Our next stop after our stay in Chiang Mai was 2 nights at the most unreal and beautiful place we’ve ever been: Khao Sok National Park.
Our journey there was one of the longer travel days. We first flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, and then caught another flight to Krabi.
From there, we had a private vehicle transfer to our lodge – about a two-hour drive into the jungle. The driver spoke no English, so we just enjoyed the scenery as we drove.
There were lots of funny trees that had cups attached to them like they were collecting maple syrup. We found out later they weren’t collecting maple syrup, they were collecting latex! I had no idea rubber latex came from trees!
That drive was our first hint that visiting Khao Sok National Park would be a very different sort of travel experience.
Things to Know about Khao Sok National Park:
It’s Remote – Plan your meals and transportation
There are very limited dining options once you arrive. Make sure to confirm dinner hours, transportation arrangement, and tour bookings. Anurak Community Lodge helped us with this.
Expect Nature, Not Luxury
Many lodges focus on the natural experience rather than hotel-style comforts. You may not have TV, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, nearby stores – but you will have incredible scenery, quiet surroundings, and a true jungle experience!
Where We Stayed and Ate
Anurak Community Lodge
I cannot say enough good things about this place. We stayed for two nights in a deluxe bungalow. It was by far our favorite place we stayed in all of Thailand.
Apparently it is remote enough that many visitors arrive hungry after a long journey, exactly like we did, and there simply aren’t many food options. Especially during the low season when we visited.
Because we were scheduled to arrive after the kitchen would already be closed for the day, the staff actually called our driver while we were on the road. Our driver didn’t speak English, so he handed us the phone.
The Anurak Community Lodge manager called to make sure we were well taken care of upon arrival. He asked us what we wanted for dinner.
So upon arrival, there was a hot and delicious meal waiting for us, along with a welcome drink made from lemongrass. We couldn’t believe how thoughtful that was!
As we ate, the night manager sat with us to find out what our plans were for our stay. We were there specifically to visit Khao Sok National Park, but we didn’t have concrete plans and were sort of going to wing it.
He asked if we’d want to do a tour. Our top idea was the Ton Kloi Waterfall Trail, but much of that trail requires a guide. Since we didn’t have anything booked (Goway Travel had indicated on our itinerary that tours at Khao Sok would be up to us) we were happy for the suggestion. He got us booked for a last-minute booking for a boat tour on the lake inside the park.
The Bungalow
No TV, no Wi-Fi, no minibar… and to top it off, we had a mosquito net over the bed.
Not exactly luxury, right? But it was PERFECT!! We were not disappointed as we knew going into the experience we would be in a remote and isolated location. We were definitely immersed in the jungle experience.
The views were unreal. It was hard to believe we were still on Earth.
Outstanding Hospitality
The next morning at breakfast, we met the general manager, also named Chris, who was incredibly friendly and genuinely concerned about our well-being and travel plans.
When we returned from our day exploring the park, the night manager surprised us with a mocktail he had made specially for us. He remembered that we don’t drink alcohol. The service here was unmatched.
The only downside to this place is that it’s a 17-hr + flight away from home. Otherwise we’d already have made a return journey!
We’ll for sure be back one day.
Up Next:
Our actual time spent on the lake at Khao Sok National Park was as unreal as our lodge. We explored the lake by boat on a group tour, surrounded by limestone cliffs and the most beautiful water we’ve ever seen.
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