Best Things to Do in Khao Sok National Park: Lakes, Caves & Jungle Adventures
Cheow Lan Lake, the heart of Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. It's in southern Thailand, between Surat Thani and Phuket. It's famous for Cheow Lan Lake, with emerald water, limestone cliffs and floating raft houses. There are also jungle trails, river caves and waterfalls.
Here are 10 of the best things to do in Khao Sok, with fees, prices and tips for Malaysian travellers.
- The park HQ fee differs by source. Visit Thailand Today (updated 15 October 2026) says about ฿200 at park HQ and ฿300 at Cheow Lan Lake. Couples Travel Stories (updated 8 October 2026) and Khao Sok National Park guide sites say ฿300 for foreign adults. I've used ฿300 and noted the difference. You pay separately at HQ and at the lake.
- Some fee and guide figures come from unofficial sites. The Coral Cave fee (about ฿200) and the ฿500 to ฿1,000 guide fee come from independent guide sites, not the park's own website. They also earn affiliate commissions.
- Nam Talu Cave can be dangerous. Visit Thailand Today says it's closed from June to November because of flash floods. In August 2024, a guide drowned in the cave and tourists had to be rescued, according to the Bangkok Post.
- I couldn't find any halal restaurants in Khao Sok. MileHacker says halal food is "not widely available." It says Muslim residents are rare in the area.
- Elephant sanctuaries didn't list prices. I've named the ones Couples Travel Stories describes as ethical, without prices.
- Flash floods closed Route 401 near the park in September 2026, according to Visit Thailand Today. Check road conditions in the rainy season.
Khao Sok quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Park HQ fee (foreign adult) | ฿300 (Visit Thailand Today says about ฿200) |
| Cheow Lan Lake fee (foreign adult) | ฿300, plus ฿40 pier fee |
| Child fee | ฿150 |
| Park HQ hours | 08:00 to 16:30 |
| Overnight raft house package | From about ฿2,500 |
| Best time | December to April |
| Wettest month | September |
| Nearest airports | Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi |
Getting there from Malaysia
Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Surat Thani, Phuket or Krabi. Visit Thailand Today lists these bus or van fares to Khao Sok village:
- From Surat Thani: ฿280, about 1 hour
- From Phuket: ฿370, about 2.5 to 3 hours
- From Krabi: ฿400 to ฿500, about 2 hours
Cheow Lan Lake's pier is about 65 km from the village. Most raft house packages include the transfer.
10 best things to do in Khao Sok
1Take a longtail boat across Cheow Lan Lake
Cheow Lan Lake is Khao Sok's highlight. Limestone cliffs rise straight out of green water. Longtail boats take you past them to the raft houses. Visit Thailand Today says the boat ride takes up to about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Price: Private longtail hire costs about ฿2,000 for 2 hours or ฿2,800 for 3 hours, per boat. Add the ฿300 lake fee and ฿40 pier fee per person.
2Stay overnight in a floating raft house
A night on the lake is the best way to see Khao Sok. You wake up to mist over the cliffs. You can swim or kayak from your door. Visit Thailand Today says power on most rafts only runs in the evening and overnight.
Price: 2-day, 1-night packages start at about ฿2,500. Couples Travel Stories says these usually include van transfers, longtail rides, meals, guided cave tours and the stay. Upmarket floating bungalows like 500 Rai sell out months ahead.
3Explore Pakarang (Coral) Cave
Pakarang Cave, also called Coral Cave, is reached from the lake by a short bamboo raft ride and a jungle walk. Inside are stalactites and rock formations that look like coral. It's an easy cave, so it suits families.
Price: About ฿200 for adults and ฿100 for children, according to an independent guide site. It's often included in raft house packages.
4Wade through Nam Talu Cave (dry season only)
Nam Talu is Khao Sok's most adventurous cave. You wade and swim along an underground river in the dark. It's reached by a jungle hike from the lake.
Safety: Visit Thailand Today says it's closed from June to November because of flash floods. Only go with a licensed guide, roughly from December to May. A guide drowned in the cave in August 2024.
