 08:30 and gets to Sugaigolog at 19:00

From/to Penang: Minibus to Penang costing 900 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Penang at 20:00.

From/to Kuala Lumpur: Minibus to Kuala Lumpur costing 1300 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Kuala Lumpur at 06:00 the next day.

From/to Singapore: Minibus to Singapore costing 1600 baht runs at 08:30 and gets to Singapore at 11:00 the next day.

From/to Bangkok: By plane: Surat Thani airport is the nearest one but you can also choose Phuket airport. By train: Surat Thani train station is the nearest one. Be careful: the southern line is very busy, advance booking is highly recommended. By night bus: There is only one night bus per day stopping at Khao Sok. In Bangkok, it seems that the only way to book and buy it is to go directly to the southern bus station in Bangkok (booking any other night bus sold by agencies is not recommended). In Khao Sok, it is possible to book and buy it in the local agency or at your hotel (ask for the real VIP bus, direct from Khao Sok to Bangkok).

By Train

The closest major train station is the Surat Thani Railway Station in Phunphin district.

- Surat Thani Railway Station, Phunphin District, Surat Thani.

Once you arrive in Surat Thani, there are minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel.

- Phantip Office - Surat Thani Train Station Branch, +66 77-272-230, +66 77-282-331, e-mail: info@phantiptravel.com.

Surat Thani (Train Station) – Khao Sok (3 hrs, 200 baht)

Surat Thani (Train Station) – Ratchaprapha Dam (3.3 hrs, 200 baht)

By Plane

The closest airport is Surat Thani International Airport (URT). There are multiple flights daily from Bangkok (DMK IATA and BKK IATA) and Chiang Mai (CNX IATA).

- Surat Thani International Airport (URT IATA), 73 Moo 3, Hua Toei, Phunphin district (64km east of Ratchaprapha Pier; 105km east of Khao Sok National Park HQ). Surat Thani International Airport on Wikipedia Surat Thani Airport (Q770306)

Domestic

- Air Asia, 02-515-9999 (domestic). Flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport), and Chiang Mai.

- Nok Air, 1318. Flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport).

- Thai Lion Air, 02-529-9999 (domestic), e-mail: info@lionairthai.com. Flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport).

- Thai Smile, 02-118-8888 (domestic), e-mail: customer.service@thaismileair.com. Flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport).

Once you arrive in Surat Thani, there are buses or minivans to Khao Sok with Phantip Travel. Only buy the tickets directly from operator you are using. There is a Tourism kiosk at the airport, but they sell bus, minivan, and ferry tickets at inflated prices.

- Surat Thani (Airport) – Ratchaprapha Dam (1.3 hrs, 250 baht)

- Surat Thani (Airport) – Khao Sok (2 hrs, 250 baht)

- Car rentals are also available at the airport. See the Surat Thani wikivoyage page for more information.

Fees/Permits

400 baht for foreigners, 100 baht for students, 40 baht for Thais. If you are told otherwise feel free to go directly to the park entrance and buy a ticket there.

Many tours will include the park entrance fee, something to take into consideration when choosing a tour.

Get around

Walking is the primary mode of transportation, as the road to the park is only 2 km and the farthest one can walk into the park is about 20 km. Mountain bikes can be hired for 200 baht/day (March 2013) from the Minimarket in the centre of the Tourist Village. They can offer a quick and thrilling way of getting round the park (some of the routes can be considered semi-technical for mountain biking).

Cars and motorbikes are not allowed on the park trails (eg: to the waterfalls) so take this into consideration before hiring either.

Go next

Walk to the main highway (opposite end is the park entrance). Mini buses on the corner head left to Surat Thani. Across the street and to the right, a giant "Bus Stop" sign serves as a stopping point for buses heading to Phuket. Tickets in advance are not needed. Buses typically come by every hour during the day, but are known to be unreliable.

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