KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK THAILAND
CHIAO LAN LAKE
Khao Sok national Park is one of the newer attractions for tourists in Thailand. It used to be a well-hidden place and only the Thai tourist would come here on their holidays. Slowly but gradually the foreign tourist gets the word and is now exploring this magnificent piece of nature.
The park has a total area of 738.74 square kilometers, which covers parts of the Khlong Yee and Khlong Pra Sang forests as well as portions of the Krai Son and the Khao Pung sub-districts in the district of Ban Ta Khun and the Khlong Sok and Panom sub districts in the province in Surat Thani, the ideal place when you are traveling through Thailand.
The park has many different possibilities for any kind of traveller. The entrance of the park has a few different TREE HOUSE resorts in which you will stay in yes a “Tree House”.
Activities such as rafting, hiking and flora and fauna watching are a few of the activities you can d while visiting this park. Its a hidden place which not many people know about. Thai people come here especially when they have holidays. Its literally a PARADISE within a PARADISE.
The King of Thailand decided about 30 years ago that the Sourth of Thailand was in need of Electricity and build a Hydro Dam. The valley was flooded some 27 years ago , forming a lake, powering this hydrodam. This is now the largest artificial lake, the Chiao Lan (Ratchaprapha dam) with 165 square km,in Thailand which is perfect swimming, kayaking, resting and especially for Cave Diving.
When you think Cave Diving, Thailand is probably not the first location that comes up in your mind. We all know about Mexico and Florida to be famous for cave diving. But dont be misguided! Cave Diving in Thailand is becoming more and more popular as we discover more and more wet caves throughout the country. Blue label Diving focusses on the caves in the south like the caves in Chiao Lan lake. These are perfect for beginners and advanced cave divers.
The rising water cause some pristine cave systems to flood, now only accessible to divers. Temple cave being the most famous, but cavern divers can swim through hundreds of stalactites in Phra Daeng cave or squeeze into peters cave. All caves are shallower than 20m/60ft, offering plenty of time to wander through or conduct any cave course of choice.
If you just want to make a day trip or an overnight trip local accommodation is available on the lake in floating bamboo houses and local food is served 3 times a day.
28 June 2015. Due to 2 unfortunate deaths in the lake last december, the authorities have closed the park for scuba or tech diving until further notice. We conduct our cave diving courses in other fresh water lakes like Klang Cave, Spider Cave, Sra Keow and Song Hong.