Level: very easy
Season: all year

Day 1

We pick you up from their hotel, Phuket International Airport or Surat Thani Airport and transfer you to the dam at Khao Sok National Park reservoir. The drive from Phuket takes about two and a half hours. It's about an hour's drive from Surat Thani to the dam.

Once at the dam, we'll board a motorboat to transfer to the floating bungalow. The motorboat ride takes about forty-five minutes. The scenery along the way is very dramatic, with towering limestone karst cliffs and thick tropical jungle. Khao Sok has the tallest limestone karst formations in all of Thailand.

We'll check into the bungalows, then get setup for our first paddling excursion. But first, we'll instruct our guests on basic paddling technique.

Our first destination is part of the peninsula on which the bungalows are located. This will prove that we don't have to go far to see wildlife. You will see Dusky Langurs and a variety of exotic birds. You will likely see some hornbills, gibbons and macaque monkeys.

We'll do an afternoon paddle to a different area close to the bungalows.

Day 2

We'll get up with the sun and head off on a wildlife-spotting paddle. Returning to the bungalows for breakfast, we'll have some free time. There will be a midday and an afternoon wildlife-spotting paddles.

The bungalows are situated in such a manner that there are great wildlife sighting regions in every direction. Each area has produced different wildlife. We know when and where the fruiting trees reside. Fruiting trees are one of the easiest ways to see wildlife.

Day 3

Early morning exploration of a different area of the park. Return to the bungalows for breakfast and free time.

In the middle of the day, we'll hike up a small creek. There are some short waterfalls at the beginning of the hike. It flattens out after that. This is a very easy hike.

There will be an afternoon paddle in an area different from previous outings. This area is actually outside of Khao Sok National Park. It’s in a wildlife sanctuary called Klong Saeng.

Day 4

We'll get up with the sun again and head out for our last morning paddle. After breakfast, we'll head to one last secret spot.

After lunch, we'll pack up and head to the dam. From there, we'll travel to Phang Nga Province.

We'll do an afternoon hike in Raman Forest Park.

Day 5

In the early morning, we'll head out to Manora Forest Park. A small creek meanders through the park. A trail follows the creek. This is one of the best maintained trails we've found. The birding in Manora is pretty good too.

In the afternoon, we'll head to Phang Nga National Park. There is an elevated walkway over the mangrove forest. This gives you an opportunity to see the diversity of Thailand's mangrove. Thailand has 74 species of mangrove.

Day 6

Early in the morning, we'll head out to do some birdwatching at Ton Paliwat Wildlife Sanctuary. The birding here is outstanding.

The sanctuary headquarters is on top of a massive mountain. A lovely small river starts at the top of this mountain. There are several wonderful waterfalls coursing their way down the mountain.

Birding here is simple; we walk down the main road and see a great variety of birds. Vernal Hanging Parrots are common here.

After this, we'll pack up and head to a mangrove walkway near Phang Nga Town. This walkway is one of the easiest places to see Mangrove Pittas. The trees here are much larger than they are in many other mangrove forests.

In the afternoon, we'll head back to Phuket. Upon arrival, PaddleAsia's services end.

Khao Sok photo galleries
Khao Sok wildlife photo gallery
Khao Sok scenery photo gallery
Mountain climbing photos
Scenery and wildlife photos
Khao Sok reptiles
Wildlife photos

No experience is needed for any of our trips. The majority of our guests have never paddled before. No problem, we'll teach you proper paddling technique.

Pricing:

The price is US$650 per person. Discounts are available for group bookings.

This trip includes all transfers from and to the nearest airport or train station (airfare not included), all equipment, accommodations once on the trip, all meals, all snacks, all non-alcoholic drinks, a PaddleAsia shirt and insurance.