Resorts in Khao Sok offer many great activities for guests of all ages and interests. From river tubing and jungle camping, to Thai massage and overnight lake trips, your resort can book just about anything. However, there are a number of local sights and activities that visitors to Khao Sok can do by themselves. For example visiting the khao Sok viewpoint and Mae Yai, one of the many Khao Sok waterfalls.
This is especially true for guests driving to Khao Sok. Read our Khao Sok driver’s guide for more information.
Renting a motorbike or scooter
In addition to the jungle, river, and other tours, guests can rent a motorbike or scooter and seek out other things to do in and around Khao Sok. For example, there is the khao Sok viewpoint as well as a beautiful waterfall within an easy drive from Khao Sok village.
Additionally, cave temples are numerous, if you know where to look! The easiest way to cross the following activities off your list is if you are driving to Khao Sok or have rented a motorcycle.
Many rental shops in town stock new, automatic bikes for about 450B/day. Our front desk staff will be happy to drop you off at a rental location! Many places to visit lie within a one hour drive.
For a detailed map keep reading! You’ll find maps at the bottom of the page. For guests driving to Khao Sok, be sure to visit our Map and Directions page!
Khao Sok driver’s guide – Useful tips for bikers:
- Scooters and motorcycles are known as ‘moto-sai’ in Thai
- Moto-sai are at the bottom of the food chain on Thai roads. As a result, drivers should be constantly on the look out for cars, people, and animals.
- Drivers should aim to stay as far to the left as possible. However, be aware of erosion along the road edge. This can produce dangerous potholes.
- Please remember – always wear a helmet!
- Avoid venturing into palm or rubber orchards without first asking permission.
- Driving is easier during the dry season. The rain can make driving a challenge.
khao Sok Viewpoint and Khao Sok Waterfall ‘Mae Yai’
A few kilometers from the town lie the Khao Sok viewpoint overlooking the Sok valley. No need for tour guides, you can just go there on your own. Just beyond that is the waterfall ‘Mae Yai’. A visit to the two makes up one of the cheaper and easier things to do in Khao Sok.
Close by, and easy to find, guests will not regret taking time to visit these locations. However, because of their popularity, these can get busy with day-trippers from Khao Lak. Therefore, our Khao Sok driver’s guide offers the following tips to help guest enjoy their visit:
- Early morning and early evening are the best times to visit these spots. Tours from Khao Lak begin passing through from around 09:00 to 16:00, which will result in noisy crowds.
- You won’t find much shade at the Khao Sok viewpoint, but plenty at the waterfall.
- Guests may consider bringing a picnic lunch to the waterfall – it is a lovely place to spend an hour
- Keep in mind that both of these locations are subject to weather conditions. Clouds can obstruct the vista, and lack of rain will shrink the other wise beautiful Khao Sok Waterfall.
- The viewpoint is open 24 hours, and is a wonderful place to view a full moon!
How to get there:
Together, the viewpoint and Khao Sok Waterfall ‘Mae Yai’ make up two great adventures. This is especially true if you are driving to Khao Sok.
To get there, simply take Highway 401 towards Takuapa/Phuket. The viewpoint is first, on the left-hand side of the road. Guests will recognize it as a flat, graveled patch overlooking the valley. Currently there are neither structures nor signs at this location.
The waterfall is a further kilometer up the road, on the right hand side. Guests will first see the road-side parking area and entrance way. Parking is in front of the waterfall, below the level of the road. Walk a short distance up the waterfall trail.
Khao Sok driver’s guide – A note on Khao Sok Waterfalls
Despite many steep mountains and heavy rainfall, it is difficult to find a classic waterfall without a trek. The ‘Mae Yai’ waterfall is a notable exception to this rule!
For guests hoping to spend some time with a beautiful, cascading waterfall, we can help organize treks to the following:
- Bang Hua Ret: this is more of a series of rapids than a cascading waterfall. You can reach it without a guide, and it is quite impressive.
- Ton Kloi waterfall: this is one of two classic falls in Khao Sok. You can only reach it on a full-day hike, and you will require a guide.
- Wing Hin waterfall: Reached by a trek from the Khao Sok national park headquarters.
- Tan Sawan waterfall: probably the most famous one in the area. You can only reach it on a full-day hike with a guide.
Khao Sok waterfalls are best during the rainy season. The rain brings lush rainforests and an abundance of flora and fauna.
Wat Tham Panthurat
Of the various things to do in outlined in our Khao Sok driver’s guide, this is at the top of our list! All ‘Wat Tham’ are cave temples, but in contrast to other locations, this temple’s cave tends to go unnoticed. Many visitors daily flock to the temple, mainly known for its troupe of long-tailed macaque monkeys. While these are fun to watch, we urge visitors to resist the temptation to pet, feed, or pose with them.
