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Khao Sok National Park

Mountains covered by evergreen rainforest.

By Javi Lorbada

November 5^th, 2018

Khao Sok National Park was one of those places that left me in awe. A nature reserved in southern Thailand, in my opinion, a do not miss area, even though it's been man-made a touristy destination, I found myself kayaking alone through the lake enjoying a sunset surrounded by limestone formations, virgin jungle, and evergreen rainforest, and that was a priceless moment.

Let's dive into the three days we wandered around!

Palm tree perfection.

Day 1

Remember we were coming from a few days in Koh Phayam, a boat first, and then a drive for three hours. of Fast and furious driver

Finally, arrived at the park area, check in at the hotel, and it was hot! 37 ℃ and humid rainforest. In there we checked options we had to do the coming days and went for a hiking and an overnight at a floating house in the lake.

In the afternoon we went for a hike around 6 km, easy one, but warm and humid, the endpoint was a waterfall, no much water since it was dry season, and we had an unexpected bath, Clara, unfortunately, dropped her iPhone into the water, without hesitation she went straight to catch it, as I said, there was no much water, but knee deep. She was a bit nervous, we were traveling for another three months. Uwe and I got to the place where she dropped it, nothing here, nothing there... I finally saw with the headlamp, it wasn't deep and even though it could be underneath a rock I could save it, a bit more scouting here and there... we got it!

An iPhone for 5 minutes in deep water seemed to be alright, so we hiked back and bought rice for the phone, and some more for us to dinner.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Day 2

A trekking day, we met our guide at 8:30 and he drove us at the starting point, a staircase into the jungle. The first part, about 1h 30 min was very steep, going to the top of the mountain I was expecting a viewpoint but we just had a deep jungle, feeling great nonetheless.

Descending was easy too but I started to feel so warm, I didn't really handle those temperatures very well, the humidity, I believe above 90%, plus, more than 35 ℃ it made me suffer.

Around 12:30 we arrived at Than Sawan Waterfall, amazingly beautiful, multiple tiers layered waterfalls, very high, more than 30 meters. Pictures took me some time and our guide was worried about me going alone on the waterfall descend, I must admit it was slippery and difficult, there were some ropes to hold yourself to, but still.

As soon as I arrived at the waterfall puddle I got my clothes off and jump into the water, very fresh, cold, I loved the feeling, I really needed that kind of break.

The after lunch walk was similar, deep into the jungle by the riverside, slippery as well, especially at the river crossing. Once again this heat hit me hard, sweating like in the sauna I was struggling, luckily there was another place at the river where I could take a bath, thankfully we had those breaks, otherwise, I would have suffered hardly.

Bath finished, against my will, we continue the hike, not much more, 3km through a less deep jungle where we encounter some monkeys from different species and finally we arrived at the supermarket where I got plenty to of cold water and an ice cold beer. As we were all kinda tired we just chill out at the hotel until dinner time.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Day 3

We had booked this tour 1 night 2 days at the lake, our expectations were really high, from what I saw in pictures and videos the scenery around this lake it's unique and spectacular.

At 9:00 they picked us up from the hotel, about a 1h drive they say, but all of the sudden we stop at a different town for no apparent reason, our driver doesn't speak much English so we just have to wait for more than 30 min. Not a good start.

Once we receive instructions from someone else we move on to the lake pier, and once we arrive I start seeing the magnificence of this park lake. I also see hundreds of tourists and boats, unexpected although I didn't inform myself very well, this look a bit like a tourist trap.

Having bought the park tickets and on the long tail boat we head towards our little house for the night, like I said, we are about 40-50 people on the same boat heading the same direction, and at the arrival of the overnight floating houses, there are hordes of people coming in. I felt very sad and disappointed, but here I am, can't help it now.

After lunch, the activity is to do jungle trek and walking through the long cave, which I decided to skip and stay along at the floating house and take the kayak myself into the sunset.

Well, that was the best decision I believe, I had the lake for myself, kayaking through one island to another and enjoying the spectacular landscape, and immediately this tour turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

Khao Sok National Park

I kept kayaking until the sun is set, and come back to the little house, it takes longer than I expected due to currents against my direction, but I arrive just in time for dinner.

When I thought the day had finished and I was getting to bed, I look through the window and saw some stars, so I decided to give it a try.

Oh boy! The moon on one side, stars and reflections on the other, such a great end of the day. And I learned a lesson, a bad start doesn't mean a bad end. Incredibly happy with the result of today I go to sleep.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Day 4

The previous night went a bit late with some stargazing, so in day's 4 morning I had a hard time to wake up, did for sunrise though, the whole lake was moody, covered by this morning mist I decided not to take de kayak and join the tour morning boat safari.

Safari is a big word for that, we did not see any wildlife around which it was expected to me, on the other hand the scenery doesn't cease to amaze me, the green water and those rocky cliffs totally deep in jungle trees are similar to nothing I've see before, maybe Halong Bay could look alike.

After the "morning safari" and breakfast we had an hour to play around with the kayaks, that's how I felt during the tour, we were "just a bunch of kids playing around", so we did 😬.

Back on the boat we had a trip back to the pier, some stops in between, a cave which I didn't go in, and the most touristy place in the park, the rocks emerging from the water, I couldn't count the amount of boats we were there.

The rest of the day was just relax, swimming pool and dinner.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Thanks for following along! Up next: Lanta & Phi Phi Islands

Share your thoughts in the comments, or drop me an email for any question.

Instagram @javilorbada & Polarsteps @javilorbada

Footnotes

Fujifilm X-T2 + 16mm F1.4 + 18-55mm F2.8-4 + 55-200mm F3,5-4,8 + DJI Mavic Pro

FootNotes

Fujifilm X-T2 + 16mm F1.4 + 18-55mm F2.8-4 + 55-200mm F3,5-4,8 + DJI Mavic Pro

© 2026 Javi Lorbada

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