Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand is a large national park with jungle trails, waterfalls and a big lake, Cheow Lan. This guide explains how the park is organised, what the tickets cost, which trails need a guide, when to look for the giant Rafflesia flower and how to get there.
Park fees and opening hours were checked in September 2026. Thai national parks change their fees from time to time, so confirm them at the park before you go. Foreign visitors pay more than Thai visitors, and fees are paid in cash at the gate.
Khao Sok at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Size | 739 km² |
| Established | 1980, as Thailand's 22nd national park |
| Visitor centre | Open daily 08:00–16:30; tel. 077 395 139 |
| Cheow Lan Lake | A 185 km² reservoir behind Ratchaprapha Dam |
| Distances | About 160 km from Phuket, 150 km from Krabi and 220 km from Koh Samui |
| Nearest airport | Surat Thani, about 1 hour by road from Cheow Lan Lake |
The Two Areas of the Park
Khao Sok has two main areas for visitors, and each has its own ticket.
The headquarters (jungle) area. This is where the visitor centre is and where the forest trails to the waterfalls start. It suits walkers who want to spend a day or more on foot.
Cheow Lan Lake (the Ratchaprapha Dam zone). The lake is the reservoir of Ratchaprapha Dam. Visitors come here to see the lake and spend time on the water.
Because each area has its own ticket, plan them as separate visits.
Entrance Fees
The park sells a ticket for each area. These are the fees for foreign visitors:
| Area | Adult | Child (3–14) |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters (jungle) area | 200 THB | 100 THB |
| Cheow Lan Lake | 300 THB | 150 THB |
Thai adults pay 40 THB. The lake fee was raised from 200 THB to 300 THB for adults (and from 100 THB to 150 THB for children) on 1 May 2024, so older websites may still show the lower price.
A few rules to remember:
- Budget for two tickets. If you walk the jungle trails and also visit the lake, an adult pays 200 THB plus 300 THB.
- Keep your ticket. A ticket covers more than one day only if you stay overnight in the park. If you leave the park and come back the next day, you pay again.
- Carry cash. Fees are paid in cash at the gate.
- Ask what a tour includes. If you book a lake trip or a trek through an agency, ask whether the park ticket is included in the price or paid separately.
Cheow Lan Lake
Cheow Lan Lake is not a natural lake. It is the reservoir of Ratchaprapha Dam (also spelled Rajjaprabha), which the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) began building in February 1982. The dam was completed in September 1987 and inaugurated on 30 September 1987. The reservoir it created covers 185 km².
Practical points for a lake visit:
- Ticket: the lake has its own entrance ticket, 300 THB for a foreign adult and 150 THB for a child.
- From the airport: Surat Thani airport is about 1 hour by road from Cheow Lan Lake, so a lake visit fits well with a flight to or from Surat Thani.
- Staying overnight: if you want to spend the night in the park, remember that the ticket then covers more than one day. Accommodation run by the national parks is booked through the Department of National Parks system, which was reported to be down for long periods up to June 2026. Confirm any booking in writing before you travel.
- Water activities: if you swim or paddle, check that your travel insurance covers these activities, and choose an operator that gives you proper safety equipment, such as life jackets.
Jungle Trails and Waterfalls
The trails start in the headquarters area, near the visitor centre. Some can be walked on your own; others need a guide for all or part of the way. These are the main trails:
| Trail | Distance | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Wing Hin waterfall | 2.8 km from the visitor centre | Ask at the visitor centre |
| Bang Hua Rat waterfall | 3 km | Ask at the visitor centre |
| Sip Et Chan waterfall | About 4 km | Needed past the boardwalk |
| Ton Kloi waterfall | 7 km | Needed after the first 2.9 km |
| Look Nam cave loop | 8.5 km (whole loop) | Required |
The distances for the waterfalls are one way, measured from the visitor centre area. Plan the same distance again for the walk back.
