The nearest airports are Surat Thani (URT), about an hour and a half to two hours east, and Phuket (HKT), about three hours south-west. Both have frequent flights from Bangkok. Minivans and buses between Surat Thani and the Andaman coast pass the Khlong Sok junction, where lodges collect guests for the last couple of kilometres.
From Bangkok overland, take an overnight train to Surat Thani station (at Phun Phin) and a minivan from there. Coming from Koh Samui, joint ferry-and-minivan tickets run via Don Sak. The Ratchaprapha Dam pier for the lake is a separate destination, roughly an hour from Khlong Sok and from Surat Thani.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surat Thani airport or town | Minivan or private transfer | About 1.5–2 hours | Around 250–400 THB by minivan |
| Phuket | Bus or minivan via Khao Lak | About 3–3.5 hours | Around 300–450 THB |
| Khao Lak | Bus, minivan or private car | About 1.5 hours | Around 200–300 THB |
| Krabi | Minivan | About 2.5–3 hours | Around 300–500 THB |
| Koh Samui | Ferry to Don Sak, then minivan | About 4–5 hours | Around 500–700 THB |
| Bangkok | Flight or overnight train to Surat Thani, then minivan | Half a day, or overnight | Varies |
| Khlong Sok → the lake | Tour transfer or taxi to the dam pier | About 1 hour | Usually included in lake tours |
Getting around Khao Sok
Khlong Sok village is a single road, walkable from end to end; the park gate is at the top. There is no public transport to the lake, so join a tour or arrange a transfer through your lodge. On the lake, everything moves by longtail boat and kayak.
