We flew south to Surat Thani and transferred to the Riverside Cottages in Khao Sok. Khao Sok National Park was set up in 1980, and its rainforest is often said to be older than the Amazon. At the cottages, a thatched walkway led through the jungle greenery.
In the afternoon we took a canoe out on the river to look for wildlife, with the sun coming through the trees overhead. Once it was dark we went into the jungle with a guide on a night safari, using only our torches. We found spiders and civets and plenty of other creatures that come out at night.
Good to know
- Khao Sok National Park: it was set up in 1980. Its rainforest is often said to be older than the Amazon. Foreign adults pay 200 baht at the park headquarters. Thai National Parks
- Night safaris: go with a guide, wear closed shoes and take a good torch.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.