Hi everyone! I want to share my recent experience traveling to Surat Thani and Khao Sok. While planning my trip, I noticed there wasn’t much detailed information available, so I hope this post helps anyone planning a similar journey. My trip was from January 15–19, and we stayed two nights in Surat Thani town and two nights in Khao Sok. Our flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani was delayed, so we arrived late at night. We tried booking a Bolt ride from the airport, but the driver called to request a higher price than shown on the app. We canceled and opted for the Phantip bus (100 THB/person) to Surat Thani town instead. The Phantip counter is located at the airport, and they also have buses that go directly to Khao Sok, but I’m unsure of the schedule.

In Surat Thani town, we stayed at B2 Boutique Hotel for around 18–19 USD per night. While the price was affordable and the location convenient, the cleanliness was disappointing (mold on walls, hair on the bed). Despite this, the bed was comfortable, and the staff was helpful. An alternative I wanted to stay at, Evergreen Suite, was fully booked. For food, I recommend the night market and a local restaurant called น้องอีฟ ปูนึ่ง. A 1-hour massage costs around 400 THB. For the girls: if you want to do your nails, basic one-color gel costs 200–300 THB, while nail art designs are around 600 THB. The cheapest place I saw was called Sri Pear Nail, though there are others for nail art priced at 1000 THB. I didn’t have time to do my nails, so I’m unsure of the quality.

From Surat Thani town, we took a minibus from Nara Travel to Khao Sok for 300 THB/person (one-way). We purchased tickets directly at their office the day before. Upon arrival at the Khao Sok bus stop, taxis to town cost 100 THB/person, but we walked the 1–2 km to our hotel to save money.

In Khao Sok, we stayed at Khao Sok Nature Place. The first room cost 1620 THB on Agoda (1500 if booked directly) and had a balcony with a great view. The second room, booked last minute for an extra night, cost 1200 THB and was more basic, with a large window suitable for smokers. Both rooms had poor internet connection. Meals in Khao Sok cost between 70–180 THB, while coconut water was around 40–50 THB. We booked a full-day lake tour for 1500 THB/person, which ran from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. It included visits to the Diamond Cave, swimming, and kayaking (with a 500 THB deposit returned after). The park entry fee (340 THB) was not included in the tour. Despite being man-made, the lake was stunning, and the cloudy weather made the experience more enjoyable by keeping it cool. The food provided was basic but decent.

A few tips for Khao Sok: All hotels offer similar tours at the same prices, so it’s best to book directly with them. During the low season, you can arrange activities on the spot. Note that buses from Khao Sok to Surat Thani town stop running after 4 PM, so plan your return accordingly. For our next stop, Koh Phangan, we booked directly with Lomprayah for 700 THB/person, which included a bus ride from Surat Thani town to the pier (1 hour) and a ferry to Koh Phangan. Avoid third-party platforms to save money.

Overall, Khao Sok was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited, and the lake tour was worth every penny. However, transportation challenges and hotel cleanliness in Surat Thani town were drawbacks. If you’re visiting, I recommend heading straight to Khao Sok unless you have specific reasons to stay in Surat Thani town.