Surat Thani is the gateway to not solely Samui but in addition Khao Sok Nationwide Park on the mainland. I just lately went there by sleeper practice.
It is a abstract of my two days in Khao Sok which was considered one of my greatest journeys in years. I’m already planning to go once more on the finish of the yr.
✅ The 2-day tour in Khao Sok was sponsored by Khao Sok Paradise Resort (khaosokparadise.com). The sleeper practice ticket was paid for by 12Go (thaitrainguide.12go.asia/en), the sponsors of the @ThaiTrainGuide which you’ll obtain without cost.
🚂 The most effective methods to come back to Surat Thani is by in a single day practice. I took Fast No. 167 that left Krung Thep Aphiwat at 6:50pm. There are two sorts of 2nd Class sleeper carriages. One with air-con and one with fan. I took the latter as I like the choice of open home windows to take photographs. This price 504 Baht. With air-con it’s 220 Baht extra. The practice arrived in Surat Thani at 7:47am.
I used to be on a tour organized by Khao Sok Paradise (khaosokparadise.com/excursions/). Their In a single day Lake journey prices 2,700 Baht on a shared journey and eight,900 Baht for a non-public journey. This contains lodging however not park charges. For those who simply need to do a day tour, this begins from 1,500 Baht.
📷 As a part of my tour I used to be picked up on the railway station and brought to the pier at Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok Nationwide Park in Southern Thailand. Spanning over 739 sq. kilometres, this paradise is famend for its pristine rainforests, gorgeous limestone cliffs, and wildlife comparable to gibbons, hornbills and even elephants.
(In case you are not on a tour, you may ebook a return boat journey for as much as ten individuals for about 2,500 Baht to go to your floating raft resort. That is the in a single day value because the boatman stays on the resort and brings you again the subsequent day. There are 15 floating raft accommodations. Costs range from 1,500 baht to five,000 baht per particular person for at least two individuals per room. This contains three meals.)
📷 Cheow Lan Lake is well-known for floating raft homes. As a part of my package deal, I stayed at The Laguna Chiewlarn. Actions right here embrace kayaking and swimming in addition to long-tailed boat excursions. There isn’t any cellphone sign and no electrical energy throughout daytime.
📷 Throughout my journey I went on a number of boat excursions to identify wildlife. We additionally did two quick treks to a waterfall and to a cave. I had a very nice and I actually need to return throughout a distinct season.
📷 Again on the mainland I did a few stops on my means again to the railway station. The primary one was at Khao Na Nai Luang Dharmma Park in Phanom District of Surat Thani. The whole lot about it’s photogenic from the doorway archway to the pagodas on six peaks. Completely great views from up high.
📷 Ban Nam Rad Headwaters Forest in Khiri Rat Nikhom District of Surat Thani is well-liked for the crystal clear turquoise water. However you must also go on a ship trip alongside the stream. This place could be very well-liked with households on the weekend.
🚂 For the return journey to Bangkok I caught Categorical No. 84 practice. The sleeper carriage had A/C and so the ticket was 804 Baht. I had evening’s sleep arriving in Bangkok early within the morning.
📍Map of Locations I Go to: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N5pDLQ4u8qfoqfRS9?g_st=ihttps://maps.app.goo.gl/N5pDLQ4u8qfoqfRS9?g_st=i
Beneath you will see photographs and map hyperlinks of all of the locations that I visited.
📷 01 – SLEEPER TRAIN: That is the day and evening sleeper Fast No. 167 that I took from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok to Surat Thani. I selected the carriage with open home windows and followers which was solely 504 Baht. The journey was simply over twelve hours.
📷 02 – WUT TRAVEL & RESTAURANT: A preferred restaurant for foreigners reverse Surat Thani Railway Station is Wut Journey. That is additionally a journey hub as they will organize each shared and personal van transfers. This was the place I used to be picked as much as go to Khao Sok Nationwide Park.
📍MAP:… https://twitter.com/i/internet/standing/1665335784722030593
📷 03 – CHEOW LAN PIER: That is the pier for Cheow Lan Lake, the leaping off level for Khao Sok Nationwide Park. Tickets are 200 Baht for the nationwide park and 20 Baht for utilizing the pier. A return boat switch to your resort is about 2,500 Baht.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RYYwX2ErCbXpjAC8?g_st=ic
📷 04 – CHEOW LAN LAKE: That is a synthetic lake situated in Khao Sok Nationwide Park in Surat Thani Province. It was created in 1987 by the development of the Rajjaprabha Dam, which flooded an space of 185 sq. kilometers. The lake is surrounded by limestone karsts.
📷 05 – CHIEWLARN FLOATING RAFT: There are about 15 floating raft accommodations on Cheow Lan Lake. I stayed at Laguna Chiewlarn as a part of the tour. Actions right here embrace kayaking and swimming in addition to long-tailed boat excursions.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NFH7m4zPQv7EitYRA?g_st=ic
📷 06 – TOUR OF CHEOW LAN LAKE: I used to be on a two-day tour of the nationwide park organised by Khao Sok Paradise (https://www.khaosokparadise.com/excursions/). Their In a single day Lake journey prices 2,700 Baht on a shared journey and eight,900 Baht for a non-public journey. This contains lodging however not park charges.
📷 07 – PRA KIE PHET CAVE: In addition to the boat tour across the huge Cheow Lan Lake to identify wildlife, we additionally did two quick jungle treks to go to a waterfall and a cave.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SjAv1FNrQTK31omb6?g_st=ic
📷 08 – KHAO NA NAI: On the completion of my tour of Khao Sok Nationwide Park, I did just a few stops on the way in which again to the station. The primary one was at Ban Khao Na Nai. The highlights have been the doorway gateway and the stupas on high of limestone cliffs.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aXB3BEt9PdkcoAuj6?g_st=ic
📷 09 – BAN NAM RAD HEADWATERS FOREST: Our second cease was at a crystal clear pool in a forest. You possibly can paddle a ship down the stream or swim within the turquoise water. Very fashionable with households on the weekend.
📍MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UrqE7Z2bLRign4sK7?g_st=ic
📷 10 – TRAIN TO BANGKOK: There are a number of sleeper trains from Surat Thani again to Bangkok. I went for Categorical No. 84. The return practice had A/C and so the ticket was 804 Baht. I had evening’s sleep arriving in Bangkok early within the morning.
I had a very pleasing 2-day, 3-night journey to Khao Sok. Taking the sleeper practice to Surat Thani is a straightforward technique to go there. I spent two nights on the practice and one evening on the lake. I can be going once more for positive