The gem of Wat Tham Panthurat is the ‘Tham,’ or cave. You can find it high up on the cliff face above the temple, and a steep, narrow staircase provides access. The cave is large and extensive but you face a challenging climb to reach it.
Common cave-sighting’s include bats and insects. Guests should keep in mind that there are no lights or walkways in this cave. Anyone entering the cave should come prepared, and proceed with caution.
How to get there: One of the closest things to do in Khao Sok, you can find this temple along the main highway. Guests will find it just past the National Park road. Keep your eyes open for the traditional temple buildings, boundary wall, and soaring karst cliff.
Note: Keep in mind that this is a religious site. While guests can enter regardless of attire, dressing modestly for your visit is advisable. Those driving to Khao Sok will find parking on site.
Wat Tham Wararam
This cave temple is another excellent choice of things to do in Khao Sok. Unlike Wat Tham Panthurat, this cave is easily accessible, and is complete with walking paths and electric lighting. This is a common point of departure for a few canoe companies in Khao Sok, but otherwise remains quiet.
Guests that venture through the cave will emerge onto the river. You can see great views of the nearby forest and large boulders. Many years of fast-flowing river water shaped these boulders.
Additionally, the monks and locals that support the temple here have made a tradition of feeding fish in the river. As a result, there is a massive school of fish that lives in the river at the cave exit. Feeding these fish is great entertainment, and bags of food can be purchased at the cave entrance for 10B.
How to get there
Of all the things to do in Khao Sok that we’ll mention here, Wat Tham Wararam is one of the most challenging to find. You can find it along Highway 401, approximately 15 km from Khao Sok, in the direction of Surat Thani. The temple is on the right, immediately after the 3rd bridge. You can recognize it by the blue sign out front and the massive cliff face next to the river.
Note: Keep in mind that this is a religious site. While guests can enter regardless of attire, dressing modestly for your visit is advisable. Guests driving to Khao Sok will find parking on site.
Khao Sok driver’s guide – Takua-Pa and the Little Amazon
Even though Takua-Pa is not in town, it is close enough to include in our list of things to do in Khao Sok. Just 45 minutes from Khao Sok, Takua-Pa is a small town.
It has a rich history from Thailand’s tin mining boom. Guests can learn more information on this history via the internet. Here, we will focus on two of Takua-Pa’s most notable attractions.
The old market. Located just behind the bus station, the Takua-Pa old market is one of the best outdoor/covered markets in the area.
Guests arriving in the morning and early evening will find plenty of stalls selling fresh fruit, homemade snacks, and local produce. The covered market is open all day. It offers plenty of chances to browse and see daily Thai life.
The Little Amazon. We had to add this to our list of things to do in Khao Sok! This hidden gem is almost unknown, even in Takua-Pa. It remains one of the best-kept secrets in the area.
The little Amazon is a small stream of the Takua-Pa river called ‘Klong Sang Neh.’ Guests can explore the area with a guide. They can use a canoe or a long-tail boat.
Paddling down the river, guests will enjoy the extraordinary sight of contorted stranger-fig trees soaring over head. Figs trees are home to birds, monkeys, and some snake species.
They create a complex network of branches and trunks overhead, all intertwined. Truly an exceptional sight, and one that we highly recommend. Click here for their Facebook page.
How to get there
Whether by car or motorcycle, Takua-Pa is easy to reach from Khao Sok. However, guests driving to Khao Sok in a car will find the journey much easier. Simply follow Hwy 401 West, until is merges with Hwy 4. Keep straight on Hwy 4, and follow this into town. The old market and bus station are on the right hand side, opposite the ‘BigC’, just before the bridge.
You can find the Little Amazon office down the fourth street on the right after crossing the bridge. The sign is unmissable. For information on tours and prices, call Oy at +66(0) 87 898 0179.
Curious about other things to do in Khao Sok?
Khao Sok National Park is the ultimate place for a nature adventure! In addition to the Khao Sok viewpoint and waterfall excursions, guests will find tons of things to do in Khao Sok! You can enjoy traditional jungle cooking, heartwarming elephant experiences or a refreshing swim and other river activities. For those wanting more action we recommend the following:
- A full day lake tour to Cheow Lan lake. Jump onto longtail boats to visit the raft houses.
- Treks to other viewpoints such as the Krai Sorn Viewpoint at the top of a limestone mountain in the park.
- Treks to a variety of caves.
- Wildlife excursions. You might even be lucky enough to see wild elephants.
- A mysterious night safari.
- Jungle survival tour.
Visit our Blog and FAQs page. Be sure to check out our Top 6 Khao Sok activities!
You can find the full activities list and suggested itineraries on Riverside Cottages website. Once you’re in Khao Sok our staff will make sure you get the most from your time here!
Find your perfect place to stay and start planning your next exciting adventure in the tropical paradise we call Home!
