Facts
The Weather and Climate in Khao Sok
An interesting fact about Khao Sok, and many other tropical parts of the world for that matter, is that monthly temperatures don’t vary significantly throughout the year. In fact, the predicted highs and lows over the course of the year in Khao Sok National Park vary less than they do between midday and midnight!
Temperatures in Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok is warm and humid year-round, with an average high of 31 °C and low of 24 °C. Statistically speaking the hottest months are March and April, but with a range of 30-32 °C, there really isn’t much in it!
The level of air moisture in Khao Sok National Park is likely to be much higher than what you’re used to at home, but it makes it all the more easy to appreciate the breeze, shade and frequent showers. Rain provides the main reprieve from humidity as when there’s a downpour it has a cooling effect on the air. As such, the level of humidity during the ‘wet season’ is lower than during the ‘dry season’.
These comfortably warm temperatures make Khao Sok a fantastic destination to visit at any time of the year.
Facts about Khao Sok’s Wet and Dry Seasons
Due to the high mountains and the fact that it is influenced by both the Northeast (Pacific Ocean) and Southwest (Indian Ocean) monsoons, Khao Sok has the highest level of rainfall in Thailand (3,500 mm per year). The wet season lasts from May to November, while the dry season lasts from December to April.
- September is the wettest month on average – 375mm rainfall
- February is the driest month on average – 30mm rainfall
These statistics should be taken with a pinch of salt though, as there’s always a fair chance you’ll get caught in the rain when visiting a rainforest!
Fauna in Khao Sok
Thailand boasts some of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, and Khao Sok is most definitely one of them. Thanks to it standing relatively unchanged over millions of years, Khao Sok has become a safe-haven for a variety of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals.
Khao Sok National Park is home to:
- 311 species of bird
- 48 species of mammal
- 30+ species of bats
- Countless insects and reptiles
- An estimated 200 wild Asian elephants
- Endangered tigers
While each species that calls our National Park home is incredibly special, there are a few which are particularly interesting.
Here are some fun facts about our Khao Sok residents:
- Lesser mouse deer are the smallest hoofed animal known to man
- Tigers can swim up to 6km!
- The great hornbill has a wingspan of over 1.5m
- Atlas moths never eat, surviving their short lives on fat reserves
Want to uncover more facts about Khao Sok creatures big and small?
Flora in Khao Sok
With such an expansive area of practically untouched rainforest, it’s no surprise that plantlife is booming in Khao Sok National Park. There are around 200 species of plants per hectare in Khao Sok, with a combination of ginormous trees, trailing vines and exotic flowers.
Fruits such as fig and banana grow in abundance in Khao Sok, providing an ample food source for many animals of the rainforest. You’ll find some of the plants typically associated with South East Asia, such as bamboo and palm trees, but also some unusual plants that are unique to the rainforest.
Fun facts about Khao Sok Flora
- The pitcher plant, or nepenthes, is a member of one of the largest carnivorous plant families. While they normally feed on insects, they’ve been found to occasionally consume small mammals such as rats!
- Rafflesia are the largest flower on Earth and can grow up to 90cm in width!
- Thailand is home to well over 1000 species of orchid! How many will you spot in Khao Sok?
What to Do in Khao Sok

Activities in Khao Sok National Park include kayaking down the river and enjoying breathtaking rainforest views
There are a host of activities to take part in during a trip to Khao Sok National Park – you’ll be spoiled for choice!
Trekking through the rainforest is the most popular activity, and something that visitors are free to do on a day-trip after paying the entrance fee. Bring along your binoculars and you’ll also be perfectly located for bird-watching or simply enjoying the view.
To best experience the full range of activities available in Khao Sok National Park, we suggest spending a few days here as part of a tour.
Tour Activities
When joining a tour, you’ll have increased opportunities to make the most of what Khao Sok has to offer. As well as trekking through the jungle you can explore Khao Sok via its waterways, venturing into the many channels and the mangrove swamps by canoe or kayak.
Another water-based activity not to be missed is swimming in the waters of Cheow Larn Lake or gliding across its surface. The views from the lake are breathtaking, so ensure that any trip to Khao Sok includes time at this fantastic location. For a truly unique experience, you can even stay the night in a floating bungalow – a favourite with honeymooners.
One of the most sought after experiences on any visit to Thailand is of course to meet an Asian elephant. The wild Khao Sok elephants are notoriously elusive, however you can guarantee an encounter on
Elephants in Khao Sok
There are thought to be around 6,000 elephants in Thailand, 50% of which are wild and the remaining 50% domesticated. Khao Sok National Park is home to around 200 of these wild elephants which roam free in the rainforest. Through the use of monitoring equipment in the form of forest cameras, we are able to keep track of the elephants and learn more about them.
Khao Sok Facts: Asian Elephants
- Elephants spend the longest time pregnant of any animal – nearly two years!
- Elephants have six sets of teeth which push through horizontally from the back.
- Elephants can travel as far as 195km in a day!
- The oldest elephant lived to 86 years old.
- An elephants trunk contains over 40,000 muscles!
- There are four types of Asian elephant; Sri Lankan, Indian, Sumatran, Borneo.
If the thought of meeting one of these fantastic pachyderms is enough to make you book a flight to Thailand, you want to be guaranteed an opportunity to meet one. While we don’t recommend taking part in elephant rides, there are plenty more ethical ways to make your dreams a reality.
Elephant Hills is a Khao Sok based tour operator who offer recommend tours for guests visiting the park. Included on each of their tours is a visit to a private award-winning elephant camp – a one of a kind destination where the resident elephants roam in a completely chain-free park.
Guests visit in a small group and will prepare lunch for the elephants before hand-feeding them. An experience not to be missed!
Getting to Khao Sok
Our location in Southern Thailand is ideally placed for combining with a wider Thailand itinerary. Perhaps explore the coastal destinations of Koh Samui Phuket, or join us after a visit to the capital. Whatever your plans for your Thailand holiday, getting to Khao Sok National Park couldn’t be easier.
All the recommended tours on our website include transfers from Southern Thailand’s major hubs, including airports, ports and tourist destinations. What’s more, the return transfers can be mixed and matched, so you can be collected from one side of the island and delivered to another after your tour.
Who Should Visit Khao Sok?
Everyone! Providing that you want to make a day trip and remain around the visitors centre, people of all abilities including small children and the elderly are able to enjoy Khao Sok National Park.
If you wish to explore further into the rainforest, trek, or take part in one of the recommended tours, it’s suggested that you be of moderate physical ability. The minimum ages on these tours is 4 years old.