Due to its remote location, departing Khao Sok can seem challenging. To make it easy, we have therefore prepared this post to help our guests organise their onward trip. We can also arrange private cars to deliver guests to nearly any location in southern Thailand. Below, we also provide information about public transportation from Khao Sok to Koh Samui, Khao Sok to Koh Phangan, Khao Sok to Surathani, Khao Sok to Phuket, and Khao Sok to Krabi. Please read the details below and then make a booking with reception team when you are at the resort. The final section deals with leaving directly from the lake instead of from our resort.
Please note that all prices and times are subject to change, and should therefore be verified with reception on arrival. In addition, the prices we charge for public transportation tickets are the same as all other hotels and shops in Khao Sok.
Khao Sok to Koh Samui and the Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are popular onward destinations from Khao Sok. While getting there can be easy and inexpensive, travels times are often long. Therefore, guests should plan to spend most of the day getting from Khao Sok to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Koh Tao.
The most inexpensive trip from Khao Sok to Koh Samui, Khao Sok to Koh Phangan and Khao Sok to Koh Tao is a joined van+ferry combo ticket. Times and prices are provided below. With this option, the cost of the shared van ticket and ferry ticket are included in one price. The journey starts with a shuttle from the resort into Khao Sok village to rendezvous with the van.
Guests then take the shared van to Surathani bus station and board a different van for the short transfer to Don Sak pier. At Don Sak pier, guests are given a ferry ticket, and board the boat in time for departure.
Please note that this transfer involves a choice of 2 types of ferry:
1. A high-speed passenger ferry (Lomprayah Ferry company), that departs from Tapee pier in Surathani town. This is your only option to Koh Tao, and also serves Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
2. A low-speed car ferry (Raja Ferry company or Seatran Ferry company) departing from Don Sak pier, which is a one hour drive from Surathani town. These ferries serve Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
Khao Sok to Koh Samui and Khao Sok to Koh Phangan
| Depart Khao Sok | Arrive Koh Samui | Arrive Koh Phangan | Price (baht) | Boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 | 1100 / 1200 | Speed boat |
| 08:30 | 14:30 Seatran | 16:30 Raja | 600 / 700 | Ferry |
| 10:30 discontinued | 17:15 | 18:00 | 1000 / 1100 | Speed boat |
| 12:30 | 18:30 Seatran | 19:30 Raja | 650 / 750 | Ferry |
Khao Sok to Koh Tao
| Depart Khao Sok | Arrive Koh Tao | Price (baht) | Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 | 15:00 | 1,350 | Speed boat |
| 10:30 (discontinued) | 19:15 | 1,350 | Speed boat |
For guests with a larger budget, we are happy to arrange a private car from Khao Sok to Koh Samui, via the Don Sak ferry pier. This will increase flexibility around departure times and will save 1-2 hours of travel time. This can be especially useful for catching the high-speed Lomprayah ferry. Guests opting to hire a car will also have the option of taking a slow ferry later in the day. For example, two ferry companies provide services to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan until 19:30 and 18:00, respectively.
You can find more information on the Raja ferry and SeaTran websites. Guests can inquire about costs upon check-in.
Khao Sok to Surathani
Getting from Khao Sok to Surathani has never been easier. Whether taking public transportation, or hiring a private car, guests will find that this outbound transfer is easy and inexpensive. For those on a budget, there are shared vans and buses going from Khao Sok to Surathani town, airport, and train station. These run hourly, beginning at 07:00, and ending at 17:00. Ticket prices are around 150B, and travel time is as follows:
- 1. Khao Sok to Surathani airport: 1.5 hours
- 2. Khao Sok to Surathani train station: 1.5 to 2 hours
- 3. Khao Sok to Surathani town: 2 to 2.5 hours
Additionally, guests can hire a private car from Khao Sok to Surathani locations. Travel time in a private car will be reduced by 30-45 minutes compared to public transportation. Guests can inquire about costs upon check-in.
Khao Sok to Phuket
Getting from Khao Sok to Phuket can be challenging. For any guest going to Phuket, the easiest transfer is via a private car. This is especially true if your destination is the airport or a ferry pier, neither of which can be reached by the bus from Khao Sok.
Public buses leave Khao Sok at approximately 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, and 15:30 (depart Riverside 30 minutes earlier). These times are subject to change so please check with reception for details. The public bus ends its service at the station in Phuket town. Travel time is 4 – 4.5 hours. From here, guests will need to hire a taxi or find a local bus to their destination.
As of January 2020, there are shared vans from Khao Sok to Phuket at 9:00 and 15:30. The cost is between 600 and 800 Baht per person depending on the final destination
Khao Sok to Krabi
Guests going from Khao Sok to Krabi will find their public transportation options limited. For example, there are no public buses making this trip, only shared vans. These vans leave Khao Sok at 08:00, 12:00 and 16:00 (depart Riverside 30 minutes earlier). All transfers with vans from Khao Sok to Krabi will have an option to continue onward to Ao Nang.
Please note: only the 08:00 van from Khao Sok to Krabi is direct! This trip takes 2.5 – 3 hours. The 12:00 and 16:00 trips travel down the coast, passing through Khao Lak and Phang Nga. As a result travel time is significantly longer, and also the van is more crowded. The afternoon vans to from Khao Sok to Krabi are not recommended, due to frequent guest complaints.
Khao Sok to Koh Lanta
The only public transportation option to Koh Lanta is a shared van + ferry combo, leaving at Khao Sok at 06:30. The cost is around 900B, and travel time is about 5 hours. Guests wishing to depart at other times of the day will need to hire a car to take them (via the new bridge) to the island. Please check with reception for transfer prices.
Cheow Larn Lake to…anywhere
The overnight lake trip at Cheow Larn Lake, also known as Khao Sok lake, returns to the national park pier between 13:00 and 14:00. Guests heading east to the Gulf Islands or south to Krabi after the overnight lake trip may find it easier to continue their journey directly from the lake instead of returning to Riverside Cottages. Guests leaving Cheow Larn Lake will find the following options:
- To Surathani town: catch a shared van or public bus from Takun. You will not arrive in Surathani town before 17:00
- To Phuket: catch a public bus in Takun. This will also pass through Khao Sok on the way to Phuket.
- All other destinations: Same-day arrival is not possible via public transportation. See below for information regarding hired cars.
Guests planning on leaving Cheow Larn Lake and traveling directly to their next location via public transport will therefore need to bring their luggage with them for the trip.
The best method to get from Cheow Larn Lake to your next destination is via a private car. Hiring a car will allow guests to leave their large bags in Khao Sok (our driver will bring it to you). Additionally, a hired car allows guests to make the trip from Khao Sok to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan via slow ferry.
While we have tried our best to ensure that this information is accurate and up to date, we once again remind our guests that all prices and times are subject to change, and should be verified with reception on arrival!
Looking for additional travel information? Be sure to visit the directions and useful information pages of our website!
Find your perfect Khao Sok accommodation with us and adventure into the depths of the Khao Sok jungle!
Safe travels!!
