Thai National Parks

Khao Sok National Park is one of the most accessible parks in Thailand. With three nearby airport options and convenient public transportation from many surrounding towns, visiting the park is relatively straightforward. The nearby popular towns are Khao Lak (~2 h), Krabi/Ao Nang (~2 h), Phuket (~2.5 - 3 h), Surat Thani (~1 h), Ko Samui (~4.5-5 h with boat+car transfers), Ko Lanta (~4-4.5 h).

Reaching Cheow Lan Lake within the park may take a bit more effort. When getting to Cheow Lan Lake for a tour starting the same day, you should take a private taxi and avoid public transfer options. The very majority of people trying to reach a tour start in the lake by using public transfers are arriving very late.

Bear in mind that public minivans typically pick up and drop off passengers at multiple hotels and even make detours to nearby villages or houses. This adds significant travel time compared to the estimated routes shown on Google Maps, which assume a direct path.

Via tour operators

If you are staying in Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani and other locations around; While booking tours in Khao Sok National Park, it is possible to book a private pick-up by taxi or minivan from your hotel to the park. To get more details, please send an inquiry for one of the tour packages.

Public transfer options to Khao Sok village

There are minivans departing from Phuket, Khao Lak, Ao Nang, Krabi and Surat Thani to Khao Sok village. These can easily be arranged from hotels on arrival. Often enough the minivans will pick up their passengers from the hotels.

Public transfer options to Cheow Lan Lake

For the public transfer options from the nearby towns to Cheow Lan Lake, minivans from/to Surat Thani will drop off at Ban Tha Khun Town about 13 km from Cheow Lan Pier. There you’ll need an additional transfer to the pier, usually to a songthaew (a shared pickup truck taxi).

Songthaews typically wait until there are enough passengers to fill the vehicle before departing, but they can leave immediately for a fare of 600 Baht.

• This is the songthaew stop in Ban Tha Khun town;
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/SKFDPArJFWV3WYz68
• This is the street view of the place;
  https://maps.app.goo.gl/F9mWMtKCeEnhgCcW7

Songthaews operate from Ban Tha Khun and Cheow Lan Pier every hour.

Airports near Khao Sok National Park

There are three airport options for travelers heading to Khao Sok National Park:

1. Surat Thani International Airport - This is the closest airport, located about 1 hour's drive from Cheow Lan Lake and approximately 1.5 hours from Khao Sok village. It offers some of the most budget-friendly flight options in the area, with connections available from the Bangkok airports, Chiang Mai and the neighbouring countries.

From the airport, minivans are available to take passengers to Surat Thani City, where you can change to another minivan heading to Khao Sok.

2. Krabi Airport - Located east of Krabi City, it is about 2 hour’s drive from Cheow Lan Lake and 2h 45 minutes drive from Khao Sok village. The best way to get to Khao Sok village or to Cheow Lan Lake is with a private taxi.

From the airport, minivans are available to take the passengers to Krabi City where you can change to minivans to Khao Sok village. The minivans won’t depart often towards Khao Sok village.

3. Phuket Airport - Located at the north/west edge of the island, it is about 2.5 hour’s drive to Khao Sok village and about 2.5 hour’s drive to Cheow Lan Lake via a different route. The recommended way to get to both Khao Sok village and Cheow Lan Lake is with a private taxi.

Getting from Ko Samui, Ko Phangan to Khao Sok or Cheow Lan Lake

There are frequent ferry departures to/from Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan to Don Sak area of Surat Thani. The trip to/from Ko Samui is 1.5 hours while from/to Ko Phangan takes around 2.5 hours.

There are 3 ferry companies arranging ferries to the both islands; Seatran, Lomprayah and Raja Ferries. Seatran Ferries has most frequent departures, during the busy hours every half hour or once an hour. Ferry tickets with any of these companies should be arranged online and in advance.

The piers at Don Sak area are a bit over 2 hours drive from Cheow Lan Lake.

Ferry companies may arrange included minivan transfers to/from Surat Thani or Surat Thani Airport. The minivans have connections with other minivan options towards Khao Sok, the drivers will help to drop off at the right spot to continue to Khao Sok or refer to other drivers by calling them.

The ferry prices to/from Ko Samui ranges from 350 Baht up to 700 Baht depending on which company and ferry type (slow/fast).

The ferry prices to/from Ko Phangan ranges from 420 Baht up to 650 Baht depending on which company and ferry type (slow/fast)

Getting from Ko Tao to Khao Sok or Cheow Lan Lake

Lomprayah Tapee Pier a bit north/east of Surat Thani is used for ferries to Ko Tao. Slower sleeper boats take around 9 hours with ferries departing in the evening and arriving in the morning. Various speed boat options can take 3 to 5 hours.

The ferry prices ranges from 950 Baht up to 1,200 Baht per person (2024/25 prices)

Getting from Ko Lanta to Khao Sok or Cheow Lan Lake

When booking a hotel in Ko Lanta, they can arrange minivan transport from/to Krabi Airport to the hotel. It is easy to arrange other minivans from the airport to continue to Krabi Town and from there to other destinations. Minivan drivers are always helpful to drop off at the next minivan stop or call other minivans drivers to come and pick up.

You are not recommended to try to get to Khao Sok with the minivan options. There will be many changes and it may take most of the day. You are better to arrange a private taxi for some bits, i.e. from Khao Sok to Krabi Airport and then change to minivan to Ko Lanta.

Bangkok to Surat Thani sleeper trains

There are sleeper trains leaving from Bangkok and arriving at Surat Thani in the morning. The earliest train would arrive at 4:58 am, but you are recommended to take the ones arriving later.

Bangkok to Surat Thani train schedules;

Bangkok to Surat Thani sleeper buses

Buses are the least popular way to get to Surat Thani, most people prefer either flight or sleeper trains. Buses depart from various stations in Bangkok. A typical bus fare from Bangkok to Surat Thani is around 10 hours.

Private guided tours in Khao Sok lake

Join a private guided tour with your own boat/guide to enjoy 2D/1N or 3D/2N tour in Khao Sok, staying at a floating resort of your choice.

More info