FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The best way to reach Khao Sok is by booking a tour to the area. Most reputable tour companies include all transfers in their tour packages. Visitors to Khao Sok are usually transferred in from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Khanom, Don Sak Pier or even Koh Samui. All these transfers can be combined at no surcharge and as included in our Recommended Tours, so pick up e.g. on Phuket and drop off at your hotel on Samui is possible without any problems.

Generally, pick up will be between 7am and 9am at your hotel lobby. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about how to get to Khao Sok or what is included in our Recommended Tours.

We would suggest booking a tour from our recommended tours page which have transfers to and from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Kanorm, Surat Thani and Koh Samui included! We suggest you book a flight from Bangkok direct to any of these destinations when booking your tour. You will then be picked up from your hotels doorstep making it as simple as possible to experience the wonders of the Rainforest!

When travelling by plane you can:

1. fly into Surat Thani Aiport- 2hrs transfer time to Khao Sok
Domestic flight TG 2251 at 9:40am is part of our scheduled transfers at no surcharge!

2. fly into Phuket Airport- 3hrs transfer time
Domestic flight TG 201 at 09.10am is part of our scheduled transfers at no surcharge!

3. Take a Train! Board the overnight express train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, arriving 07:21am. We would recommend booking first class coaches. You will then be picked up from the train station in Surat Thani. Please note that you will be due to frequent delays of the train, drivers usually arrive at the train station at 8am. Should you arrive earlier than this, please be a little patient and wait for the driver to arrive.

The tours on our recommended tour page (hyperlink) include transfers to and from Koh Samui. This includes ferry tickets and road transfers by minibus from your hotels door step to Khao Sok. Alternatively if you prefer to make your own way to Khao Sok you can take a ferry to Don Sak pier and then a bus through to Khao Sok although this may take more time. Please just be aware that if you wish to start activities in Khao Sok in the afternoon that it will be a rather early start from Koh Samui as pick up for our recommended tous will be around 6am at your hotel on Koh Samui.

The closest and most convenient airport is Surat Thani (URT), just above one hour away from Khao Sok National park. Flight options do include flights to Bangkok. Phuket Airport (HKT) is about 2 hours’ drive. You can find out more about other airports close by on our transport page.

Our Recommended Tours all include transfers to and from Khao Sok. Since there are no big signs or similar on the road, it might not be easy to get around by yourself in this area. It is of course possible to drive yourself to Khao Sok but booking a trip with a reputable tour company would be our advice as it is easy to get lost. To make your lifetime trip to Khao Sok as easy and enjoyable as possible we would recommend the smooth transfers on one of our Recommended Tours.

All of the tours on our recommended tours page include the following:

  • Accommodation
  • Full board
  • Activities as per chosen itinerary
  • A fully trained, TAT-licensed English speaking Thai tour leader*
  • Not included are soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, tips and gratuities as well as personal acquisitions from a souvenir shop or the local markets.

In Thailand they use the Thai Baht.

The best way to make sure you have a smooth and trouble free experience is to book and pay for your tour in advance. Payments are easy to handle by credit card and all our recommended tours can be paid for this way. Usually once the full payment is received, the booking will be confirmed quickly. Payment via bank transfer is another option, although this might include a surcharge for bank transfer fees. Please note that the tours we recommend have to be paid for prior to arrival.

Good news: our recommended tours are run all year round.  However Khao Sok is one of Thailand’s wettest areas, with ca. 3,500mm rainfall per year, so it can rain any day of the year. If we say “rain” we usually mean, it falls heavily in showers during one or two hours in the day and thanks to a minimum of 25°C during daytime this is usually a very pleasant experience. The good thing about the slightly unpredictable weather is:  the sun might shine any day of the year as well!

The so called green season officially starts in May/ ends around October and it’s a fantastic time to travel to Khao Sok National park: nature shows itself in the most beautiful and countless shades of green, the temperatures drop slightly to 25-32°C throughout the day and wildlife gets very active, hence the chances to spot it increase.

People who love nature and want to experience Thailand in an authentic way! You can meet open-minded people from all around the world and make new friends. The majority of travelers are from Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America and South Africa.

We recommend the following:

  • Loose comfortable clothes
  • Non-slip shoes (trekking sandals or trainers)
  • Rain coat
  • Sun protection
  • Swim wear
  • Passport

Most importantly please don’t forget to bring enthusiasm and smiles!

Khao Sok is not a typical malaria area, and usually free of malaria. However, we always advise to consult a tropical doctor before traveling to Thailand.

Yes, for your personal safety and indeed whenever travelling abroad we believe it is a necessity.

We recommend staying in Elephant Hills luxury tents. These glamping style tents are based on solid ground with ensuite bathrooms and full hotel amenities. They also have the amazing Rainforest Camp which is a Luxury floating tented camp and one of the only ones in the world!! The tents have either 1 big double bed or 2 separate twin beds, and can accommodate up to 3 adults, in case a roll-in bed is requested.

Yes, totally. If done right Khao Sok can be an amazing family trip. Ok it is the jungle and you have to be sensible but that goes without saying for anywhere in the world! We highly recommend to bring your family to experience the worlds oldest Rainforest! On all of our recommended tours families are welcome and up to 2 adults and 2 children can be accommodated in one tent, with 1 child sleeping in an extra bed, while 1 child shares the double bed with its parents. This is suitable for children up to 8 years of age. Minimum age limits do apply, however at a minimum age of 4 years old these tours are available to almost everyone!

Yes there is both in Khao Sok and it works most of the time. Especially the accommodation of our recommended tours provides you with stable Wifi and the possibility to stay in touch with your loved ones. Nevertheless, we recommend to charge all electronical equipment prior to your journey and have spare batteries e.g. for your camera- so you don’t miss out on spectacular shots!

You can find a variety of foods n Khao Sok. Al of our recommended tours have a wide variety of fine Thai dishes for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is often western, with a choice of cereals, fruit, yoghurt, freshly baked bread, cheese, sausages, baked beans and eggs prepared to your liking at our popular omelet station as many do not enjoy buffalo curry for breakfast!