Khao Sok: Fees, Lake Tours, Season, How to Get There

A foreign adult pays THB 300 and a child THB 150 at Khao Sok National Park. Vans leave Surat Thani town every hour from 07.30 to 17.30 and take about 2.30 hours. One operator prices a private Cheow Lan day tour at THB 7,900 for one person and THB 2,000 each for six, park fee extra.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

A foreign adult pays THB 300 at Khao Sok National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาสก), and a child pays THB 150. Vans from Surat Thani town leave every hour, so the park works as a day trip or an overnight stop on the way between the Gulf and the Andaman coast.

Khao Sok entry fee and lake tour prices

The tourism authority lists the foreigner fee at THB 300 for an adult and THB 150 for a child. The June 2022 national schedule puts Khao Sok in Group 2, at THB 200 for a foreign adult and THB 100 for a child. We recommend carrying THB 300 per adult in case the gate charges the higher figure.

A child for this schedule is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm, and children under 3 are exempt. A foreigner means anyone without Thai nationality. A 4-wheel car pays an extra THB 30 under the June 2022 schedule.

The fee for the park is separate from any lake tour. One operator’s private day tour costs THB 7,900 for a booking of 1 person, THB 4,400 each for 2 and THB 2,000 each for 6. Those rates were read on 24 October 2026, and the park entrance fee is paid separately. The transfer to the lake from nearby towns is also extra.

What to see at Khao Sok

The park covers 738.74 square kilometres, including the area north of the Rajjaprabha Dam. That dam is also called the Chiao Lan Dam, and its reservoir has over 100 small islands. Most boat trips and tours on the reservoir leave from the Chiao Lan Thetsaban pier.

On the water, Khao Sam Kloe is a trio of limestone peaks rising from the reservoir. The Pakarang Cave, the cave of corals, is looked after by the park’s Forest Protection Unit. The day tour in the price table above visits Pra Kie Phet Cave, also known as Diamond Cave, and serves lunch at a floating raft house.

Short on time, expect a limited day. Viewpoint visits and waterfall hikes are generally only possible farther away at the remote end of the lake. Staying overnight on a floating raft house is what the lake is known for, and if you booked private raft accommodation, most of the resorts offer a free ferry.

On land, bamboo rafting on Khlong Sok is approximately 3 kilometres and takes 45 minutes to 1.30 hours. Prices start at 250 baht per person, and the recommended times are morning and evening.

Who it suits (and who should skip it)

• Travellers crossing between Surat Thani and the Andaman coast: vans serve both sides.
• Groups of six who want the private day tour, since the rate falls to THB 2,000 each for 6.
• Visitors who want to sleep in the park: it has bungalows, tent sites and welfare shops.
• Solo travellers on a day budget should skip the private tour: it costs THB 7,900 for 1 person.
• Anyone short on time should skip the lake day trip if viewpoints and waterfalls matter, since those sit at the remote end.

How to get to Khao Sok

From Surat Thani town, vans for the park entrance leave every hour from 07.30 to 17.30 at the small bus station at Talat Kaset 2. The trip takes about 2.30 hours. You can also call for a van to pick you up at Surat Thani Train Station.

Going back, vans leave the park-entrance intersection every hour from 06.30 to 16.00. The guesthouses and van terminal in front of the entrance are very popular with foreign tourists. The park office phone is 0 7739 5139.

For the reservoir itself, public vans run by Phantip (1970) Co., Ltd. serve Surat Thani town to Ratchaprabha Dam Pier. The Surat Thani stop is the small bus station at Kaset Market 2, serving 08.00 to 18.00. The dam-side stop serves 06.00 to 14.30, and the trip takes 1.30 hours. Ask the driver for the municipal pier or the viewpoint above the dam.

From the Andaman side, vans run from Krabi, Phang Nga, Thung Maphrao, Thap Lamu, Khao Lak and Takua Pa to the park. They stop at the intersection at the park entrance.

To reach Surat Thani first, driving from Bangkok is 660 kilometres and approximately 7 hours. Trains leave Bangkok Apiwat Railway Station and stop at Surat Thani Railway Station, and a bus runs from the airport into Surat Thani city. Our Bangkok to Koh Samui guide and Bangkok to Krabi guide cover the routes that pass Surat Thani.

When to go and how long

The rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October. Plan for it before you book the cave: Tham Nam Thalu cave is closed from 1 June to 30 November, and the Sip-et Chan waterfall is closed all year.

Allow a full day for the private lake tour, which runs 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM from Cheow Lan Lake Pier. Add a night in the park if you also want the bamboo raft. In the rain, take rain clothing.

Nearby and how to combine it

Khao Sok fits between the Gulf islands and the Andaman coast. From the Gulf side, see the Surat Thani to Koh Samui ferry page and the Koh Phangan guide.

On the Andaman side, pair it with the Krabi and Ao Nang guide or the Similan Islands season. Other park fees are in our national park fees guide.

Before you go

• Carry THB 300 per adult and THB 150 per child in cash.
• A child pays the child rate when aged 3 to 14 or up to 140 cm tall.
• Check which cave and waterfall are closed for the month you visit.
• Pay the park fee separately from any tour.
• Carry rain clothing in the rainy season.
• Keep the park office number, 0 7739 5139, handy.

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Not confirmed: Entry fee: the tourism authority lists THB 300 for an adult, while the 2022 schedule for Group 2 parks is THB 200, so carry THB 300 and read the ticket. Boat and raft-house rates: no official tariff was readable, so confirm the lake boat fare with your operator. Best month for the lake: no official source was read.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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