| One of then most fascinating places in Thailand | | | | park. The Bua Phut red flowers smell awful, similar |
| has to be the Khao Sok national park. | | | | to meat that has gone bad, and can grow up to |
| Khao Sok is the largest area of virgin forest in | | | | eighty centimeters in diameter, making it one of |
| Southern Thailand and is the remains of a | | | | the largest known flowers in the world. The |
| rainforest which people claim to be older and | | | | flower only blooms for about one week, and you |
| more diverse than even the Amazon Basin | | | | can normally see it January to March, and, very |
| rainforest. | | | | occasionally, around July. |
| With Surat Thani situated to the east, Phuket to | | | | Over the last few years there has been a |
| the south and Ranong to the north, Khao Sok can | | | | genuine commitment to conserving Khao Sok. For |
| be easily accessed. And there lies the beauty of | | | | example, the Bua Phut is actually endangered, so |
| Khao Sok, tourists head for Koh Samui, Koh Tao, | | | | nowadays you cannot walk right up to the plants. |
| and Koh Phuket in the south and Chiang Mai and | | | | On the other hand, elevated walkways have been |
| Chiang Rai in the north, and very rarely have the | | | | built near to them so you can still view this truly |
| time to explore Khao Sok. It is therefore | | | | remarkable plant. |
| unspoiled and still offers outstanding natural | | | | And the commitment to conservation does not |
| beauty. | | | | stop there. You will find many resorts offering |
| Personally, I would get in the car, travel from | | | | educational programs relating to the national park. |
| Bangkok via Ranong, possibly staying there for | | | | A visit to Khao Sok would not be complete |
| the night, and then head down Khao Sok. Going | | | | without visiting the Chieow Laan Lake which was |
| by this route you can see the beauty of both | | | | created in 1982 when the Chieow Laan dam was |
| western seaboard of the Gulf of Thailand and also | | | | completed. It is here that that you will find some |
| the spectacular scenery alongside the Andaman | | | | of the best places to see animals such as gibbons, |
| Sea. | | | | barking deer and wild boar. |
| On settling into my riverside bungalow for the | | | | If you have time, you should also plan to stay at |
| evening, I would then look forward to the two or | | | | one of the floating raft houses on the lake. Just |
| three days of visiting the forests, rivers, streams, | | | | the perfect place to relax and take in the truly |
| waterfalls, and magnificent limestone cliffs. | | | | magnificent natural surroundings. It is here that |
| Many of the resort and lodge owners can provide | | | | you will find the limestone cliffs that are typical of |
| you with complete package tours, including your | | | | the entire region. The cliffs very much resemble |
| room, all meals, River Sok adventure trips, guided | | | | the ones along the Krabi coast and in Phang Nga |
| hiking tours, elephant trekking and even a night | | | | Bay. At Chieow Laan they really are stunning as |
| safari. And along the way you will see real species | | | | they spectacularly rise up out of the lake. |
| diversity as Khao Sok has a vast range of | | | | All too soon it is time to head back to Bangkok, |
| mammals, tropical birds, reptiles and plants. | | | | this time taking the road east to Surat Thani and |
| If you are really lucky you may see the Bua Phut, | | | | then up the western seaboard of the Gulf. |
| or Rafflesia Kerrii, flower which grows within the | | | | |