Confidence Guarantee - Read more
01279 704 135
Open today 09 - 13 | Opening hours
14 days

Phuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok

Look forward to relaxing at Thailand’s No. 1 beach holiday destination, Phuket, and experiencing the country’s most scenic national park, Khao Sok. Round off your tour in the quiet, authentic beach paradise that is Khao Lak.

Phuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok
Phuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok
14 days
HomeAsiaThailandPhuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok

Phuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok

Look forward to relaxing at Thailand’s No. 1 beach holiday destination, Phuket, and experiencing the country’s most scenic national park, Khao Sok. Round off your tour in the quiet, authentic beach paradise that is Khao Lak.

HomeAsiaThailandPhuket, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok
What is included in the price?
This package includes the following
  • Return flights from the UK to Phuket (enquire regarding direct flights)
  • 9 nights at 4-5-star hotels
  • 1 night at Jungle Camp in Khao Sok National Park in a room with en suite bathroom and toilet
  • 1 night on Cheow Lan Lake in a raft bungalow with en suite bathroom and toilet
  • 11 x breakfast
  • 2 x lunch (days 7 and 8)
  • 1 x dinner (day 7)
  • Welcome meeting
  • Local English-speaking guides for transfers and excursions
  • All mentioned transfers and excursions take place within international groups of 1 – 14 people and with TourCompass’ own guests only
  • Transportation by car or minibus with air conditioning
  • Emergency hotline staffed 24/7 throughout your tour
  • ATOL certificate included
  • Departure guarantee – the journey takes place regardless of the number of participants

The following package of excursions are included:

  • Wat Chalong, Phuket Old Town & Chillva Night Market
  • Boat trips with longtail boat on Cheow Lan Lake
  • Activities on Cheow Lan Lake
  • Admission and fees to the sights and attractions mentioned

THE TOUR IN SHORT

This tour combines a relaxing beach holiday with some of Thailand’s best beaches, as well as unique nature experiences in the rainforest at Khao Sok National Park.

The tour starts at Thailand’s beach holiday destination No. 1: Phuket, where palm trees shade golden sand as waves slowly meet land. The water is warm, clear and relatively shallow, making it perfect for children and adults alike. On the included half-day excursion, you will experience Phuket’s most significant temple, Wat Chalong, which is known for its magnificent architecture. You will also visit the cozy and charming district of Phuket Old Town, where colorful sino-Portuguese houses stand side by side. The evening ends with local specialties at the trendy night market Chillva.

The tour takes you on a true jungle adventure in Thailand’s most scenic national park, Khao Sok. You stay in the lush jungle, where birds chirp and the monkeys swing from branch to branch, high in the treetops, which seemingly grow into the sky. A visit to Khao Sok can only be complete if you visit both the rainforest and the magical lake of Cheow Lan, so of course, that’s exactly what you’ll do. In the middle of this emerald-green lake, you stay on a raft hotel surrounding by steep limestone cliffs, all reflected in the stillness of the lake.

The tour ends at the charming beach paradise of Khao Lak. The atmosphere here is quite the contrast to Phuket. It’s quieter and more authentic, and yet offers everything you need.

Why choose this tour

  • A great combination of a relaxing beach holiday and wonderful nature experiences in Thailand’s most scenic national park
  • Discover two of Southern Thailand’s most popular beach destinations: Phuket and Khao Lak
  • You’ll stay in a cabin in Khao Sok’s rainforest and at a raft hotel on the magical Cheow Lan Lake
  • You’ll have plenty of free time to decide the pace and activities yourself

 

Our tours always include

  • All international and domestic flights
  • All accommodations
  • All specified excursions and activities
  • 24/7 telephone – We’re with you all the way
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Departure from the UK

Today is the day you set off from your selected airport and head to Thailand with connecting flight(s) on the way.

Day 2: Arrival in Phuket

You land at the airport at Thailand’s beach holiday destination No. 1: Phuket.

You pick up your luggage and pass through immigration. Your guide and driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall to drive you to the hotel.

After check-in, you’ll probably need to relax after your long flight, so the rest of the day for you to spend as you please. Perhaps you fancy a dip in the waves? Or how about a stroll along the beach where you can enjoy the sun’s rays, the soft sounds of quiet waves and a relaxing holiday atmosphere?

Kata Beach is on the south-western coast of Phuket and is one of the most famous beaches on the whole island. Kata Beach actually consists of two beaches: Kata Yai, the “big” beach, and Kata Noi, the “small” beach. Both beaches have fine, golden sand and shade from greenery and palm trees. The water is clear, calm and relatively shallow – ideal beach for children and adults alike. Kata Beach is a bit more relaxed compared to the lively and vibrant Patong Beach, but it still offers a good selection of nice restaurants, pleasant pubs, and shops.

