Surat Thani is the gateway not only to Samui but also the Khao Sok National Park on the mainland. I recently went there on a sleeper train.
This is a summary of my two days in Khao Sok which was one of my best trips in years. I'm already planning to go again at the end of the year.
✅ Two day tour in Khao Sok sponsored by Khao Sok Paradise Resort (khaosokparadise.com). Sleeper train tickets are paid for by 12Go (thaitrainguide.12go.asia/en), sponsor of @ThaiTrainGuide which you can download for free.
🚂 One of the best ways to come to Surat Thani is by night train. I took Rapid No. 167 which left Krung Thep Aphiwat at 18:50. There are two types of Class 2 sleeping cars. One with air conditioning and one with a fan. I took the latter because I like the option of opening a window to take a photo. The price is 504 Baht. With AC it costs 220 Baht more. The train arrives in Surat Thani at 7:47 am.
I was on a tour arranged by Khao Sok Paradise (khaosokparadise.com/tours/). Their Overnight Lake trip costs 2,700 Baht for a group trip and 8,900 Baht for a private trip. This includes accommodation but excludes parking fees. If you just want to do the day tour, it starts at 1,500 Baht.
📷 As part of my tour, I was picked up at the train station and taken to the pier at Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park in Southern Thailand. Covering more than 739 square kilometers, this paradise is known for its pristine rainforests, stunning limestone cliffs and wildlife such as gibbons, hornbills and even elephants.
(If you're not on a tour, you can book a round-trip boat trip for up to ten people for about 2,500 Baht to go to your float raft hotel. This is the overnight price as the boatman stays at the hotel and brings you back the next day. There 15 floating raft hotels. Prices vary from 1,500 baht to 5,000 baht per person for a minimum of two people per room. This includes three meals.)
📷 Lake Cheow Lan is famous for its floating raft houses. As part of my package I stayed at The Laguna Chiewlarn. Activities here include kayaking and swimming as well as long tail boat tours. There is no phone signal and no electricity during the day.
📷 During my travels I did several boat tours to see wildlife. We also did two short trips to waterfalls and caves. I had a really great season and I really want to come back for a different season.
📷 Back on the mainland, I made several stops on my way back to the train station. The first is at Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park in Surat Thani's Phanom District. Everything about it is incredibly photogenic from the entrance archway to the pagoda on the six peaks. Absolutely beautiful view from the top.
📷 The Ban Nam Rad Upper River Forest in Khiri Rat Nikhom District in Surat Thani is famous for its clear turquoise water. But you also have to take a boat along the river. This place is very popular with families on weekends.
🚂 For the return trip to Bangkok I took the Express train No.84. The sleeper trains have air conditioning and the ticket is 804 Baht. I slept well arriving in Bangkok early in the morning.
📍Map of Places I've Been: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N5pDLQ4u8qfoqfRS9?g_st=ihttps://maps.app.goo.gl/N5pDLQ4u8qfoqfRS9?g_st=i
Below you'll find photos and map links of all the places I've visited.
📷 01 – SLEEP TRAIN: This is the Rapid No. 1 night and day train. 167 which I took from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok to Surat Thani. I chose a carriage with open windows and a fan which cost only 504 Baht. The journey was over twelve hours.
📷 02 – WUT TRAVEL & RESTAURANT: A popular restaurant for foreigners across from Surat Thani Railway Station is Wut Travel. It's also a travel hub as they can arrange shared and private van transfers. This is where I was picked up to go to Khao Sok National Park.
📍MAP:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1665335784722030593
📷 03 – PIER CHEOW LAN: This is the pier to Lake Cheow Lan, the starting point to Khao Sok National Park. Tickets are 200 Baht for the national park and 20 Baht to use the pier. Boat transfer back to your hotel around 2500 Baht.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RYYwX2ErCbXpjAC8?g_st=ic
📷 04 – CHEOW LAN LAKE: This is an artificial lake located in the Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province. It was created in 1987 by the construction of the Rajjaprabha Dam, which flooded an area of 185 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by limestone karst.
📷 05 – CHIEWLARN FLOATING RAFTS: There are about 15 floating raft hotels on Cheow Lan Lake. I stayed at Chiewlarn Lagoon as part of a tour. Activities here include kayaking and swimming as well as long tail boat tours.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NFH7m4zPQv7EitYRA?g_st=ic
📷 06 – TOUR OF CHEOW LAN LAKE: I took a two day tour of the national park organized by Khao Sok Paradise (https://www.khaosokparadise.com/tours/). Their Overnight Lake trip costs 2,700 Baht for a group trip and 8,900 Baht for a private trip. This includes accommodation but excludes parking fees.
📷 07 – PRE KIE PHET CAVES: As well as a boat tour around the vast Cheow Lan Lake to see wildlife, we also did two short jungle trips to visit waterfalls and caves.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SjAv1FNrQTK31omb6?g_st=ic
📷 08 – KHAO NA NAI: After completing my tour of Khao Sok National Park, I made a few stops on my way back to the station. The first was at Ban Khao Na Nai. What's interesting is the entrance gate and the stupa on top of the limestone cliff.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aXB3BEt9PdkcoAuj6?g_st=ic
📷 09 – SATISFIED FOREST BAN NAM RAD: Our second stop is a clear pond in the forest. You can row a boat down the river or swim in the turquoise water. Very popular with families on the weekends.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UrqE7Z2bLRign4sK7?g_st=ic
📷 10 – TRAIN TO BANGKOK: There are several sleeper trains from Surat Thani back to Bangkok. I went for Express No. 84. The return train has air conditioning and the ticket is 804 Baht. I slept well arriving in Bangkok early in the morning.
I had a very enjoyable 2 days 3 nights trip to Khao Sok. Taking the sleeper train to Surat Thani is an easy way to get there. I spent two nights on the train and one night on the lake. I will definitely go again
