Just an hour’s drive from our luxury boutique residence lies Khao Sok National Park, an ideal place to get close to the wildlife and discover the beauty of Thailand’s jungles.
Widely thought of as one of the world’s oldest evergreen rainforests, Khao Sok National Park is a must-visit destination for guests looking to explore Thailand’s stunning natural beauty and discover its wonderful wildlife. Exploring this stunning rainforest landscape and its majestic waterfalls, striking limestone cliffs, amazing flora and the stunning Cheow Larn Lake is certainly worth the one-hour car journey from The Sarojin.
From hiking through the dense rainforest and canoeing down the river to spotting some of the amazing animals and fascinating fauna that call this place home, we’ve rounded up some of the best things for you to see and do in Khao Sok National Park.
Fascinating flora and one of the world’s biggest flowers
It is said that in Khao Sok approximately 200 different floral species are found per hectare, meaning it is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world.
Being part tropical rainforest and part tropical evergreen forest, Khao Sok is home to a wide range of interesting plants, including the vibrant red rafflesia arnoldii flowers. Growing up to 90cm and weighing up to 7kgm, the rafflesia arnoldii is one of the world’s biggest blooms and is an amazing sight to see. Just don’t get too close, while these flowers look stunning, they exude a strong unpleasant smell – this is one flower to appreciate from a distance.
The pitcher plant is another intriguing plant that calls Khao Sok home. Also known as monkey cups, this is a carnivorous climbing plant that feeds predominantly on insects. They come in all shapes and sizes from round to elongated and can reach to heights of around 15m, attracting prey with their bright colours and fragrant smells.
Other plants to look out for include species of liana which climb between trees in the canopy and close to the ground, fig trees, coconut palms and banana trees.
Awe-inspiring Animals
Covering an amazing 739 square kilometres, Khao Sok National Park is home to a wonderful array of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Malayan sun bears, clouded leopards, gibbons, tapirs, pangolins, mouse deer and elephants are among the 48 majestic mammal species that call this park home.
Keen birdwatchers will love discovering the 311 species of bird native to the park, including olive-backed sun birds, blue-winged pittas, crested serpent eagles and wreathed hornbills.
Other animals that can be spotted in the park include Asian water monitors, mangrove snakes, common tree frogs, cicadas and atlas moths.
Some of these animals are easy to spot, while others are rare and very hard to catch a glimpse of, but no matter what you see, you are guaranteed to enjoy a day exploring this national park.
Getting Around Khao Sok
Hiking is one of the most common ways to explore the national park but canoeing is also a fantastic way to experience this thriving jungle. As you sail down the river, you’ll get to spot playful monkeys, bright kingfishers and snoozing snakes.
The best, and safest way, to explore Khao Sok is with an expect guide who can tell you all about this amazing jungle and its wonderful wildlife.
To help our guests discover the beauty of Khao Sok we offer two great Jungle Adventure experiences to the national park. Take our Rachaprapha Dam excursion to cruise the emerald waters of Cheow Larn Lake in a traditional Thai longtail boat or hike and canoe through this beautiful jungle with our Khao Sok excursion, whichever you choose you’re sure to have an amazing day in Khao Sok!
To protect this beautiful environment and take care of yourself, please be careful where you tread and always follow guide’s instructions.