5Hike to Wing Hin and Bang Hua Rat waterfalls
The main trail from park HQ follows the Sok River through the jungle. Couples Travel Stories says the first 3 km to Bang Hua Rat waterfall is wide and flat. It doesn't need a guide. Visit Thailand Today puts Wing Hin waterfall at 2.8 km.
Price: Covered by the park HQ fee.
Tip: Wear leech socks from May to November.
6Trek deeper to Ton Kloi Waterfall
For a longer hike, continue past the ranger station to Ton Kloi waterfall at 7 km. Couples Travel Stories says you need a guide after the 3 km mark, under park rules.
Price: A guide costs about ฿500 to ฿1,000 per group, according to Couples Travel Stories. Visit Thailand Today says half-day guides start from about ฿600 through your guesthouse.
7Join a night safari
After dark, the jungle comes alive. A guide leads you on a 2-hour walk around the park HQ area. You'll spot frogs, spiders, insects and sometimes larger animals. You can't enter the park at night on your own.
Price: About ฿1,200 for one or two people, according to Visit Thailand Today. It starts at around 19:00.
8Go tubing or canoeing on the Sok River
Floating down the Sok River on a tube or canoe is a relaxing way to see the cliffs and jungle. Guesthouses in Khao Sok village organise trips.
Price: About ฿400 to ฿950 depending on the option, according to Couples Travel Stories.
Safety: Visit Thailand Today says to go only when the river is calm. Never go after heavy rain.
9Spot wildlife at dawn on the lake
Couples Travel Stories estimates that 200 to 300 wild elephants live in the park. The best chance of seeing them is on an early morning or dusk boat trip on Cheow Lan Lake, especially from February to May. Hornbills, monkeys and gibbons are more common sightings.
Price: Boat trips into the Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, deep in the lake, add a ฿500 to ฿1,000 surcharge, according to Couples Travel Stories.
10Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary
Couples Travel Stories names three no-riding options near Khao Sok:
- Khao Sok Elephant Sanctuary: focuses on education and walking alongside the elephants
- Sonchana Farm: a small retirement home for older elephants, with only a few visitors a day. You prepare their food and walk with them while they forage.
- Elephant Hills: a larger, award-winning operator and one of the first to stop elephant riding in southern Thailand
Price: Not listed by the source. Ask your guesthouse.
Best time to visit Khao Sok
Visit Thailand Today says December to April is best. February is the driest month. Nam Talu Cave reopens then too. September is the wettest, with flooded rivers and closed trails and caves. Raft houses are busiest from November to mid-April and in July and August, so book ahead.
Halal food in Khao Sok
Halal food is very limited. I couldn't find any halal restaurants in Khao Sok village. MileHacker says halal food is "not widely available." On raft house packages, meals usually feature fresh fish from the lake.
- Tell your raft house you need halal or seafood-only meals when you book.
- Bring snacks and instant halal food from Malaysia or Surat Thani.
- Ask about pork and cooking oil before ordering in the village.
Tips for Malaysian travellers
- Fly into Surat Thani for the shortest trip to Khao Sok.
- Bring cash. Park fees are cash only.
- Pack leech socks, a dry bag and a torch, especially from May to November.
- Book raft houses early for December to April.
- Pay the HQ and lake fees separately. One ticket doesn't cover both.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to do Cheow Lan Lake as a day trip from Phuket. It's a long day. An overnight stay is much better.
- Entering Nam Talu Cave in the rainy season or without a licensed guide.
- Tubing after heavy rain.
- Arriving at the park HQ late in the afternoon. Couples Travel Stories says tickets bought after 16:00 are marked valid for the next day.
Sourced from Visit Thailand Today Khao Sok National Park Guide, Couples Travel Stories Khao Sok Guide, Couples Travel Stories Wild Elephants in Khao Sok, Khao Sok National Park Opening Hours and Fees, Khao Sok 7 Best Things to Do, MileHacker Best Restaurants in Khao Sok and Bangkok Post Tourists Rescued from Flooded Cave.