Hidden treasures in Thailand - Khao Sok Nationalpark

 We all know Thailand as a travel country. We know Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Tao and the more in culture interested travellers even know Chiang Mai, Lopburi and Udon Thani. But have you ever heard of the Khao Sok Nationalpark? Me neither. Before my incredible lovely boyfriend showed me this beautiful place when I visited him last Christmas. We are together since almost three years and my presents for birthday and Christmas were always related to travelling. He knows how to make me happy. Who needs a necklace when you can have gorgeous memories?

My prince and I

The Khao Sok Nationalpark is located in the South of Thailand in the Surat Thani Province 200 km North of Phuket. It is considered to be older and more diverse than the Amazon Rainforest.

We were driving there by car within a larger roadtrip throughout our new home country.

From Kanchanaburi we needed about 9-10 hours. We took several breaks and had enough stories to tell after not seeing each other for three months. On our last few kilometres Florian told me what he read on this research on the internet for planning this trip - a mystical, secretive place with a touch of magic. An the closer we came the more we got excited. It was already dark when we turned into the street of our hotel, the Rainforest resort. A family-owned accommodation business with individual little houses to sleep in. No house looked like the other. I was so amazed. Next morning we woke up in paradise.

View from our love nest

Hillside treehouse

After delicious and simple muesli for breakfast we went on our hike through the Nationalpark. We were about 800 metres away from the entrance. Florian took all his heavy photo equipment with him - tripod, reflex camera and lenses. Unfortunately he suffered from a bad cold at this time. I was really proud of him that he made it to the first point on the map with me. In a Nationalpark you have to rethink distances. On the map it looks like it is not far away but while walking it seems like you never reach it. We realized this as we came after 3 kilometres to the first spot for bathing.

Entrance gate of Khao Sok

Monkey climbing up a tree

Gigantic bamboo

After our hiking marathon (haha) we sat again in our cozy Honda cruising in the direction of the Ratchaprapha Dam, the source of energy for electricity in whole Southern Thailand. From the viewpoint of the power station we enjoyed a stunning view over the Khao Sok Lake landscape.

Our hotel offered us right on our arrival guided tours and we said we would come back to that later. We remembered a boat tour across the lake and decided to book the tour when we were back in the hotel. No sooner said than done!

Khao Sok Lake

landscape of hills

Next day we got ready for our longtail boat trip across the lake. It was a half day tour including lunch and kayak paddling starting from our hotel. We were picked up by a van with approximately 10 other people.

Cat demonstrating that she is not a cuddly pussy

We cruised the lake for two hours until we came to a small jetty with red little houses built on water. 

This was our lunch place and we stayed there for one hour. It was not enough. 

The wooden planks over the turquoise water and the silence.. oh the silence. It was so calm and peaceful out there. I could have stayed forever. The small red houses were in fact vacation houses. 

Deeply impressed by a French family with little kids and grandparents spending their holidays so remote from civilisation. 

Kayaking across the lake

Best place for kids to play

The next stop on the lake was a starting point for hiking through the jungle. We climbed off the boat and wandered into the jungle with a guide ahead. Uphill only in the humid tropics. We were so exhausted. Not only us, all attendees sweated their ass off. We were getting annoyed and cantankerous. What is our destination in this thicket?
After endless steps up the hills we got our answer and it was worth it.

Disembark the boat into the jungle

Cave subsurface

It was a cool chilly underground cave with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The sun rays came in from above and the guide illuminated the dark way deeper into this wonder of Mother Nature. Suddenly tons of bats started squeaking, hanging from the ceiling. The huge spider at the wall with tiger stripes made me feel a bit weak at the knees. But isn`t she beautiful?

hand-sized spider at the wall

We had one more night in the jungle of Khao Sok before we left.

If you are planning a trip through Thailand, set this place on your list. 

You won`t regret it.