A good 20 km north of Kata Beach is Kamala Beach, which consists of a nearly 2 km sandy beach with fine sand and calm waters for bathing. Kamala Beach is all about pure relaxation, and time passes slowly here. The area isn’t overrun by tourists, which gives it a unique sense of calm, particularly at the northern end, which features only a few hotels and lots of space on the beach. On the southern end of the beach is the city of Kamala itself. There are no neon lights here, nor noisy city life, but you will find good restaurants and pleasant cafés that, as one of few places in Phuket, are situated right next to the beach.

Day 3: Welcome meeting – Wat Chalong – Phuket Old Town – Chillva Night Market

A welcome meeting will be held today for anyone who wishes to come along. You’ll be notified of the time of the meeting the day before. A representative from our partner will meet you at the hotel, where they welcome you and give local tips about good restaurants, attractions, and beaches. The representative will also answer any questions you may have.

In the afternoon, it’s time for an exciting island tour. Phuket has been nicknamed the “Pearl of the Andeman”, and for good reason. The large island boasts scenic and versatile nature and has so much more than beautiful beaches to offer.

You will be picked up at the hotel by your guide and driver. The first stop is Phuket’s most significant temple, Wat Chalong. Wat Chalong is known for its magnificent architecture with beautiful murals depicting scenes from the life of Buddha.

From here, you are driven to the cosy and charming Phuket Old Town. In the early days, the town was an important hub for trade between China, India and Europe, and the Chinese and Portuguese in particular have left their mark on the town. Discover the fascinating architecture with its colourful Sino-Portuguese houses and learn more about the town and the exciting history of the island. Phuket Old Town also offers trendy shops and art galleries alongside cosy cafés and restaurants.

Dinner is served at the hip market, Chillva, located a short drive away. Here, you can taste the market’s delightful local specialities, such as juicy satay skewers, grilled lobster, delicious sushi, and the dessert sticky rice with mango. Have a seat on a plastic stool and enjoy the atmosphere as live music often completes the mood.

From here, you are driven back to your hotel after an exciting day full of experiences.

Accommodation:
Days 4-5: Phuket on your own

There are no excursions planned for today, so you can enjoy Phuket at your own pace.

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, boasting more than 30 magnificent beaches, making it tempting to spend the days lazing on the golden sand and swimming in the warm water. But if you feel like heading out in search of adventure, Phuket actually has a lot to offer in the way of nature and cultural experiences.

We certainly also recommend a snorkelling trip to one of the beautiful coral reefs off the coast of Phuket, where you’ll see the most beautiful colourful fish?

East of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, which is famous for its many islands and impressive limestone cliffs. Among other things, this is the bay where you can find the legendary “James Bond Island”, where sections of The Man with the Golden Gun were filmed in 1974.

Even further east are the heavenly Phi Phi Islands, which can be experienced on a full-day excursion, giving you time to bathe, go snorkelling, and relax on the alabaster sandy beaches.

You must not miss spending at least one evening on a sunset excursion to Khao Rang Hill, one of Phuket’s most famous lookout points. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city, nearby islands, and the undulating landscape.

Below, you can see a selection of the optional tours we offer:

Day 6: Phuket – Khao Sok National Park

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Phuket. You are picked up at the hotel and driven north, towards the Khao Sok National Park, where a true jungle adventure awaits.

Khao Sok is one of Thailand’s largest national parks, covering an area of 739 km2 – and probably its most beautiful!

The national park is home to one of Thailand’s largest areas of native primeval forest – i.e. ancient, undisturbed rainforest. The lush surroundings and life-giving rivers are home to abundant wildlife, including gibbons, langurs and macaques. The little Chevrotain deer also lives here – alongside muntjacs and serows. If you’re really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the beautiful, long-tailed marbled cat. Bird lovers certainly have a lot to look forward to as well, rhinoceros hornbills and red-naped trogons are among the denizens of this lush jungle.

The trip from Phuket to Khao Sok takes approx. 3 hours, and on your arrival, you can choose to relax and enjoy the nature outside your door, or you can opt to go on one of the optional tours below.

Day 7: Khao Sok National Park – Cheow Lan Lake

Another adventure awaits you today.

Part of Khao Sok National Park is made up of the 165-km2, emerald green island of Cheow Lan. The lake was formed when the Rajjaprabha Dam was built in 1987, flooding the area. 385 local families were relocated and compensated, and animals were both sailed out via the rivers and flown out by helicopter. As the area became more and more flooded by rain and river water, part of the rainforest was transformed into a lake, and the tall limestone rocks, which used to extend high between the treetops, were transformed into small rainforest islands, and today they protrude from the clear, emerald-green water. It is for good reason that Cheow Lan is sometimes described as Thailand’s answer to Guilin, one of the most beautiful places in China.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel. Wave goodbye to the rainforest as you set course for Cheow Lan Lake, where more than 100 limestone karsts jut up out of the emerald-green water.

