Khao Sok National Park was the reason we visited South West Thailand on this trip. It did not disappoint, although the weather could have been kinder!
We decided on a private transfer from Patong to the town of Khlong Sok which took a little over two hours whereas a minubus would have taken four. Money well spent in our eyes. Then we found ourselves in a beautiful riverside room at Khao Sok River & Jungle Resort. This was the sort of place that really restores your faith in travelling, and it was a mecca for backpackers from every corner of the globe - something we hadnt found anywhere else on this trip. It was nice to be amongst real travellers again! The resort was well priced and the food in the restaurant was both so delicious and cheap that we ate there every meal, and so did many people that were not even staying there. The friendly and helpful staff arranged our trip onto the lake, looked after our bags during the trip, and sorted out our onward travel arrangements. Everything went so smoothly and we couldnt them highly enough. The rest of Khlong Sok wasnt too different to our resort, but the
The trip out onto the lake began at a nice time - 0930. We were travelling by minibus and stopped at a few hotels picking up some other travellers. About an hour away we stopped at a market giving everyone a last minute chance to buy anything they had forgotten like waterproof bags and headlamps. We had our own but the resort staff had provided them for us so we were From there we headed to Ratchaprapa Dam where our guide, Mr A, got us sorted out and made sure we all got National Park tickets before safely helping us onto the long tail boat that was going to transport us to our lodgings for the night. We spent about an hour whizzing across the water and at times the visibility was disappointingly poor because of the rain. It was still beautiful though, and somewhat reminiscent of Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnams locations. We disembarked at Smiley Lake House where where we checked in to our It even had an bathroom when we had expected to be running up and down the boardwalk! There
was time for some kayaking and swimming before lunch, then a bit of relaxing time before the first excursion.
We were back in a long tail boat, but this time without a roof, and we set off past the magnificent rock formations for about half an hour before reaching the banks from where we would be climbing a waterfall. It was pretty tough going on the ascent, and Trish decided it was not for her. She sat by the water watching the world and the butterflies go by. The rest of us embarked on a death defying climb through raging torrents and up sheer rock faces aided by a knotted rope at the side. It really was not an easy climb, but we all made it. Along the way Mr A told us about different plants and trees that are found in these parts, explaining the difference between bamboo (hollow) and rattan (solid) when we found some examples. It was an exhilarating climb, but I think we were all glad to have reached the top and start the descent which was mercifully down a different and slightly easier path. Its definitely not an activity for everyone, and its hard
to imagine how some people think they will manage in Needless to say, anyone without the right footwear did not make it very far.
On our way back to our floating lodgings, we did an evening safari. We did see some bison and some ospreys or sea eagles, but it was a bit disappointing. The scenery remained spectacular though, which made up for it. Then it was time to relax, have dinner, and get an early night as we were being collected for some monkey spotting at 6.45 the following morning.
The weather was beautiful to begin with the next day. Sadly, about 15 minutes out, the ponchos were on and the heavens well and truly opened. The monkeys obviously decided they didnt like the weather either, as they were almost impossible to find. We did see literally one or two, but from quite a distance.
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