What's on in Khao Sok (Khao Sok National Park), Thailand through the year

Peak crowds — Dry season on the lake, Christmas and New Year peak

• Nature

  Rafflesia in bloom

  1 Jan – 15 Mar · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The world's largest single flower opens in the forest above the park headquarters for three to five days at a time in the dry months. Guides know which buds are close; nobody can promise one.

Still on: Morning mist on Cheow Lan (1 Nov – 15 Feb (usually)), Dry season on the lake (15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)), Christmas and New Year peak (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Dry season on the lake, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Rafflesia in bloom (1 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Morning mist on Cheow Lan (1 Nov – 15 Feb (usually)), Dry season on the lake (15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — Dry season on the lake, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Rafflesia in bloom (1 Jan – 15 Mar (usually)), Dry season on the lake (15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Songkran, Dry season on the lake

• Festival

  Songkran

  13–15 AprWater-festival New YearClosuresCrowded

  Surat Thani province takes the full three days off and the park and the lake boats run on holiday staffing. Transfers from the coast are the hard part. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season on the lake (15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — Long summer break in Thailand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Southwest monsoon

  1 May – 30 Sep · usually

  This is one of the wettest patches of forest in the country and it shows: afternoon storms, cloud on the limestone all morning, and trails that turn to clay. The lake looks its best in it.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Southwest monsoon (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Southwest monsoon (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Southwest monsoon (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Southwest monsoon (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — October semester break in Thailand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Wettest weeks of the year

  1 Oct – 30 Nov · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  Rain from both directions at once. Trail sections close, the leeches are at their worst, and lake trips get called off for a day at a time when the wind comes up.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Nature

  Morning mist on Cheow Lan

  1 Nov – 15 Feb · usuallyFog season

  Cold air off the water leaves the karst standing in cloud until the sun clears it, usually before nine. It is the reason people get up at five on the raft houses.

Still on: Wettest weeks of the year (1 Oct – 30 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry season on the lake, Christmas and New Year peak

• Season

  Dry season on the lake

  15 Dec – 30 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  The trails are firm, the longtails run to the far arms of Cheow Lan every day and the raft houses are booked out. Warm nights on the water and no leeches on the walk in.

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the year here for both foreign and Thai visitors: rooms and transport sell out early and rates run at their highest. Source ↗

Still on: Morning mist on Cheow Lan (1 Nov – 15 Feb (usually))