The Khao Sok National Park

is one of Thailand's lesser-known gems.

It is a by-product of a hydro-electric dam project, and is an otherworldly place of towering cliffs and drowned forests.

Its centrepiece is the Ratchaprapa lake, created by the dam. Limestone karst cliffs, similar to those on the nearby Andaman coast that were used as locations for the Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun, plunge straight into the water. On boat rides it feels as though one is floating halfway up the rock wall — which is, of course, the case.


The Nam Talu cave, deep in the park, is reached by walking almost a mile through humid rainforest from the lake. Its huge opening towers over visitors, and in the dry season it's hard to believe the little stream running through it could ever have created the caverns and grottoes inside.

But the smooth stones spread over a wide area before the entrance, polished by years of water flowing over them, testify to the great volume of liquid that moves through the cave.

Once inside the going can be a little rough — it's sometimes necessary to climb over rocks, and at a few points there is no dry trail — visitors have to brave the fast-flowing water.

Unlike many caves that have become attractions it has not been tamed by tourism — there is no concrete pathway or electric lighting, and torches are required.

The simple journey, which runs through the mountain from one side to the other, gives travellers the powerful feeling of being surrounded by millions of tons of rock.

For the vast majority of visitors, barring only the most unfortunate, it's a sensational experience.

 

 

Khao Sok Nation Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand. Due to its majestic scenery and biological diversity the park is nicknamed the ‘Gui – Lin of Thailand’, which refers to a very beautiful place in China. The name ‘Khao Sok’ is derived from the word ‘ Ban Sop”, which means ‘house of dead bodies’, The Royal Forest Department declared Khao Sok as the 22nd national park of Thailand on December 22nd, 1980. The park has a total area of 738.74 square kilometres, which covers parts of the Khlong Yee and Khlong Pra Sang forests as well as portions of the Krai Son and the Khao Pung sub-districts in the district of Ban Ta Khun and the Khlong Sok and Panom sub – districts in the province of Suratthani.

The weather is influence by monsoon winds from both the Indian and Pacific Ocean with rain beginning in late April until late December. Heaviest rain is during May to November. The best time to visit the Khao Sok Park is December to April.
 

Khao Sok National Park is a virgin forest where various types of plant life can be found. This includes a number of very rare and sacred tree species such as the Neobalanocarpus heimil. A few other plants that can be seen in this park include the following: Genus Hoper, Chisocheton and Anisoptera etc., as well as small bushes such as the Rafflesia kerrii, palm, rattan, betel palm, and various types of bamboo.

The park serves as a home for a wide variety of wildlife such as the gaur, banteng, sambar deer, bear, Malayan tapir, macaque, gibbon, serow, mouse deer, porcupine, marbled cat, wild boar, and Asian wild dog. It also acts as the natural habitat for several for several bird species.