Khao Sok National Park is a popular tourist destination located in Surat Thani of South Thailand. The park is known for its unique natural landscape, featuring a huge man-made lake, stunning karst formations, and diverse wildlife.
It is a good place for nature lovers who like jungle trekking, wildlife spotting, exploring the waterfalls, taking a leisure boat ride to enjoy the stunning scenery and exploring the cave.
Many travelers visit this park while exploring nearby Phuket, Krabi, and Khao Lak. You can take a day trip or stay a couple of nights in Khao Sok and the floating house on Cheow Lan Lake.
You can check these articles to get more information about Khao Sok:
- 9 Best Things to Do in Khao Sok
- My 2-4 Days In Khao Sok Itinerary
- How to Get to Khao Sok & Get Around
In this article, I will help you to look at the best places to stay in Khao Sok and some top hotels in the main village and floating resorts on the lake. So, if you’re looking for where to stay in Khao Sok National Park, keep reading.
Best Areas to Stay in Khao Sok
Khao Sok National Park has two important areas, including Khao Sok Village and Cheow Lan Lake. Khao Sok Village is located at the south area of the park, at the entrance of its headquarters. Cheow Lan Lake is located 70 km away from the main village (around 1 hour drive).
Many visitors spend one or two nights in Khao Sok Village before taking a day trip or, more commonly, an overnight tour to Cheow Lan Lake. The overnight option is especially popular because most people come to experience staying in a floating bungalow on the lake.
I prefer to stay in the village for the entire duration of my time in Khao Sok and take a day trip to Cheow Lan Lake. In my opinion, the experience on a day trip is quite similar to that of an overnight stay.
Another reason is that I’m already familiar with what the floating bungalows look like, and at the time, they seemed quite expensive for me.
At the village, you can choose many hotels on the main road, along the Sok river, or into the jungle. All of these accommodations will help you organise the trip to the lake. If you can ride a scooter, you can consider renting a scooter to explore Khao Sok National Park and the lake at your own pace.
A visit to Khao Sok Lake will typically include a boat ride along the lake, visit the iconic Three Brothers Rock, hiking, and visit the caves. You’ll have lunch at the floating bungalows then swimming and kayaking.
If you stay overnight on the lake, you can have more time to enjoy the breathtaking sunset, sunrise, and evening/ morning boat safari. You’ll have more time for hiking to Krai Sorn Viewpoint, Nam Talu Cave or Coral Cave. Day trips often skip them or rush.
I stayed in three accommodations in Khao Sok. Yes, three-because I traveled to Khao Sok in early January during the high season and booked at the last minute, most hotels were already fully booked.
I was a solo female traveler willing to pay for both mid-range private rooms and dorm rooms. I stayed at Khao Sok River & Jungle Bungalow (good mid-range option), Chillaz Hostel, and Khao Sok Inn Hostel.
They are all located within the main street of Khao Sok, so the transfer between hotels was very easy by walking. You can read the details of my stay in Khao Sok at the end of this article.
My top hotel picks in Khao Sok:
- Mid-range: Khao Sok Tree House Resort
- Budget: Khao Sok River & Jungle Resort
- Budget: Khao Sok Morning Mist Resort
Best Places to Stay in Khao Sok National Park
1. Khao Sok Village (or Klong Sok)
Khao Sok Village, also known as Klong Sok, is the most popular area to stay near Khao Sok National Park. Most visitors stay here at least a night or two before taking day/ overnight trips to Cheow Lan Lake.
The main area of Klong Sok is small and is centered around the 2 km long main street. The street stretches from the entrance to the National Park’s headquarters and the highway 401.
The main street is lined with tourist amenities like resorts, hostels, restaurants, bars, cafes, local minimarts, ATMS, travel agencies, massage shops, and motorbike rentals. You can easily explore everything on the main street on foot.