Ton Kloi Waterfall
Ton Kloi waterfall is 7 km from the visitor centre. You may walk the first 2.9 km on your own, but you need a guide for the rest. For a shorter walk, turn back before the guided section.
Sip Et Chan Waterfall
Sip Et Chan is about 4 km. The first part follows a boardwalk; past the boardwalk, a guide is needed.
Wing Hin and Bang Hua Rat Waterfalls
These are the shorter walks. Before you set off, ask at the visitor centre whether the trail is open and whether a guide is needed that day.
Look Nam Cave Loop
The Look Nam loop is 8.5 km, and you must walk it with a guide. The cave is closed when rain is forecast, so do not plan your only full day in the park around it. Keep a waterfall walk as a backup.
Tips for the Trails
- Start early. The visitor centre opens at 08:00. Walking is easier in the cooler morning hours, and you have more time to return before it closes at 16:30.
- Hire a local guide for the longer trails. A guide knows the route and can point out plants and animals that you would miss on your own.
- Stay on the marked trail and tell someone at your accommodation where you are going.
- Wear shoes with a good grip. Rocks near waterfalls can be slippery.
The Rafflesia Flower
In Khao Sok you can look for Rafflesia kerrii, a very large flower. In Khao Sok it usually blooms around February, and a flower can reach 70–80 cm across.
If you visit around February, ask at the visitor centre or a local guide whether any flowers are in bloom and whether you can walk to them.
Getting to Khao Sok
- From Surat Thani airport: about 1 hour by road to Cheow Lan Lake. This is the nearest airport.
- From Bangkok: the journey is long. Our guide How to Get from Bangkok to Khao Sok compares the options.
- From Phuket: about 160 km. See also How to Get from Bangkok to Phuket.
- From Krabi: about 150 km. See also How to Get from Bangkok to Krabi.
- From Koh Samui: about 220 km. See also How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
By Private Car with Smile Taxi Service
A private car takes you from your hotel or the airport to the park headquarters or to Cheow Lan Lake, and it can stop on the way. There is no fixed fare for Khao Sok. Message the team on WhatsApp or LINE with your date, pickup address, which area of the park you are going to, and the number of passengers and bags, and ask for a quote.
- Vehicles: a sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 passengers and 4 bags, and a van up to 7 passengers and 5 bags. The price is per vehicle, not per person.
- Extras: a child seat costs 100 THB on request, and extra stops cost 250 THB per hour. You can ask for an English-speaking driver when you book, subject to availability.
- Payment: pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link; a 5% fee is added.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details).
If you fly in or out of Phuket and also visit the Krabi coast, the fixed fare between Phuket Airport and Ao Nang Beach is 2,200 THB by sedan, 2,400 THB by SUV or 3,000 THB by van: book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Ao Nang Beach. All fixed fares are on the price list.
What to Bring and Safety
- Cash in Thai baht for tickets and guides
- Water, a hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket and a dry bag for your phone
- Insect repellent and long trousers
Save these numbers before you set off: Tourist Police 1155, police 191, ambulance 1669 and fire 199. The Khao Sok visitor centre is on 077 395 139.
FAQ
How much is the Khao Sok entrance fee? For a foreign adult, 200 THB for the headquarters (jungle) area and a separate 300 THB for Cheow Lan Lake. Children aged 3–14 pay 100 THB and 150 THB.
Do I need a guide in Khao Sok? For the Look Nam cave loop, yes. On Ton Kloi you need one after the first 2.9 km, and on Sip Et Chan past the boardwalk.
When can I see the Rafflesia flower? Usually around February. Ask at the visitor centre whether any flowers are in bloom.
Does one ticket cover two days? Only if you stay overnight in the park. Otherwise you pay again on each day that you enter the park.
Is there a fixed taxi fare to Khao Sok? No. Send your details on WhatsApp or LINE and the team will quote a price per vehicle.
To plan your transfer to Khao Sok, message us on WhatsApp or LINE.