We’re here to answer questions such as: does grab work in Khao Sok National Park, are taxis or tuk-tuks available, can you hire a scooter, and what is the best way to get around the area without falling victim to a scam or the taxi mafia?

Navigating Khao Sok National Park can be a bit tricky, especially since this part of Thailand is quite remote and not very walkable.

I’ve been lucky to explore Khao Sok National Park on multiple trips, going beyond the usual tourist paths to truly understand its transportation quirks.

If you’re wondering how to efficiently get around this beautiful national park, this comprehensive guide has everything you’re looking for. There’s more to Khao Sok transport than meets the eye, and I’ve got the insider tips you need.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Guide Your Travel free and provide high-quality content for you. Please read the full disclaimer for more information.

Why you can trust this article about grab in Khao Sok National Park

Hi, I’m Victoria, and I’m your go-to source for South East Asia travel tips and information. I’ve been traveling to Thailand for more than 25 years, which feels crazy to say, but it’s true.

Needless to say, Thailand has changed a lot over the years, and I’m here to keep you updated on travel information and the best things to do or see. I live in Bali, which is just a short journey from beautiful Thailand, and I end up coming here several times per year for extended trips.

Whether you’re looking for an ultimate island-hopping itinerary, or useful currency tips, I’ve got you covered.

Khao Sok National Park is home to the beautiful Cheow Lan Lake, an artificial lake created by a dam. I’ve stayed in most areas of Khao Sok, and I found that your transport experience will be very different depending on where you have your base.

Is grab available in Khao Sok National Park?

Bad news: grab is unfortunately not available in and around Khao Sok National Park, so you’ll have to say goodbye to the convenience of online taxis during your stay. This is mostly because of the control of the local taxi mafia, who don’t want to adjust their highly inflated prices, as well as the lack of demand.

Unfortunately, that means that your options for getting around Khao Sok National Park are pretty limited.

We discuss each transport method for Khao Sok National Park in detail below, but essentially, you can choose between renting a scooter, walking shorter distances, joining a tour, or using over-priced taxis.

Is Bolt available in Khao Sok National Park?

Bolt is a popular alternative to grab in Thailand. However, much like grab, Bolt is unfortunately not available in Khao Sok National Park. You will have to find other transport options.

Are Uber and Lyft available in Khao Sok National Park?

Uber and Lyft are not currently available in Khao Sok National Park or anywhere in Thailand. Grab is the most popular alternative, but in the case of Khao Sok National Park, it is not available due to the lack of demand and control of the taxi mafia in the area.

Is gojek available in Khao Sok National Park?

Gojek is an Indonesian alternative to grab or Uber and was briefly available in Thailand before the company handed over operations to Air Asia in 2020.

While gojek is very popular across Indonesia, especially in places like Uluwatu, Canggu, or Sanur, it does not work in Thailand anymore and definitely not in Khao Sok National Park.

How do you get from the Khao Sok National bus stop to your hotel?

If you’re planning your first trip to Khao Sok National Park and will be arriving by bus, you might be wondering how you’re going to get from the bus stop to your hotel without grab to help you out.

The answer to this will depend a little bit on where your hotel is located. Definitely double-check the location when booking and how far it is from the stop. If it’s close by, you can just walk, but if it’s further away, you might have to take a taxi.

Most buses will drop you off at this stop, which is located close to a little neighborhood of hotels and homestays.

Some hotels in Khao Sok National Park offer free pickup and dropoff from places like Phuket or Surat Thani, depending on where you’re staying. Clarify with your accommodation if there is a transfer available and how to let them know when exactly you’ll be arriving.

If your hotel can’t help, you can take a taxi, which are available on arrival at the bus stop, although prices can be high. Just expect to pay a lot, even for a short ride. Negotiation is difficult since the taxi drivers all charge the same.

How to get to your floating bungalow in Khao Sok National Park?

Many people stay in floating bungalows in Khao Sok, which are only accessible by boat. Luckily, most of these hotels provide a pickup service, either in the Khao Sok town or even in places like Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani.

Just reach out to your hotel and clarify if a pickup is included or if it costs extra. Hotel pickups are usually more expensive than taking the bus to Khao Sok, though.

Best ways to get around Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is a huge area, and entering the national park as a tourist without a guide can be tricky. Here are the best transport options for Khao Sok National Park so you can still get around as easily and conveniently as possible, even without grab.

1. Is Khao Sok National Park walkable?

Walking is not the best way to get around Khao Sok National Park, but it is somewhat possible. Firstly, you need to distinguish between getting around the national park itself and getting around the little town where most hotels are located.

The town is relatively walkable since there isn’t much traffic, but the much bigger main road has no sidewalks and is used by buses and trucks, so walking there should be avoided.

The national park itself has quite a few hiking trails, but most people explore it by boat and then go on shorter hikes with a tour company.