There are several restaurants that I like to eat in the village including the Black stone Cafe, Khao Sok Eagle, or Nongsaw Thai Food. These are local restaurants serving Thai food, but you can find several places serving pizzas and international dishes.
From the village, you can easily walk to Khao Sok National Park for hiking or taking the night safari tour. You can do it yourself if you only take shorter trails. If you want to hike all the way to Kloi Waterfall Nature, or Sip-et-chan Waterfall, you will need to arrange a local guide or take a group guided tour.
I didn’t take a guided hiking tour. I spent a whole day inside the national park, exploring two trails and the night safari. During daytime, you can hike to Bang Hua Rat waterfall (around 3km from the park’s entrance) and the 2km loop San Yang Roi Trail.
Along the trail, you can spot wild animals like black monkeys (in the bamboo area) and lots of birds, scorpions, and snakes. There are waterfalls, small streams with shades where you can chill and swim.
The entrance ticket is 200 baht for foreigners. I also booked the night safari directly at the park for an additional 500 baht. As I booked a night safari tour, the staff also helped stamp my ticket, so I can use it for the visit to Cheow Lan Lake the lake day.
I highly recommend taking the night safari tour. I was assigned to be a private guide. We saw lots of interesting animals like black monkeys, snakes, grasshoppers, and lizards.
In addition to easy access to several hiking routes inside the national park, Khao Sok village is also located close to The Sok River runs. You can enjoy river activities such as tubing, canoeing and bamboo rafting.
The Khao Sok Village is home to Phantip Khao Sok Minivan office, which is convenient to book minivan ticket to next destinations like Khao Lak, Krabi/ Ao Nang, Phuket, Surat Thani, or islands like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.
If you’re traveling to Khao Sok by bus, most buses stop on highway 401 at the intersection with the village’s main road. From the bus stop you can easily walk or take a short songthaew ride to your hotel (within 2km radius from the bus station if you stay in the main street).
Where to stay in Khao Sok Village:
Khao Sok Riverside Cottages
This is a beautiful 2 star hotel located along the bank of the Sok River, in the middle of the jungle. Surrounded by nature, you can spot some animals from your balcony. If you want to relax and disconnect, Riverside Cottages is a good option.
The Riverside Cottages have spacious bungalows with comfortable beds that come with mosquito nets. They can help organise tours and activities such as day trips to the national park visiting the lake, hiking, canoe trip, jungle cooking, or river tubing.
The downside is that the resort is not located within an easy distance to the town center. But they have a lovely onsite restaurant so you can dine at their place. They have a free scheduled shuttle bus to the town centre a few times a day.
Tree Tops River Huts
Tree Tops has an excellent location right in the heart of Khao Sok Village, near the entrance of the National Park. You can easily walk to the park for trekking and go to the main town for a range of restaurants, shops, and groceries.
You can book a bungalow with a terrace that has views of the river and the jungle. They have an outdoor swimming pool with lots of sunbeds, which is a bonus for relaxing after a day exploring in the jungle.
As many other accommodations located inside the jungle, there are mosquitoes, and insects, so you should be aware of this. Bring insect repellant with you. You’re going to need them for trekking anyway.
Our Jungle House
This is an eco-friendly hotel located along the Sok River, 20 minutes walk from Khao Sok main village. The hotel can help organise excursions to Cheow Lann Lake, as well as activities such as river tubing, hiking, canoeing and elephant bathing.
They have a good onsite bar and restaurant. You can walk to the village for more food options by walking or taking a taxi. The downside of staying in the jungle is that there will be mosquitoes, so be sure to bring insect spray with you.
Khao Sok Las Orquideas Resort
Las Orquideas Resort is conveniently located in the main village of Khao Sok. It is within a short distance from the entrance of Khao Sok National park and many restaurants and bars.
Staff can help to book day trips to the lake, national park, jungle cooking, and the elephant sanctuary. They have an outdoor swimming pool and spacious rooms.
