The park contains the Rafflesia kerrii, one of the world's largest flowers, which can reach up to 80 centimeters in diameter.
Cheow Lan Lake contains submerged forests, now visible as dead tree trunks rising from the water level near the shorelines.
The rainforest is estimated to be approximately 160 million years old.
Khao Sok features a high concentration of karst topography, consisting of vertical limestone towers created by tectonic uplift.
The park is home to the hornbill, with nine of the thirteen species found in Thailand residing here.
Khao Sok National Park is one of the world's oldest evergreen rainforests, believed to be older and more biodiverse than the Amazon. The landscape is dominated by towering karst limestone formations and the expansive Cheow Lan Lake, which was created in 1982 by the construction of the Ratchaprapha Dam. The park serves as a critical habitat for endangered wildlife, including clouded leopards, Malayan sun bears, and the rare Rafflesia kerrii. Visitors can explore the dense jungle canopy and karst caves or stay in floating raft houses on the reservoir. The park's primary ecosystems consist of primary rainforest, freshwater lake, and limestone crags. Water activities on the lake include kayaking and long-tail boat expeditions to limestone inlets. Terrestrial exploration focuses on hiking trails starting from the park headquarters area. Biodiversity monitoring indicates this area contains over 5% of the world's total species.
The Guilin of Thailand lookout point, accessible via long-tail boat on Cheow Lan Lake.
Bring a high-quality dry bag to protect electronics and documents from humidity and sudden tropical downpours.
Use leech socks or tuck trousers into socks when trekking to prevent leech bites in damp sections of the forest.
Book accommodation on the lake well in advance, as floating raft houses have limited capacity and are in high demand.
Attempting to hike deep into the jungle trails without a registered local guide, as navigation is difficult and terrain is hazardous.
Park trails remain open year-round, but specific cave systems may close during the peak monsoon months due to flash flood risks.
Cover shoulders and knees when visiting surrounding local villages; do not feed or touch wildlife; carry all trash out of the forest.
