Bangkok to Khao Sok

There are two stages to the journey by train from Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park. The first stage of the journey is by train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. The second stage of the journey is by bus from Surat Thani Train Station to Khao Sok National Park.

Stage 1: Train from Bangkok to Surat Thani

There are currently 10 trains a day from Bangkok to Surat Thani.

• Buy train tickets from Bangkok to Surat Thani.

Stage 2: Bus from Surat Thani to Khao Sok National Park

There are currently 24 bus and minivan services a day from Surat Thani Train Station to Khao Sok National Park.

• Buy bus tickets from Surat Thani Train Station to Khao Sok National Park.

Location of Bangkok Train Station

The main train station in Bangkok is Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Location of Surat Thani Train Station

Surat Thani Railway Station is located 16 km by road to the west of Surat Thani City.

Location of Khao Sok Bus Station

Khao Sok Bus Station is located 2 km by road from the entrance to Khao Sok National Park.

About Travel to Khao Sok National Park

By train the journey from Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park takes from approximately 12 to 16 hours depending upon which train you take, as well as which connecting bus service you. There are also bus and shared minivan services from Bangkok to Khao Sok National Park. These services, which mostly depart from locations near the popular Khao San Road, take 15 to 16 hours to complete the journey. Bus and minivan services all travel overnight, and are a less comfortable option than travelling overnight in a sleeper berth on a train.

Two Entrances to Khao Sok National Park

There are two official entry points to Khao Sok National Park. The connecting bus services from Surat Thani Railway Station listed above all terminate at the western entrance, which is located near the Headquarters of the national park. The other, eastern entrance to the park is a water based entry point at Ratchaprapha Pier on Cheow Lan Lake. The two entrances are 63 km apart from each other:

• Western Entrance
  • Accommodation: There is a village (Khao Sok Village) with a wide range of hotels and resorts, as well as restaurants and cafes, located close to the western entrance to the park.
  • Activities: Zip lines, canopy walkway, guided walks and treks, and 9 easy to follow signposted trails.
• Eastern Entrance
  • Accommodation: 14 floating bungalow resorts.
  • Activities: Boat tours of Cheow Lan Lake, canoeing, and fishing.

Travel to Cheow Lan Lake

If you are planning to go to the lake and stay at one of the floating bungalows then we recommend that you take one of the bus services from Surat Thani Railway Station direct to Ratchaprapha Pier.

• Buy tickets from Surat Thani Railway Station to Ratchaprapha Pier

Train Services from Bangkok to Surat Thani

By train the journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani is scheduled to take from 8 hours 50 minutes (Train #43) to 10 hours 46 minutes (Train #167). Travellers may not, however, want to take the fastest train (Train #43) because this service arrives too late in the afternoon to take a connecting bus service to Khao Sok National Park on the same day.

Train services from Bangkok to Surat Thani also differ in relation to age of the train carriages and the seat types available.

• Guide to Seat Types on Trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani:

Bus Services from Surat Thani Railway Station to Khao Sok

By bus it takes approximately 2 hours to travel from Surat Thani Railway Station to Khao Sok National Park. Because of the relatively duration of the journey bus services travel direct, typically without stopping for comfort breaks.

There are lots of different connecting bus services from Surat Thani Railway Station to destinations such as Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi, as well as services to Khao Sok National Park. All of these services depart from the same place which is a car park in front of the train station on the right as you enter the main ticket hall. The car park is very easy to identify:

• It has a small clock tower.
• There is a row of travel agents and cafes (including Wut Travel) inside the car park area.
• If you arrive at Surat Thani Railway Station in the morning during the tourist season you will see many other travellers congregating in the same area waiting for their connecting bus service.

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