Khao Sok Jasmine Garden Resort
Jasmine is a 3-star hotel centrally located right in the middle of Khao Sok village. You can easily walk to the bus station, restaurants, bars, laundries, massage shops, and the national park.
They have a pool which is a bonus for the hot days. The place is clean and the bed is comfortable. You can have a nice dinner at their onsite restaurant.
Khao Sok Green Mountain View
This is a good value for money family-run hotel in Khao Sok, located in the middle of the forest. It is a popular place to stay in Khao Sok for solo travellers and couples.
They can assist with lots of activities to the park, the lake, as well as bike rentals. It is within a 10 minute walk to the river and a short drive to the main area of town. It was a bit out of the main area of Klong Sok, but the hotel organized free transport to the town for their guests.
Khao Sok Hill Top Resort
This is a budget-friendly option for couples and solo travellers. It has tent and room options. Located on the top of the hill, it has wonderful views. This is a remote, quiet location, and is surrounded by nature. Good place to experience the real Thai countryside. It is a 20-30 minute walk into the village.
2. Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Sok Lake, aka Cheow Lan Lake, is a man-made lake situated within Khao Sok National Park. Spanning approximately 165 square kilometers, the lake is famous for its emerald-green waters, towering limestone cliffs, and floating resorts.
The major activity on the lake is to take a boat ride, admire the striking rock formations, visit the caves, hike to the viewpoint, or stay at a floating bungalow.
The Three Friends Mountain is the most photographed landmark on the lake. It is around 40 minute boat ride from Ratchaprapha Pier. Most tours will stop here for taking photos.
Other attractions on the lake are Diamond Cave, Nam Talu Cave, Coral Cave, and Krai Sorn Viewpoint. The day trip will usually take you to Pra Kai Petch Cave (or Diamond Cave), 1 hour trekking in the jungle, and lunch buffet at a floating house in Klong Ka.
If you stay overnight at Cheow Lan Lake, you will have the time to explore the area more in depth. You can enjoy peace at sunset and sunrise before the crowds of tourists arrive.
The bungalows are typically simple but comfortable, often made of wood with basic amenities like a mattress, fan, and private bathroom (though some may have shared facilities).
Most bungalows are only accessible by longtail boat, adding to the adventure. You’ll likely wake up to mist over the water, hear natural sounds from the forest, and may even spot wildlife like hornbills or monkeys.
Meals are usually included and served buffet-style at a central dining area. There’s no Wi-Fi or cell signal in many parts, which adds to the sense of escape. Popular activities include kayaking, swimming, hiking to caves or viewpoints, and boat safaris at dawn or dusk.
Where to stay in Khao Sok in Cheow Lan Lake:
500 Rai Floating Resort
500 Rai Floating Resort is one of the best places to stay in Cheow Lan Lake and Khao Sok National Park. This 4-star resort offers air conditioning floating bungalows with two bedrooms and a private bathroom.
It is ideal for families and couples who want to have a luxurious experience on the lake. You can enjoy the incredible sunrise and sunset from your own bungalow.
It can be expensive but it is totally worth it being in the middle of a huge lake. To reach the hotel, you’ll need to take a long tail boat from Ratchaprapa pier.
Panvaree Resort
Panvaree is a 3-star budget-friendly option to stay overnight on Cheow Lan Lake. It offers free round-trip transfer from the pier to the resort, which is a bonus. They have air-conditioned villas and suites with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, as well as a terrace with views of the lake.
Panvaree The Greenery
Panvaree The Greenery is a 3-star good value for money hotel in Khao Sok National Park. It is ideal for families and couples. The prices include boat rides, guided tours and meals.
Where did I stay in Khao Sok – My Personal experience
As I mentioned earlier, I stayed at three different hotels in Klong Sok Village because I booked my accommodation at the last minute, and there weren’t many options left.
My advice is that if you are traveling in Khao Sok in the peak season (November to May), make sure to book your accommodation in advance. It is a very popular tourist destination in South Thailand, and the rooms are booked out very quickly.
