Surat Thani to Khao Sok

Minivan, bus or your own van

The fastest and the easiest way from Surat Thani to Khao Sok is your own van: Google Maps puts the airport about 1 hour 40 minutes from the park headquarters (105 km), and the town about 2 hours (120 km), checked 2 Nov 2026.

Ask Tanner which one fits your flight.

The shared minivan

The Surat Thani to Khao Sok minivan leaves from town; from the airport, vans run into Surat Thani first, where you change. Check times and fares at the counter on the day.

With a group and bags, ask Tanner for your own van instead.

The public bus

The Surat Thani to Khao Sok bus is the cheapest ride, from town, with bags in the hold and a walk at the end. Check times and fares at the bus station on the day.

See every route on Getting around Thailand, and ask Tanner if the bus or a van suits you.

Fly into Surat Thani or Phuket?

Surat Thani is the closer airport: about 1 hour 40 minutes to the park headquarters, against about 2 hours 15 minutes from Phuket's airport, Google Maps shows (checked 2 Nov 2026).

Doing Phuket first? See Phuket to Khao Sok, and ask Tanner to link the two.

Coming from Koh Samui, Lomprayah sells a boat-and-van ticket to Khao Sok; check its timetable for the times. A group takes the ferry to Donsak, and the van waits at the pier for the drive west to the park.

Ask Tanner which airport fits the rest of the trip.

The easy way for a group

Your own van from Surat Thani Airport, the train station or the Samui ferry pier, straight to the resort with drinks on ice.

A luxury van, a party van or a coach, sized to the group, and the driver waits while you stop for lunch.

Samui or Phangan for the party, Khao Sok for two jungle days, then on to Phuket or Krabi.

Plan it with Tanner.

Off the sleeper train

Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok arrive at Surat Thani's Phun Phin station in the early morning; check the State Railway of Thailand's timetable for your train.

Book one of the later arrivals. You're in Khao Sok by mid-morning, and nobody starts the jungle half asleep.

Ask Tanner to have the van at Phun Phin station.

Straight to Cheow Lan Lake

Going straight to the raft houses? Cheow Lan Lake is past the park entrance, and the park headquarters is about 1 hour 40 minutes from Surat Thani Airport, Google Maps shows.

Tanner's pick: one night by the park entrance at Khlong Sok, then one night on the lake.

Ask Tanner to hold the raft house for your dates.

What a transfer costs

A private car from Surat Thani to Khao Sok is priced by the car, so a group with bags is better in one van.

Our luxury van for up to 4 is from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, and the driver stays with you all day.

Ask Tanner for the party van if there are more than four of you.

Surat Thani to Khao Sok in short

• What it is: the road from Surat Thani to Khao Sok National Park, about 1 hour 40 minutes from the airport by car.

• Shared minivan: from town, longer with pickups.
• Express bus: from town, the cheapest ride.
• Your own van: waiting at arrivals, about 1 hour 40 minutes.
• No train or ferry to the park: the last leg is always by road.
• Best months: December to April; September is the wettest.

Checked 7 November 2026.

Is Khao Sok worth it?

Yes, for two days of jungle, lake and limestone between the islands, with Cheow Lan Lake at its heart.

• The fee: the park charges foreign visitors an entry fee at the gate, and the Ratchaprapha lake is a special-fee area. We don't print the amount until the park confirms it, so ask Tanner and it goes in your quote.
• The lake: Cheow Lan, with floating raft houses for a night on the water.
• The wildlife: the giant Rafflesia flower and white-handed gibbons both live in the park.
• Trails closed for now: Bua Phut and Tham Nam Thalu stay shut until 30 November 2026, the national park's notice says.
• The pace: quiet at night; the party is back on the islands.

See Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, Phuket to Krabi, Surat Thani nightlife and Phuket nightlife, and ask Tanner about a night on the lake.