Khao Sok Travel Guide – How many days to stay in Khao Sok?

Hi – are you thinking of going to the national park? If so you will be glad of our Khao Sok travel guide. We will help you decide how many days to stay in Khao Sok. First things first:

A fair question if you haven’t been. The National Park is 100% worth going to if you are in Southern Thailand.  It is an absolute must if you are traveling between Phuket, Krabi and/or Koh Samui. It is easy to get here from all three popular beach destinations.  Enjoy a jungle escape and wildlife adventure away from the crowded party towns. Read this page for directions.

Activities are available for families, couples and backpackers alike, so it’s definitely worth including in your travel itinerary to Thailand. It is an incredible adventure playground suitable for all ages.

This Khao Sok travel guide will help you to decide how many days to stay in Khao Sok.

1 night at the Khao Sok National Park

The National Park tours usually require at least a 1 night stay in Khao Sok. You will need time to explore the park and many tours begin in the early morning. Although it is possible to get a taste for the place on a one morning or evening safari, it is not recommended for really exploring the lake or jungle. Booking a 1 night, 2 day tour to Cheow Lan Lake is essential. Adding an extra night near the entrance to the park is recommended. This will help you to get the most out of your visit. The majority of our guests book at least a 2 night stay. They usually enjoy a night at Khao Sok Riverside Cottages and a night at a floating bungalow on the lake.

Please be aware that, due to the remote location of Cheow Lan Lake, you will find very limited facilities. There is no air conditioning or Wi-Fi connection. Do you enjoy your creature comforts and are you afraid of creepy crawlies?  If so, staying in a comfortable resort near the entrance to the park would be a good option for a 1 night stay. A guided trek or canoe safari is a great experience, but wildlife sightings are more likely if you head deeper into the jungle. This is only possible during a 2/3 night stay.

2 night stay in Khao Sok National Park

You will need at least 2 days in order to enjoy the incredible nature and variety of activities available. Most visitors choose to stay 1 night near the entrance to the park, before staying on Cheow Lan Lake. Staying in an accommodation in the jungle is a perfect introduction to the nature and wildlife of the area. The hotels and resorts along the Sok River offer a relaxed vibe before, and after, transferring to a floating bungalow on Cheow Lan Lake. See our most popular Riverside & Rafthouse Package.

Staying 2 nights at Riverside Cottages provides a taste of the jungle lifestyle with beautiful wooden cottages set along the river. We are just a short ride to the park. The location along the river provides the opportunity for canoe, bamboo raft and tubing safaris. You can then visit Cheow Lan Lake on a day trip, where you can kayak on the lake or hike in the jungle, before returning to Riverside Cottages. See our Rainforest Adventure & Khao Sok Lake Tour.

For those looking for a more relaxing 2 night itinerary, we offer cooking classes, elephant experiences and craft workshops, as well as massages and hot spring visits. See our Khao Sok Delight Package.

3 night stay in Khao Sok

A 3 night stay offers the chance to see more wildlife and enjoy your adventures at a more relaxed pace. Transfers from the entrance to the park to the accommodation on the lake take around 2-3 hours. This is a good option if you want to spend less time traveling and more time relaxing or doing activities. Perhaps a half day hike into the park would be your best option. You will have an increased chance of wildlife sightings in the deep jungle. See our Khao Sok Jungle Tour.

A 3 night itinerary can also include a 2 night stay on Cheow Lan Lake. This is a more luxurious option as it will require a private guided tour and choice of an air conditioned floating bungalow. It is a popular choice for families or couples, who would like more flexibility of activities and accommodations on the lake. It is only on a custom tour to Cheow Lan Lake that you can visit Klong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, where you have the best chance of seeing wild elephants. Contact us for more details on a private, tailor made itinerary.

You can explore parts of the park by yourself but guided tours are highly recommended. Solo travelers will need to book a guided group tour to Cheow Lan Lake, as accommodation at the floating bungalows is very limited and very popular, especially in the high season (mid-November – mid-April). Solo travelers can pay a single supplement for their own room on the lake. If a solo traveler doesn’t want to pay a single supplement, they can book a lake tour through a local hostel instead.

What activities require a guide? There are some hikes that you can do without a guide, but you will lack a deep understanding of the flora and fauna around you. Exploring the surrounding area by scooter is a popular option. There are stunning viewpoints and interesting temples, but you will need to know where to go.

Now that you have decided how many days to stay in Khao Sok it is time to consider booking your accommodation and tours. Do you even need to book in advance? Well, you will definitely need to do so between mid-November and mid-April, the busiest time in Thailand. This is especially true for booking accommodation on Cheow Lan Lake. Accommodation is extremely limited on the lake due to the remote location and its popularity with tourists.  You shouldn’t expect to just show up and book onto a lake package last minute. Last minute rooms may become available but the best resorts, and their lake packages, will fill up very quickly. There is no guarantee.

Tourist low season is from late-April to early-July. At this time it should be possible to book an accommodation or lake package a day or two in advance, or even on the same day. The same can be said for transfers to/from Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui. However, this cannot be guaranteed so plan your visit accordingly.

If you are planning a stay at Riverside Cottages they will be very happy to give you the best advice and help with all your booking requirements – including tours!