Please note that you cannot bring all your luggage out to the lake, so you can safely leave it at the hotel. We recommend that you instead bring a backpack with the essentials you’ll be using over the next few days at the lake. When you meet your driver again on day 8, they’ll bring your luggage.

First, you’ll be driven to the small local town of Ban Ta Khun, where you visit the local market in the middle of the town, which is known for the excellent quality of its turmeric and papaya, among other things.

You’ll then be driven to the Ratchaprapha pier, up close to the impressive dam. From here, you climb aboard a long-tailed boat and ride out onto Lake Cheow Lan, where you can enjoy majestic landscapes with iconic limestone karsts.

At lunchtime, you arrive at your overnight accommodation – a floating bungalow in the middle of the lake. After check-in, you’ll be served a traditional lunch, which is enjoyed overlooking the beautiful nature.

You can then choose whether you want to stay at the hotel, where you can relax with a good book, explore the area by kayak or take a dip in the emerald green lake directly from your veranda. The water is clean and warm all year round.

You can also choose to participate in an exciting hike that takes you through the jungle to one of the area’s beautiful stalactite caves, Coral Cave. Make sure to bring water and sturdy, closed-toe shoes, and note that it can be slippery during the rainy season. Together with your guide, you will be sailed to where the hike starts in a long-tail boat. On the hike, you will experience the jungle’s impressive fauna, and your guide will tell you about the different species along the way. You might well also see some of the birds and insects that inhabit the jungle. After about 45 minutes, you will arrive at a lagoon where a bamboo raft will be waiting to take you to Coral Cave, which takes about 15 minutes. Inside the cave, you will discover beautiful stalagmites and stalactites resembling elephants, witches and snakes. The trip then goes back the same way as you came.

In the late afternoon, you can join a fantastic boat safari. This is an opportunity to spot some of the local birds and wild mammals, such as hornbills, elephants, oxen and sambar deer. On the way back to the hotel, the sun is slowly setting behind the high limestone cliffs – a completely magical sight!

A delicious dinner awaits you at the hotel, and afterwards, you can lean back after a day packed with new experiences and look up at the beautiful clear starry sky, which is not disturbed by artificial light.

Accommodation:
Day 8: Cheow Lan Lake – lunch in the Khao Sok jungle – Khao Lak

It’s simply magical to wake up on Lake Cheow Lan. Open your curtains and the door to your porch. Watch the mist slowly disperse over the perfectly smooth lake and enjoy a silence only interrupted by the Asian koel.

Early morning, you’ll be going on another exciting boat safari in the early light of dawn. Keep an eye out for the Indochinese Grey Langur, gibbons and macaques.

After the boat ride, breakfast is served. Afterwards, there is enough time for a dip in the lake, a canoe trip or simply to enjoy the view and the silence.

You check out late morning and travel by boat back to the mainland. Along the way, you can enjoy a last look at the fairy-tale limestone cliffs that rise vertically from this magnificent lake.

Your driver will be waiting for you back at the pier, ready to drive you back to the rainforest, where you will be served a delicious Thai lunch.

You will then be driven to Khao Lak, a good hour away. After checking into the hotel, you have the day at your disposal to enjoy this quiet holiday paradise with no interruptions. So get your swimwear on and find your favourite spot on the honey-coloured beach.

In the evening, head into the town of Khao Lak and check out the restaurants and shops.

Days 9-12: Khao Lak on your own

Khao Lak is all about peace and adventure. This beach paradise is located around 100 km north of Phuket, but the atmosphere and life in Khao Lak are of a completely different world. It is serene here, and more authentic, yet you have everything you need – from stunning scenery to good restaurants.

Khao Lak consists of several connected beach areas that together comprise this gorgeous, soothing holiday paradise, with sea green waters on one side and lush, unspoilt rainforest on the other.

Your days in Khao Lak are at your disposal, and you are free to choose how to spend these days.

Aside from lazy days on the honey-coloured beaches, we also warmly recommend a snorkelling excursion to one of the world’s very best snorkelling and diving spots, the Similan Islands, just 1 hour and 15 minutes away by speedboat. The 9 Similan Islands have been named a national park, and are home to an impressive marine life with vividly colourful fish, whale sharks, sea turtles and rays, as well as untouched nature, alabaster beaches and crystal-clear water. Read more about the tour below.

Day 13: Departure day

The time has come to say goodbye to Thailand. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, from which you will fly to the UK, with connecting flight(s) along the way.

