Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok Nation Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand. Due to its majestic scenery and biological diversity the park is nicknamed the ‘Gui – Lin of Thailand’, which refers to a very beautiful place in China. The name ‘Khao Sok’ is derived from the word ‘ Ban Sop”, which means ‘house of dead bodies’, The Royal Forest Department declared Khao Sok as the 22nd national park of Thailand on December 22nd, 1980. The park has a total area of 738.74 square kilometers, which covers parts of the Khlong Yee and Khlong Pra Sang forests as well as portions of the Krai Son and the Khao Pung sub-districts in the district of Ban Ta Khun and the Khlong Sok and Panom sub – districts in the province of Suratthani.
Geographical Features
The park has a general topographic composition of Limestone Mountains and possesses the scattered peaks of Ka Lo Mountain whose form resembles those of towers. The highest peak to reside in the park measures at 961 m above sea level. The area in which the park is located contains highly acidic, sandy soil that is easily eroded during rainstorms.
Weather Condition
The weather is influence by monsoon winds from both the Indian and Pacific Ocean with rain beginning in late April until late December. Heaviest rain is during May to November. The best time to visit the Khao Sok Park is December to April.
Varieties of Plants and Wild Animals
Khao Sok National Park is a virgin forest where various types of plant life can be found. This includes a number of very rare and sacred tree species such as the Neobalanocarpus heimil. A few other plants that can be seen in this park include the following: Genus Hoper, Chisocheton and Anisoptera etc., as well as small bushes such as the Rafflesia kerrii, palm, rattan, betel palm, and various types of bamboo. The park serves as a home for a wide variety of wildlife such as the gaur, banteng, sambar deer, bear, Malayan tapir, macaque, gibbon, serow, mouse deer, porcupine, marbled cat, wild boar, and Asian wild dog. It also acts as the natural habitat for several for several bird species.

Location and Journey

Khao Sok National Park Mu 6, Khlong Sok Sub-district,, Phanom, Surat Thani, Thailand 84250 Tel. : 0 7739 5154-5,0 7739 5139 Fax : 0 7739 5139, 0 7739 5154 Head's name : Chaitath Boonphupantanti Position : Forestry Technical Officer, Professional Level

By Car

If you choose to drive here simply follow highway route number 401, which is also known as the Suratthani-Takuapa road. Turn right at the 109 kilometer stone and drive along for another 2 km. or until you see the park’s headquarters. If your desired is the Ratchaprapa Dam just turn right to a road at the kolometer stone number 57th -58th Km. after route number 109. Take this road for another 12 km or until you reach the dam.

By Bus

ROUTE NUMBER 444 (air condition bus) TRANSPORTATION TO: KRABI-PHANGNGA-KHAO LAK-TAKUAPA-KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK The bus will depart from Khao sok bus station at daily 09.00 a.m. Please buy ticket on the bus. Start on 5-12-2007 For information,please call 075-663444,080-2802105 or 080-2802116

By Bus

Van Suratthani to Khao sok Ticket to seel Points: - At Khao sok - Lek Shop - At Suratthani - Kaseat 2 market or Darakorn Beauty (Time Table) Suratthani - Khao sok Suratthani vanstation to Khao sok 6.30 8.30 8.30 10.30 10.30 12.30 12.30 14.30 14.30 16.30 17.00 19.00 Khao sok to Suratthani vanstation 7.15 9.30 8.30 10.30 10.25 12.25 12.40 14.40 14.20 15.30 16.30 18.30 Price for 1 Person - Khao sok - Suratthani 120.- - Suratthani - Khao sok 120.- - Surathani - Ban Takun 80.- - Bantakun - Suratthani 80.-

Accommodations

Booking can be arranged through in this website or telephone booking at +66 2562 0760. Reservation can be made 60 days in advance. Payment at Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited, needs to be done within 2 days after the reservation is being made. Foreign clients who perform online accommodation booking from outside Thailand must transfer the accommodation fee (except bank service charge) to Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited, Thailand, account number 039-6-02816-0. It is important to e-mail The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to np_income@dnp.go.th with the following information : 1) Booking Code. 2) Name of booking person as shown in the booking information. and 3) Name of National Park that has been booked. more

