Bangkok to Khao Sok

Surat Thani is the closest airport to Khao Sok, about 100 km from the village. About a dozen flights a day leave Don Mueang, with Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air, from 06:50, and take 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 for about ฿1,000–1,650. A few more leave Suvarnabhumi. Take a morning flight, because the buses and vans to Khao Sok run in the daytime and you want to reach the village or the lake before dark.

From the airport, a car is the easy way, about an hour and a half to your hotel for about ฿1,900 on 12Go. On a budget, 12Go sells a bus-and-van ticket from the airport from about ฿350, with ten departures from 08:15, and it changes at the minivan office in Phanom. Heading straight to Cheow Lan Lake, the pier is only about 65 km from the airport, so ask your raft house about a pickup.

Phuket has far more flights from Bangkok, and Krabi has plenty too, so if Surat Thani's fares or times don't suit, fly to one of them instead. The drive on is longer, about 145 km from Phuket airport and 150 km from Krabi airport, two to three hours by car for about ฿2,500–3,500. It's a good choice if you're going on to the Andaman beaches afterwards. My Phuket to Khao Sok and Krabi to Khao Sok guides cover the cars, vans and buses from each airport.

The overnight train is the way I'd go if I had the time. Sleepers leave Krung Thep Aphiwat for Surat Thani every evening, and the station is at Phun Phin, about 14 km outside Surat Thani town. Express No. 83 leaves at 18:50 and arrives at 04:58, and Express No. 85 leaves at 19:50 and arrives at 06:23. A second-class air-conditioned berth costs about ฿700–900, and fan berths are cheaper. Book a few weeks ahead in high season on the State Railway site or 12Go.

From the station forecourt, the buses toward Phuket pass Khao Sok on Route 401. They leave at about 06:40, 07:20, 09:20, 10:20 and 13:45 and take about two hours to the village, for about ฿280–305 on 12Go and less at the counter. The 18:50 train gives you an easy connection with the 06:40 bus, and you're in Khao Sok by about 09:00. Travel desks opposite the station also sell van seats and private cars.

Buses sold through to Khao Sok leave Bangkok in the evening. Montanatip's leaves its office on Khao San Road at 19:00 and reaches the Khao Sok van station at about 10:30, for about ฿950–1,080 on 12Go, and a bus-and-van ticket from the Southern Bus Terminal leaves at 18:50 and arrives at about 09:30 for about ฿1,100. The Twin 2000 has an 18:40 bus for about ฿800.

It's about 15 hours, and most tickets include a change to a van in Surat Thani or Phanom early in the morning, so keep your ticket and your phone charged. It's the cheapest single ticket, but the sleeper train costs about the same once you add the bus, and you can lie flat.

Buses and the cheaper vans stop at the Khao Sok van station on Route 401, where the village road turns off. The guesthouses run about 2 km up that road to the park headquarters, so message your hotel with your arrival time, and many will collect you. Otherwise there are taxis at the junction for up to about ฿80 a person. Cars and hotel-transfer vans drop at your door.

Night buses leave Khao Sok for Bangkok between 14:00 and 16:30 and arrive between 05:00 and 06:30, at Khao San Road, Ratchadamnoen Road or the Southern Bus Terminal depending on the company, for about ฿550–1,260 on 12Go. Krungsiam, Montanatip, Bangkok Travel Plus and Jarinthon all run them.

For the train, get to Surat Thani for an evening sleeper. Phantip vans leave Khao Sok for Surat Thani roughly every hour from 06:30 to 14:00 for about ฿225, and buses run until about 14:40, two to two and a half hours. Rapid No. 168 leaves Phun Phin at 18:32, Express No. 86 at 19:31 and Express No. 84 at 20:23, reaching Bangkok between 05:10 and 07:05. 12Go also sells a 17:00 van that meets a sleeper, arriving at 07:30, for about ฿1,350.

To fly, take a car or a van to Surat Thani airport, about an hour and a half, and leave Khao Sok at least four hours before your flight. 12Go's 15:00 van-and-flight ticket reaches Don Mueang at 20:00 for about ฿1,500.