Khao Sok
By Evi Goossens, a travel storyteller, certified tour guide, and photographer from The Netherlands. Updated November 2024
Reading time: 8 min
How to Experience Khao Sok’s Jungle and Overwater Bungalows
Khao Sok is one of the highlights of a trip to Thailand. It's the ultimate tropical experience, waking up on the water surrounded by jungle, with the sounds of exotic birds and the lapping of water beneath you. The place where you have no phone signal, allowing you to truly enjoy the silence and tranquility. Sleeping in an overwater bungalow, going on jungle tours, and in the morning, searching for tropical animals. I almost forgot I wasn’t in the Amazon, but in Thailand. It makes you realize just how incredible this country really is.
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS
Need-to-know Nuggets
Khao Sok Town
Which tour operator
What to bring for the tour
Day 1 of the tour
Sleeping under the stars
Day 2 of the tour
Famous Khao Sok Limestone Photo
Where to stay/eat/go out
Need-to-Know Nuggets 💡
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From the South of Thailand: Transportation in southern Thailand is clear and well-organized. You can often easily book a boat and/or bus to Khao Sok through your hostel or local travel agencies. This is usually better arranged and cheaper than through 12Go. From different locations, you only need to tell the agency you're going to Khao Sok, and they'll take care of the rest. The only thing you need to do is not lose your bus ticket and show up on time at the designated place.
From Bangkok: Traveling from Bangkok is easy as well. In just a few hours by bus, you can reach Khao Sok.
From Northern Thailand: It's best to first travel to Bangkok and then take a bus to Khao Sok from there.
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Aside from the overnight tour in Khao Sok, there isn’t much else to do in Khao Sok itself. It’s best to spend half a day or a full day in Khao Sok to prepare for the tour. The next day, your tour will begin. Usually, you can choose between a 1-night, 2-day tour or a 2-night, 3-day tour.
So, you’ll likely spend about 3-4 days in Khao Sok, depending on the tour option you choose.
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As I mentioned, Khao Sok is very small, and there’s not much to do. You can easily explore the town on foot. During the tour, all transportation is taken care of, so you don’t have to worry about that.
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Sleeping under the stars ✨
Khao Sok Town
You arrive in Khao Sok and have one day before the overnight tour begins—what to do? As mentioned above, Khao Sok is small, and there isn’t much to do. You can choose to rest and relax after your journey and plan your tour for the following day. If you want to unwind from the travel day, I recommend sleeping in, taking a stroll around the town, and ending the afternoon with a wonderful Thai massage! In the evening, pack your things for the tour and enjoy a delicious meal at one of the local Thai restaurants in town.
Tour Overview
Which tour operator: Smiley and Coco
There are several tour options to choose from, and you can decide which one suits you best. I went with Coco Hostel Tours, which is a great option if you want to combine your hostel stay with the tour. I also found Coco Hostel to be a very nice and clean place to stay.
You also have Smiley Tours, which offer the same overwater bungalow experience as Coco Hostel Tours. Both tours are well-organized, so I would recommend checking which one is cheaper at the time and what suits your needs. However, I did hear that Smiley tours tend to attract more couples, while Coco tours have more solo backpackers, though this can vary depending on the time of year.
If you prefer more privacy or a different experience with the overwater bungalows, you can book a private tour. These are, of course, more expensive, but the added privacy makes the price worthwhile.
What to bring for the tour:
You’ll likely spend 1 or 2 nights in the overwater bungalow, so don’t bring your big backpack. In your daypack, pack what you need for an overnight stay, but it's also good to bring these items in advance:
Mosquito repellent
Swimwear
Towel
Headlamp
Power bank
Sweater and long pants (it can get quite chilly in the evenings)
Camera to capture the stunning scenery
Dry bag (for the jungle tour)
Day 1 of the tour
On the first day, you’ll be picked up early at the designated meeting spot for the tour. You’ll travel with a group for about 1.5 to 2 hours by bus before reaching the lake. The bus will stop at a local market where you can buy lunch and a headlamp. The headlamp is handy for an activity on the tour and for the evening when you’re staying on the lake. If you don’t already have one, I’d recommend getting it here!
Make sure to eat all the food you buy at the market before entering the park! Any food left in the overwater bungalows can attract cockroaches.
Once at the lake, you’ll board different boats with your group and head to the overwater bungalows. You’ll have some time to drop off your bags, have a meal, and get information about the coming days.
You’ll also have the chance to go on an activity to explore various caves in Khao Sok, where you’ll learn about the wildlife.
In the evening, you’ll have dinner and drinks, and some music will play before the lights go out.
Sleeping under the stars
Eventually, the lights will turn off, and it will be completely dark. You’ll be sleeping right in the middle of a lake, surrounded by jungle. When the lights go out, you’ll be able to see one thing clearly—the stars! Because Khao Sok is so remote, there’s no light pollution, giving you a stunning view of the night sky with countless stars. If the weather allows, I highly recommend grabbing your pillow and blanket and lying on one of the plastic rafts. In addition to being in an incredibly beautiful nature park, it’s an unforgettable experience to sleep under a starry sky and count shooting stars.
TIP: Make sure to bring a headlamp for nighttime trips to the bathroom, and a sweater and long pants for the cooler evening temperatures.
Day 2 of the tour
After a broken night’s sleep (whether you slept under the stars or not), the day begins early. At sunrise, you’ll hop on the boat for a small safari. Many animals are active in the morning, and you might see tropical birds, elephants, and monkeys. Your tour guide will provide information and give you space to take the best photos. So don’t forget your camera (with a telephoto lens if you have one).
After the morning boat ride, you’ll have some time to relax at the bungalow before the tour winds down and you head back from the lake.
Famous Khao Sok Limestone Photo
Note that the famous photo of the limestone cliffs is not taken on the first day. This happens on the second day when you’re heading back toward the hostel. The boat will stop at the cliffs, giving you time to take a photo and video. I thought they’d forgotten about this on my tour, but it’s actually scheduled for day two.
Once back on land, you’ll stop for lunch before being dropped off at the hostel, where you can either stay another night or catch the bus to your next destination.
Where to stay
As I mentioned earlier, there are several hostels in Khao Sok. Even if you don’t book your tour with Coco Hostel, you can still stay there because it’s a great place to stay.
Book your hostel: https://www.hostelworld.com
In the main street of Khao Sok, there are several cozy little spots with basic but tasty food.
Where to eat
Unfortunately, Khao Sok is a bit too small for much nightlife. There are a few bars, but most people are there for the overnight bungalow tours, so they’re often empty.