The Most Beautiful Place in Thailand: Khao Sok National Park
I was a little disoriented when I arrived at Coco Hostel, which would be my home during my time in Khao Sok. I had just broken my phone in Ko Tao a few days ago, which had become my ultimate travelling tool. From booking hostels and flights, posting photos on social media, and writing journal entries about my travels, I was relying on my phone for all of these things.
I learned quickly that it wasn’t necessary, however. While I would need to buy a new phone eventually, I could use a hostel computer or someone else’s phone to book accommodation. I had purchased a notebook before leaving home which I hadn’t even cracked open, which I started using for journaling. I had a Canon camera and a GoPro so I could still take photos and videos of my travels. As for social media, whatever. I could live without the social validation for awhile, I just hoped people didn’t think I died.
When I checked in it was late morning, which was too late for me to join in on a day trip. The hostel was fairly empty as people were already out on their excursions. After grabbing some breakfast, I made my way to the balcony where I charged up my GoPro and read my book for a while. I left my phone in a sunny spot to dry it out, eventually I could see steam coming out of the bottom port!
Later that day I met two guys that were staying at the hostel, one from the Netherlands and one from Switzerland. We decided to do a short hike to a waterfall close to the main entrance of the park. Unfortunately it started raining halfway through, but at that point it was too late to turn back. It was still a fun hike, and I made a few monkey friends.
After the hike we grabbed dinner at an Italian pizza place near the hostel. We all got Hawaiian pizzas and they were absolutely delicious. The Dutch guy had been on a working holiday visa in Australia for two years, and he was one of the first people to tell me how amazing of an experience it was. He had a gnome figurine which had been travelling with him for eight years, it even had an Instagram! I also used his phone to Facebook message my mom so she knew that I was alive. All she said was “OK!” She wasn’t worried.
The next day was my day trip, so now you’ll see why I think Khao Sok National Park is the most beautiful place in Thailand. That morning I made my way to Cheow Lan Lake, a man-made, freshwater lake which is a rarity in Thailand. I met a guy from the U.S. who was on a two-week vacation in the area. After hopping on the long tail boat we were on our way.
I’ve been to most of the major provinces in Thailand except for Phuket, ironically the most popular area for vacations. From the big city of Bangkok to the natural forests of Chiang Mai to the tropical beaches in the south, Thailand has a lot to offer. But Khao Sok is different from any of these places, and it definitely deserves a spot on your itinerary. With its combination of fresh water, evergreen forests and mountainous karsts, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been in my life, and these pictures still don’t do justice to the massive size of these mountains.
After arriving on the other side of the lake, we stopped at a floating raft area for some lunch and a swim. If you book a multi-day excursion here, there are huts you can stay in overnight. I only did the single-day trip but I can only imagine that it would be an amazing experience.
After lunch we did a hike into a cave. I had my GoPro on a headstrap and tried to grab some photos, but they ended up being too dark. It wasn’t a strenuous hike but definitely an interesting one, there was water up to my chest at some points! After the hike we got back into the long tail boat and made our way back to the other side of the lake. It was the last time I would be able to take in this beautiful view.
When I got back to the hostel I met up with the two guys I met before and two Norwegian girls who were also staying there. The hostel had its own kitchen and bakery, so I grabbed dinner there and we played some Cards Against Humanity in the lobby. It was interesting playing it with people who didn’t speak English as their first language. Many of the pop culture references were lost on them, something I took for granted about the game before.
And so ended my time in Khao Sok National Park. If I ever go back to Thailand I will definitely go back, as the park is massive and there’s so much more to see and do there. The next morning I caught a bus to Krabi which was the transfer point to my next destination. I was heading to a famous island with a big reputation for partying. Not quite as famous as Ko Pha Ngan’s Full Moon Party in that regard, but notorious all the same.
Next: Becoming a Pirate on Ko Phi Phi
Previous: How I Broke My Phone in Ko Tao