Khao Sok River & Jungle Bungalow
Location
I loved my stay at Khao Sok River & Jungle Bungalow. The hotel is located in the middle of Klong Sok village, close to everything. It is only 1km from the entrance to Khao Sok National Park, which is convenient to walk there for trekking and night safari tours.
There are a range of restaurants, massage shops, minimarts, and travel agents within a short walk from this hotel. I like to dine at the nearby Black stone Cafe.
Amenities
I booked the queen room with garden views. It was a spacious and clean room in a lush garden setting. The room has both air conditioning and a fan. There was a mini fridge, with two free bottles of water, tea, and coffee. It also has a hanging clothes rack, table and chair outside of the balcony.
The bathroom is also spacious and clean with amenities like shower gel, shampoo, cotton buds, … The bed has a mosquito net but I didn’t need to use it.
The breakfast buffet is also huge. They gave me a menu and I ordered food from there. I had a plate of cut mixed fruits, an omelet with toasties, and chicken porridge.
The owners are nice and friendly. They helped me to book a day trip to Cheow Lan Lake, and gave me a waterproof bag with towels and raincoats before the trip. When I moved to a new hotel, they also gave me a lift to a new place.
I recommend staying at Khao Sok River & Jungle Bungalow for families, couples, and solo travelers who want a central location in the village and easy walk to all amenities and the national park.
Chillaz @Khaosk Hostel
Location
Chillaz is a budget hostel located in the central area of Klong Sok Village. It is convenient for those who want to be in the middle of everything. It is just 2 minutes drive or 12 minutes from the bus stop, which is convenient for those who arrive at Khao Sok by bus/ minivan.
You can also walk to a range of restaurants, local supermarkets, ATMs, bars, and cafes. The entrance to Khao Sok National Park is around 15 minutes from the hotel.
Amenities
I booked a dorm room with 8 bunk beds. The room was clean with a balcony and street views. The bathroom is spacious and clean. They have lockers with locks outside of the room.
The downside was that the bed didn’t have any curtains, so I didn’t feel like I had much privacy. I used my big beach towel to cover the bed, so it wasn’t too bad for me.
Most people stay in the hostel just for one night then go straight to Cheow Lan Lake for the overnight trip the next day. They usually book the lake trip with the owner of this hotel. I booked this hotel because I didn’t have another option. It is still a good and safe place for a night or two.
Khao Sok Inn Hostel
Location
Khao Sok Inn Hostel is located on the main street of Khao Sok Village. It is just 400m ( 5 minutes walk) from highway 401 where the bus stop and transport office are located. It is convenient to book a bus/minivan ticket and catch the bus to the next destination.
The entrance of Khao Sok National Park is 20 minutes from the hostel and all other amenities are within walking distance from the hotel. It is overall a good location for exploration on foot.
Amenities
I stayed in a mixed dorm room at Khao Sok Inn. My bed on the upper bunk was quite big with a steady ladder to climb up. The bed has a thick curtain which is good for blocking the light and keeping privacy.
There are lamps, lockers, clothing hangers, and electronic sockets on the bed. Rooms are clean and there are balconies outside with street and mountain views.
The little downside is that they don’t have lift (which is normal in many places in Thailand), so if you have a medium suitcase (like me), it can be a bit difficult to get it up and down to the room.
It is overall a good place to stay for backpackers and budget travelers. Most people stay a short time as a transfer place to get overnight trips to the lake anyway. The staff were helpful and friendly.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
I personally prefer to stay a couple of nights at Khao Sok Village, then take a day trip to Cheow Lan Lake. Staying a night on the floating house also offers a memorable experience, so you can consider a tour.
Khao Sok is a beautiful place to visit with stunning landscape and magnificent limestone karts. It is also a very touristy area, especially in the high season, so if you want to avoid the crowds, it is best to visit during the low season. I hope you have found a good place to stay in Khao Sok after reading my article. Have a good trip and stay safe!