Status = Online Reservation

Zone	Service Name	Bed rooms	Bath rooms	Guests/ Unit	Price/ Night	Facilities	Reserve
Zone 1	1. Khao Sok 101 (Sane Chan Khiaw)	1	1	2	800	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, water heater, towel
Zone 1	2. Khao Sok 911/1 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	3. Khao Sok 911/2 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	4. Khao Sok 911/3 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	5. Khao Sok 911/4 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	6. Khao Sok 911/5 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	7. Khao Sok 912/1 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	8. Khao Sok 912/2 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	9. Khao Sok 912/3 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	10. Khao Sok 912/4 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 1	11. Khao Sok 912/5 (Youth Hoste)	1	0	6	600	mattress (3.5 feet bed), fan, toilet
Zone 4	12. Khao Sok 841/ 6 (Ton Tert 6)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 4	13. Khao Sok 841/ 7 (Ton Tert 7)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 4	14. Khao Sok 841/ 8 (Ton Tert 8)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 4	15. Khao Sok 841/ 9 (Ton Tert 9)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 4	16. Khao Sok 841/10 (Ton Tert 10)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 5	17. Khao Sok 851/ 5 (Krai Son 5)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 5	18. Khao Sok 851/ 6 (Krai Son 6)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 5	19. Khao Sok 851/ 7 (Krai Son 7)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 5	20. Khao Sok 851/ 8 (Krai Son 8)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet
Zone 5	21. Khao Sok 851/ 9 (Krai Son 9)	1	0	2	400	mattress (no bed), toilet

Note : Extra visitors will be charged as follows: bungalow or terrace house 100 baht /person/night, dormitory 50 baht/person/night. Bedding will not be provided.

Zone	Zone Name	Zone Detail
Zone 1	Khao Sok 101-103	Bungalow, Headquarters area
Zone 1	Khao Sok 911/1-5	Youth Hoste, Headquarters area
Zone 1	Khao Sok 912/1-5	Youth Hoste, Headquarters area
Zone 2	Khao Sok 201-203	Bungalow, Ranger Station 2, Khang Cheaw Lang area, Lake site, tel +66 7734 6042
Zone 4	Khao Sok 841/1-5	Foating House, Ranger Station 4 area (Khlong Pae)
Zone 4	Khao Sok 841/6-10	Floating House, Ranger Station 4 area (Khlong Pae)
Zone 5	Khao Sok 501	Bungalow, Ranger Station 7 area (Krai Son), Lake site
Zone 5	Khao Sok 851/1-5	Floating House, Ranger Station 7 area (Krai Son)
Zone 5	Khao Sok 851/6-10	Floating House, Ranger Station 7 area (Krai Son)

Online Reservation's Calendar Click here Online Reservation Click here

Meeting Room

Tourist Attractions

Beautiful Nature

Bang Hua Rat Waterfall

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Bang Lab Nam Waterfall

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Diamond cave Pra Kay Petch cave

Khang Cow Cave thousands of bats live in this large chambered cave. You can hear them twittering and squeaking and will smell their distinctive aroma as you explore the cave with its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Please do not shine torches up onto the bats, as this will disturb them, as will loud noise.

Activities : Cave/Geological Touring

Mai Yai Waterfall This is the only waterfall that can be reached by car. It is located next to the Suratthani-Takuapa road (also known as 113rd km), or 5.5 kilometers away from the headquarters. The waterfall, although is only one-level high, measures an approximate 30 meters in height. The best time to visit this waterfall is during the rainy season.

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Nam Ta-lu Cave It’s located at Ranger Station 4 near by Ratcha Prapa dam’s reservoir. It can be accessed by boat only. Taking boat at Ratcha Prapa port, it takes only 15 minutes to go to the start walking point, then walk further about 2 km long, you will reach the cave eventually. The cave’s entrance is 30 meters width and inside is wide with a beautiful scenery stalactites and eroded stones. Interestingly, there is a stream runs through the cave along the 500 meters length.

Activities : Cave/Geological Touring View

Rafflesia Kerrii Meijer Among all flora in the world, Bua Phut or Rafflesia is the largest bloom. Rafflesia amoldii, found in lndonesia, is about 100 cm. in diameter. it is one of nature's wonders when this kind of plants displays its red blooms isn lush evergreen rainforest. People who live in the South call this species Bua Tum or Bua Phut. it is a parasitic plant with fiber-like tissue. it subsists on roots and trunks of the wild grape family known as Yan Kai Tom (Tetrastigma sp.) Bua Phut sucks nutrient and water from its host. We can spot this mysterious species only when its reproductive period arrives. Their small buds appear along its host's trunk. it takes lt takes about 9 months for these miniature buds to grow larger and larger like a giant cabbage. After this, the flowers only bloom for 7 days. Since the male and female flowers are separated, the blooming must be coincidental. This means that there is a relatively short time for insects to pollinatal. the female flower. With this natural comstraint, Bua Phut is on the endangered species list. Local Malaysian, Indonesian, and Thai believe that the bloom of Bua Phut has curative power. Flower buds boiled with water can help restore the uterus of post-natal's woman to a normal condition. However, western medical science does't recognize any of Bua Phut's medicinal properties. In Thailand, Bua Phut can be found in the area of Isthmus of Kra in Ranong Province and down along the Phuket Ranges to Narathiwat's border. Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani boasts the largest source of Bua Phut. The wonderful blossome take turn displaying their charming beauty all year round. The most perfect time to appreciate its wonder runs between November and April since trkking through the jungle is rather convenient. But Khao Sok National Park has encountered the painful experience of losing this species once abundant at Khuan Luk Chang because of visitor's ignorance. Its hosts, young buds, snd small blooms were trampled again and again because tourists want to get close to the miraculous posy to take the pictures. As a result, the populations of Bua Phut once thriving at the kilometer marker 111 and Khao Song Nong is also ever-decreasing. Beside, Bua Phut flowers is decreasing in size at an alarming rate in the last 2 years. (2002-2003). Khao Sok National Park and the National Park, wildlife, and Plant Conser vation Department then joined forces together to take an urgent measure to rescue the flora from disappeared. Official team surveys the forest and make fences around area where Bua Phut flourishes. Now getting close to the blooming flowers is prohibited. Elevated foot path is built so visitors can appreciate their beauty at specific distance, hence protecting Yan Kai Tom vines and Bua Phut from being crushed and ruined. Besides local villagers are trained to be amateur guides escorting visitors to see the giant flowers. Thus generating extra income for the community. Most importantly, villagers can develop strong attachment to the natural enviromnent and feel the need to cherish and protect it for sustainable use and development.

