Khao Sok Trang Trip

South Thailand's Khao Sok National Park & Trang 8-days (Ex Hatyai)

GENERAL NOTICE

This is meant to be a "free and easy" budget trip. Participants should be relatively fit with a good sense of humour, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similiarly assorted types! Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun!

Raft House in Chiew Lan Lake / Thale Noi Bird Santuary

South-west Thailand is more than just Phuket and Hatyai. Explore with us down less trodden paths where birds converge by the thousands escaping the cold winters of the northern hemisphere, to Thale Noi in Phattalung. Thereafter, Khao sok National Park beckons with its limestone dotted reservoir dam, scenic forest-clad rivers, caves, and waterfalls; and when in season, cool bracing weather and good rafflesia watching potential. On the way to Trang, the mystical Tiger Cave Temple, built within a limestone massif, awaits the visitor to its ancient frescoes, grottoes, and 1200 steps to its peak! After all the huffing, cool down and warm up too, in wonderful Khlong Thom, where hot river meets cold in a luxuriant forest setting. What about the Island bit? Trang delivers with hidden beaches where one has to swim under a cave to access, splendid snorkelling in emerald-clear waters, and to top it all, a canoeing adventure through mangrove, and under the "dragon's belly" to Chao Mai Cave. Last but not least, its shop till you drop in Hatyai!

Chao Mai National Park / Emerald Cave / Chao Mai Caves

Day 1 Hadyai: Fly Air Asia AK862 KUL/Hatyai 1030/1040hr at own cost. Alternative low cost ways to get to Hatyai is possible. Its a short half hour transfer to our hotel and the rest of the afternoon is free and easy. A 2-hour ancient massage might be a good start! O/n Hatyai.
Day 2 Phattalung & Chiew Lan: We make a 6am departure to Thale Noi Phattalung, about 100km north of Hatyai. At 730am, we pile ourselves into boats for a cruise to view birds by the thousands bathed in the soft rays of sunrise. After our fill of birds, we have breakfast and then push off on a 400km journey to Chiew Lan Lake. As it is highway driving most of the way, we should be pulling into Chiew Lan Lake on the fringes of Khao Sok National Park around early to mid-PM. We then board our long-boats for a 30-min ride to Raft-houses which will be our overnight stop! Rest and relax and some canoes are available for paddling around.
Day 3 Khao Sok NP: We long-boat again for about 2 hours and admire the scenario of "Guilin or Ipoh" if flooded! At a point, we will disembark for a relaxing 3-4hr return-trip trek to Nam Loo Cave with its 500m cave-stream, passing many waterfalls along the way. By the time we reach back our raft-house, it should be mid-PM, and we long-boat back to land and continue another hour to Art's Riverview Lodge, where we overnight--in tree-houses if available!
Day 4 Khao Sok NP: A full-day trek exploring the wonders of Khao Sok National Park. If still light after trek, an optional side trip for Sok River Canoeing can be arranged. Overnight Art's again.