Thailand Dreamy Destination
Thailand – a beautiful country full of dreamy beaches with white sand as fine as flour and a crystal clear sea. A place that every food lover will enjoy, especially those who like chili and coconut. A country full of history in the form of various temples and festivals.
Which Places in Thailand to Visit?
When I hastily planned my trip to Thailand, I came across a lot of places to visit. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do deeper research, so I followed my friend’s recommendation to go to one of the southern islands – Ko Pha Ngan.
To save money on moving from Bangkok to the island, I traveled through the nearby transfer city of Surat Thani. When I visited the city, I thought to see if there was anything interesting around it.
Khao Sok, The Most Beautiful Place In Thailand
“But what does it not see, my blue eye?” My attention was drawn to a national park called Khao Sok. Beautiful photos and reviews on Google maps told me that I had to visit the place! The only thing I didn’t understand, and it left me a little in doubt, was why I had never heard of the place before.
Eventually, I went to the park at the end of my visit to Thailand. After seeing interesting places like Erawan Falls, the island of Ko Phan Ngan and then Bangkok – I must say that these previous places were completely shaded by the beauty of the park.
After two weeks in Thailand, I hadn’t seen much, but this I know for sure. If you also plan to go here, Khao Sok is a place you should not miss out! Let’s take a look at how to plan a trip so you can enjoy it as much as possible.
How to Get Here
Khao Sok is located in between popular destinations such as Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui with Ko Pha Ngan. The place is accessible from both Surat Thani and Phuket or Krabi. Here I will describe the journey from Surat Thani from my own experience. However, the trip from the opposite side is similar.
Transportation options:
- taxi – the fastest, most comfortable, most expensive =》 suitable for more people
- van – golden middle way, price 200 – 350 THB (depending on from where you departs),
- bus – the cheapest 100 THB, slowest, watch out for fraudsters at the station who will try to sell you an overpriced ticket back and forth! Buy a ticket directly from the driver.
- rent a car or motorbike (250 THB / day) – ideal for those who like freedom and want to save money
You can use 12go.asia to book and verify the time of taxis and vans.
Two Places, Lake and Jungle
Khao Sok is divided into two places, one with direct access to the jungle and the other with access to the lake. These places are 60 km apart. To plan a trip properly, I recommend that you first think about which part you want to visit. This will result in the appropriate accommodation, mode of transport and the number of days you will spend in the park.
Khao Sok Jungle
When visiting the jungle, be prepared to pay extra for either a guide or overpriced tour packages. On your own, you can explore just a few kilometers from the entrance to the park. If you want to save and still see the jungle, I have one solution for you.
You must pay THB 300 per ticket to enter the park. This entry is valid for one day only. The next day you have to buy a new one. The same rule applies to the lake. However, if you buy a ticket after half past four in the afternoon, they will give you a night entry stamp on your ticket, then the ticket will be valid for the next day. By doing that, you can explore a short distance from the park one day and enjoy a trip on the lake the next.
After a brief exploration of the jungle, I can’t say for sure that it was worth it. If you have never seen the jungle, you’ll appreciate what you’ll see right on the edge. We saw the local fauna, embodied by a troop of monkeys, monitor lizards, and also a few small waterfalls. If that’s not enough for you, be prepared to pay extra or skip the jungle completely.
Cheow Lan Lake
Judge for yourself whether it is worth visiting Cheow Lan Lake from the photos here. For me, it was one of the best days I’ve ever had and I will not forget it that easily. I highly recommend that you include the lake in your itinerary when planning a trip to Thailand. You will not regret it!
There are more ways to get there, but let’s see how you can visit this place on your own. This way, you will not only enjoy everything much more, as you will have everything under your control, but you will also save money.
What You Will Need
Accommodation in Surat Thani
Boundary Hostel and Cafe, one of the best accommodations I’ve ever stayed in. There are three accommodation options. Each comes with a shared bathroom and toilet. Do not worry, there are only a few beds so you will not have a problem with a full bathroom. Unlimited breakfast included – not only that, but the available food (fruits, toasts with jam, and various cookies) can be consumed throughout the day. The location is also great, right in the city center. It is only a couple of minutes away from a nice local night market and a bus stop to both Khao Sok and the airport.
- Bed in a dormitory – 250 THB
- Room with a queen sized bed – 405 THB
- Even bigger private room – 500 THB
Own transportation
Motorbike rental per day – 250 THB + gasoline, you need only a passport. Nowhere in Thailand did they want to see my driving license.
Other expenses
- One day entrance to the park – 300 THB, can be combined with a jungle tour.
- Renting a private boat – 2 000 THB, capacity is around 10 people, but even if you are two, I recommend to go for it without any intermediary. This gives you control over where to stop and for how long.
Comparison With a Private Tour
If you would like to take a trip with a third party, you will also receive breakfast, lunch, and a stop at the cave. However, with your own transportation, there is no problem to stop for a meal and if you want to see the cave, you can pay 200 THB per person. The other cool thing is that instead of being forced to swim in a confined area with a vest, if you come across a good captain like us, you can freely jump into the water at a much nicer place where no one will bother you. Not to mention the fact that you manage the entire voyage yourself – where to stop, for how long and you are free to take pictures at your dream spot.
Total Price Breakdown
Total price for two:
- accommodation 405 THB / night
- motorbike + petrol – 300 THB
- private boat – 2 000 THB
- visit the cave – 400 THB
- park entrance – 300 THB / person
For one person, it is 1 850 THB + food expenses