Illustrative image, not a photograph
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Khao Sok National Park
Rainforest older than the Amazon, with limestone karsts rising from Cheow Lan Lake
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- Half-day jungle walk to multi-day treks around Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Sok protects one of the oldest evergreen rainforests on Earth, its limestone peaks rising straight from the emerald waters of Cheow Lan Lake. Short trails from park headquarters lead to waterfalls and a bat cave, while longer treks with a guide reach deeper jungle and floating raft-house stays on the lake.
Highlights
- Longtail boat rides past Cheow Lan Lake's limestone towers
- Ton Gloy and Sip Et Chan waterfall walks
- Floating raft-house overnight stays on the lake
- Wildlife spotting: hornbills, gibbons and, rarely, wild elephants
Getting there
Khao Sok is about 1.5 hours from Surat Thani town, or 2 to 3 hours from Phuket or Krabi by road transfer.
Safety tips
River crossings rise quickly after rain, and the jungle trails are genuinely dense; keep to marked paths without a guide and never swim in the lake at dusk, when the resident freshwater crocodiles are most active.
What to bring
- Quick-dry clothing
- Dry bag for boat transfers
- Insect repellent and a headtorch for cave sections