One of the best places to see nature and animals in Thailand is at the Khao Sok National Park, which is not too far from Phuket and Krabi.

We spent 3 days at Khao Sok and had a blast. The turquoise lake is really nice, and it’s easy to see animals in the park. We even saw wild elephants!

The best way to experience Khao Sok is to spend several days at the park, exploring the lake by boat, trekking to see animals and caves in the jungle, and staying at least one night in a floating bungalow on the lake.

In this travel guide, I’ll explain how to visit Khao Sok with or without a tour, and all of the top things to see and do there!

Dusky leaf monkey & yellow baby

How Many Days To Spend At Khao Sok

The first thing to figure out is how much time you want to spend at the park.

Here are your options:

• Day Trip – You can do a day trip to Khao Sok from a touristy area like Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak, or Surat Thani. This is the quickest and easiest option, but you won’t have as much time to see the park. It’s too short, in my opinion.
• Package Tour (2-4 days) – This is another easy option because it includes everything: transport, guide, meals, and lodging. This may be a good option for some people, because it’s convenient and it gives you enough time to see the main highlights of the park.
• Stay In Khlong Sok Village – This option gives you the most flexibility and it’s also more cost efficient. By basing yourself directly at the Khlong Sok village near the park, you can stay as long as you like, and do excursions for the things that interest you most. It’s the best way to visit the park if you’re not limited on time.

Based on our experience, you need at least two days in the Khao Sok area to really make the most of it, and three or four days is better.

Drone pic of Cheow Lan Lake

Longtail boat ride

Best Khao Sok Tours

GetYourGuide has 2 day tours to Khao Sok from Phuket or Khao Lak that include hotel pickup and drop-off, meals, accommodation, and tours in the park.

Or, if you’re really limited on time, they also have 1 day tours to Khao Sok from Phuket, Krabi, or Khao Lak.

Alternatively, if you’re staying in Khlong Sok village directly by the park, they have day tours to the lake, jungle trekking, elephant tours, and more.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!