Khao Lak & Khao Sok National Park (THA)

12/25/2019 - 12/28/2019

Khao Lak is a popular destination for beach vacations in Thailand. There are miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

In addition, you can take a trip to the nearby Khao Sok National Park.

During my time there, a sad event marked its 15th anniversary. The tsunami of December 26, 2004, hit Khao Lak particularly hard, completely destroying the town and claiming many lives. To commemorate and provide information, there is a tsunami museum there today. Next to it is a police boat that was swept more than two kilometers inland during the disaster. Otherwise, there is no evidence of the tragedy today.

I took a trip from Khao Lak to Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park. We departed in the morning in a minivan to the Ratchaprapha Dam and then continued on a longtail boat across the lake. The lake is not natural, but rather a reservoir.

After over an hour of travel, we reached a floating village. There, we had a Thai lunch before continuing on a jungle trek.

The adventurous trek took us through the jungle to a cave. During the hike, we had to cross the river multiple times (with our shoes) and we saw various animals.

The cave is partially underwater, so we left our belongings before entering, only wearing swimwear and shoes. The water level varies, and in some areas, swimming is necessary (there is not much room for swimming). Despite the impressive rock formations in the cave, I was glad when we were back outside. Because of the water, I did not bring a camera and therefore have no photos. On the way back, the guide mentioned that sometimes there are snakes in the cave (including king cobras) - if I had known that, I definitely would not have gone into the cave.

After the hike, we returned to the floating village, where we had a small afternoon snack with fruit and pastries. Then we took the longtail boat back across the lake and the minivan back to Khao Lak.

One thing is for sure, the trip remains an unforgettable experience.