Activities : Nature trail study flowers admiring

Ratchaprapa Dam this large man-made dam was built to provide hydro-electricity for Surat Thani and other towns. Over 100 islands dot this massive lake, most of the clustered in the narrowest part of the lake, an area known as 'Chong Kaeb Khao Ka Loh'. The dam is a 65 Km. drive from Headquarters. Local people run boat trips and trekking around the Dam as part of an eco-tourism project.

Activities : Rafting-Canoeing-Kayaking Canoeing-Kayaking View

Si Ru Cave Approximately 4 kilometers in distance from the Nam Tha Lu cave, this cave has around 4 entrances that was once used by commuists residing in the country.

Activities : Cave/Geological Touring

Sip Et Chan Waterfall water pours over the 11-stepped staircase of rocks that makes up this attractive waterfall. The large pool at the bottom is great for swimming - you will need cooling down after walking the 4km from the headquarters

Activities : Nature trail study Waterfall Traveling

Tang Nam Two majestic cliffs that can be seen facing each other; it can be located on the deep end of the Sok canal and serves as the habitat for a variety of fish species. Tang Nam is just 6 kilometers away from the headquarters and requires 3.2 kilometer walk and 3.2 kilometer from the Bang Wing Hin Waterfall.

Activities : Cave/Geological Touring View Trekking

Tharn Sawan Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall along a tributary of the Sok River. The forest torest trail leading here is difficult and requires wading along the stream bed for the last 1 km. This is slippery and can be dangerous during rainy season when the warter is at full force.

Activities : Nature trail study Waterfall Traveling

Ton Kloi Waterfall A beautiful one-level waterfall on the Sok canal and has a consistent water stream flowing all year round. It is located approximately 7 kilometers from the headquarters, or 1 kilometers away from the Tang Nam.

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Wing Hin Waterfall is an attractive waterfall on Klong Sok River. Huge boulders litter the stream about 20 m. from the base of the falls. You can use these boulders as stepping stones to cross the river. The attractive crossing point is known locally as 'Bang Wing Hin' or 'Narrow Running Rocks'. The waterfall is about 2.5 km. from the Headquarter.

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Adventure

Bang Hua Rat Waterfall - Lum Khlong Sok Bang Hua Rat Waterfall - Lum Khlong Sok is a big rapids water which drop down looks like stair, and famous place for shooting the rapids by boat.

Activities : Nature trail study Rafting

Km.99 - Khlong Pae

Activities : Rafting-Canoeing-Kayaking Cave/Geological Touring flowers admiring Trekking

Nature Education

Nature Trail

Activities : Nature trail study flowers admiring

Facilities

Men's restroom There are toilets for men.

Women's restroom There are toilets for women.

Accommodation Floating house

Accommodation Floating house

Accommodation Bungalows are available in the park at headquarters.

Camping site Campground is available for visitors.

Youth hoste National Park provides youth hoste at headquarters.

Parking National Park provides parking lot for visitors.

Food services Restaurant is available in the park.

Soft drink kiosk

Souvenir shop Souvenir is available in the park.

Docking , Boat Tie-up , Wharf National Park provides dockage.

Visitor center Visitor Center is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Khao Sok National Park Mu 6, Khlong Sok Sub-district, Amphur Phanom Surat Thani Thailand 84250 Tel. 0 7739 5154-5,0 7739 5139 Fax 0 7739 5139, 0 7739 5154 E-mail khaosok_np@hotmail.com