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usually
covered with thick vegetation.
The 401
highway from Takuapa to Surat Thani runs
partly along the river and is therefore
relatively low in the landscape, from time
to time the wide valley opens up and this
brings breathtaking panoramas.The road in
this part of Khao Sok is not difficult to
drive, is well marked and signposted,
caution is needed in rainy weather. If
coming from Takuapa take the first branch to
the Khao Sok National Park. Beside the road
are some cottages and Khao Sok hotels and
other accommodation, after about 5 minutes
drive the big parking lot opens up and Baht
200,- entrance fee has to be paid.
From the
parking lot the hiking paths are marked
and the roller coaster walk starts. Various
waterfalls are indicated but after about an
hour walking time the paths disappear in the
thickets. There is virtually no waterfall to
be found if you don't a guide from the park
headquarters with you. It's like everywhere
in Thailand, a beautiful landscape but
everything poorly organized, the people in
Park HQ are usually busy with eating and
playing guitar. The Kao Sok
reservoir and lake is about 60 km
further down the main road to Surat Thani.
-There are
so many beautiful places in Thailand, one of them is
for sure Khao Sok,
and Khao Sok
would be a even a much greater place if there
wouldn't be this bunch of ugly people at the Khao
Sok reservoir pier who try to cheat foreigners.
Means approaching the
pier one fat, ugly women already screams, panha,
panha, means the foreigner coming must pay Baht
1500,- for the boat ride, its already 2 pm.
Everywhere in Thailand a 3 hour longtail boat ride
costs between 500 - 800 Baht. Thai pay here 600,-
Baht per boat, Khao Sok drown crossed my mind.
Khao Sok National
Park is located in the west of Surat Thani province,
bordering Phang Nga Province and Takuapa, where the
Tsunami claimed the most victims in Thailand. Khao Sok National
Park covers an area of over 738 sq. km with
spectacular limestone formations, caves and almost
pristine tropical evergreen jungle. Streams, rivers
and steep deep ravines making much of the park
difficult to access. Together with the
adjacent wildlife sanctuaries of Khlong Saeng
and Khlong Nakha and Sri Phang Nga National Park,
Khao Sok forms part of the largest continuous nature
preserve on the Thai peninsula and is also the major
watershed for the region. This area is an invaluable
wildlife habitat especially for many large mammals
like wild elephants which rely on large areas of
undisturbed forest for their survival.
The main trail
network in Khao Sok National Park radiates from
the park headquarters area and is shown below.
The Rajjaphapa Dam (Cheow
Lan Dam) and lake is about 65 km further east
and a integrated part of the national park. This dam
was built in 1982 for hydro electric power
generation. The lake covers an area of 165 sq. km
and as it was filled up over 100 islands were
formed.
Khao
Sok |
Limestone cliffs rise
from the water and early morning mist provides
excellent picture opportunities. Some park
accommodation is offered at the Egat - Electricity
Generation Authority Thailand- compound right after
the entrance of the Rajjaphapa Dam several raft
houses on the lake offer more accommodation. From
there treks into the mountain jungle can be arranged
with park rangers. There are three caves within a
few hours trek of smaller raft house (tone teuy).
Namtaloo cave is
particular attractive since a small river flows
through this cave which has beautiful limestone
formations with stalactites and stalagmites plus
some pools.
Bat cave is home
to several bat species, the entrance to this cave is
perched high on a cliff face.
Seeroo cave, four
converging passageways meet in this cave which was
used by communist insurgents between 1975-1982. |