Day 14: Arrival back home

You land in the UK after a wonderful holiday with both relaxation and amazing nature experiences.

Combine with
Choose from the options below
City break extension in Bangkok
3 nights

Extend your tour to include an exciting city break to Bangkok and fall head over heels for the hectic and fascinating capital, which is home to around 12 million inhabitants.

There are no planned excursions today, so you can explore the city at your own pace.

When it comes to getting about in Bangkok, you needn’t worry about the notorious traffic, as there is a wide range of transport options other than buses and taxis. The river taxis are popular and account for a significant portion of the city’s public transport, as they dock at many of the city’s sights. You can also take The Sky Train, which winds its way between the many high-rise buildings and is a good, fast and cheap way of travelling.

Bangkok is divided into east and west by the 372-km-long Chao Phraya River, which flows south of Bangkok all the way up to Nakhon Sawan.

The eastern part of the city is considered to be central Bangkok, where the popular areas of Silom and Sukhumvit have a high concentration of shopping centres, local markets, good eateries and cool sky bars. It is also on the eastern side that you will find the historic part of Bangkok, which is home to the spectacular royal palace, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew.

Fortunately, Bangkok also has many green oases when you need to retreat from the tropical heat and noisy traffic. These include Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park or the green island, Bang Krachao, which is often referred to as “Bangkok’s jungle” – it’s as if time stands still here.

On the western side, on the other hand, you experience a completely different world without skyscrapers and honking tuk tuks. You will encounter a more authentic Bangkok and a maze of canals here, where houses stand on stilts and postmen make their deliveries by boat. This is such a stark contrast to eastern Bangkok that you feel like you are in a different place entirely – however, the city’s great contrasts are precisely what make Bangkok such a fantastic and fascinating city to visit!

In the evening, China Town, the Asiatique outdoor shopping and entertainment area, and the many sky bars are especially popular. Known from the film “The Hangover Part II”, Lebua Sky Bar is an ideal place to enjoy a refreshing drink before dinner while watching the sun set over the capital.

Whatever you decide to do, we guarantee that you won’t get bored!

Beach holiday extension on Koh Yao Yai
3 nights

Koh Yao Yai is the largest of the two Koh Yao islands. Although the island is the largest, it is the least developed and therefore also the quietest. There are fewer local inhabitants here, but more visitors than on Koh Yao Noi. The infrastructure is also not very developed, which is why you will not find many cars on the island. Instead, scooters and bicycles are most often used as means of transport – and they are easy to rent. 

You will quickly find that Koh Yao Yai has an authentic charm. It is a gem of tranquillity and beauty and an idyllic retreat. Here, life moves at a slow pace. Local fishermen head out to sea at dawn to harvest the catch of the day, while farmers work in the fields under the baking sun. The local population is known for its friendliness, and here on the island you can get very close to Thai culture and traditions. 

Koh Yao Yai also offers impressive landscapes, with lush forests and rolling hills that contrast beautifully with the long stretches of pristine sandy beaches. The best beaches can be found on the west coast, while the beaches on the east coast are strongly affected by tides. 

The days are at your leisure, and you can therefore take them at your own pace. You can laze by the beach while you enjoy the views of the bay’s picturesque limestone cliffs or stroll in the soft sand. Although Koh Yao Yai equals tranquillity and a laid-back atmosphere, there is still plenty to do; snorkelling among tropical fish, hiking and cycling through the beautiful landscapes as well as boat trips to the nearby islands such as Koh Hong and Phi Phi. 

When would you like to travel?
Departure dates
All prices shown are per person
Special offers for groups of 6 or more. Request a quote today for more information.
REVIEWS
Travellers' tales
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
Good to know
Asia
Millie Davies

Millie’s passion for travel sparked when she was little, and now she loves to help others fulfil their travel dreams

Opening hours
Monday-Thursday 9-15
Friday 9-13
JOIN THE ADVENTURE
Related tours
WHY TRAVEL WITH TOURCOMPASS?
Why choose us

We know your time is precious. That's why we strive to provide personalised, attentive service to ensure your comfort and safety throughout your tour. From the moment you book to the moment you return home, we’re here to handle every detail with the utmost care.

We offer a diverse array of destinations, each promising its own unique story, shaped by its local cultures, fascinating wildlife, and natural beauty. 

We design every tour based on the extensive research and first-hand experiences of our travel specialists and experts. Each tour is crafted to showcase the best each country has to offer.

With us, you can rest assured; your journey is in safe hands. We are ATOL certified and a proud member of ABTA, maintaining rigorous standards of quality and service to ensure your complete peace of mind.

EXPLORE
Check out all our exciting destinations