Officially, you need a guide to enter the national park, but there are ways to avoid this rule, of course. Just head to the entrance and pay the national park fee, and you shouldn’t have any issues exploring.

However, since the park is so large, it’s easy to get lost, so be reasonable and consider whether getting a guide might not be the better choice,

2. Going on a boat tour through Khao Sok National Park

If you’re not staying in a floating bungalow, you’re probably going to do a day trip to Khao Sok National Park. You can book boat tours all around town, and most hotels sell their own as well.

I’ve had mixed experiences with booking tours on arrival, and especially the ones with large groups aren’t really worth it.

This private tour was a much better experience, although it’s a bit pricey. You’ll have the whole boat to yourself, and lunch is included. Definitely worth the extra money, in my experience.

3. Can you rent a bicycle in Khao Sok National Park?

Renting a bicycle is not very common in Khao Sok, but some people do multi-day bike tours through the national park. These are best booked directly with the operator, and you should know that you’ll only be able to cycle for some parts of the day while you’ll get around on foot or by boat other times.

4. Can you rent a scooter in Khao Sok National Park, and is it safe for driving?

Renting a scooter is the best way to get around most parts of Thailand, but in the case of Khao Sok, it’s not always necessary.

You cannot enter the national park with motor vehicles, so if you do rent a bike, you can only use it to get around in the little town where most hotels are located or to drive to attractions further away.

Since most tourists book a guided tour of Khao Sok, getting around is not extremely important. However, if you’re planning on exploring the park by yourself or if you want to stay in the area for longer than just a few days, having your own ride will be very useful.

While Khao Sok National Park is fairly quiet without too much traffic, driving can still be dangerous, so think carefully if you want to choose this transport method.

Drive slowly and always wear a helmet. Scooter accidents are very common in Thailand, and inexperienced drivers make the roads dangerous.

Every traveller should have insurance, including coverage for medical emergencies, hospital visits and unforeseen accidents. SafetyWing is not only the best choice for shorter trips but also offers long-term plans for digital nomads or those travelling for extended periods of time.

They have a great selection of plans, including trip insurance, which supports you in case of cancelled flights or lost baggage.

My favourite part is that they offer adventure sports coverage ad-ons, so you can do all the exciting activities without having to worry about taking unnecessary risks.

No matter where you’re travelling, you cannot put a price on peace of mind.

Find out more about SafetyWing here.

5. Can you rent a car in Khao Sok National Park?

It’s not very common for tourists to rent a car in Thailand, but it is possible. There are no official car rental agencies in Khao Sok National Park, but you might get lucky in Surat Thani, which is located a few hours away.

Prices start at approximately THB 1,500 (~ $41 US) per day, which is not very cheap but can be worth it for larger groups of people.

Make sure you have the correct driver’s license, though, and only rent a car in Khao Sok National Park if you’re confident driving on the left side of the road.

6. Is there public transport in Khao Sok National Park?

The closest thing that Khao Sok National Park has to public transport is the Songthaew, which is an open pick-up truck with seats in the back that is shared with other passengers. They cost between THB 100 and THB 400 (~ $2.75 US and ~ $11 US) per ride, depending on where you’re going, and can be flagged down on the street or found in popular tourist spots.

However, it can be tricky to find them in more remote areas, so it’s difficult to rely on them for transport.

But you can use Thailand’s long-distance buses or minivans to get to Khao Sok National Park from places like Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani.

7. Are there taxis in Khao Sok National Park?

Khao Sok National Park has taxis, and they can be found in popular tourist spots, the main town, and the pier. They’re a mix of open pick-up trucks as well as some traditional cars.

Unfortunately, the taxi mafia has firm control of transport in Khao Sok National Park, making taxis very expensive here.

Negotiation is difficult as the taxi drivers all ask for the same price, and regulated apps like grab or bolt are not available in Khao Sok.

8. Are there tuk-tuks in Khao Sok National Park?

Tuk-tuks are not very common in Khao Sok National Park, and regular cars or open pickup trucks can be found in most places instead.

How to get to Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is located on the mainland of southern Thailand, a little further north than Phuket and Krabi, and southwest of Surat Thani.

To get to Khao Sok National Park, you can jump on a local minivan or a bigger bus, which departs from Surat Thani, Krabi, or Phuket. You can also find connections from places like Khao Lak, or islands like Koh Lanta, Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi, or Koh Tao, but you’ll probably have to go to a central hub like Surat Thani or Phuket first.

Many companies will also offer private cars, which can take you directly to Khao Sok National Park from many places around Thailand. They’re a lot more expensive but also more efficient and comfortable.

Khao Sok National Park does not have its own airport, and the closest ones are in Phuket, Surat Thani, or Krabi.

Using grab and more transport methods in other parts of Thailand

We know that figuring out how to get around is one of the most important things for travelers in Thailand. If you’re exploring more islands and places around the country, make sure to check out our grab and transport guides to places like Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Bangkok, Krabi&Ao Nang, and Koh Tao.

Grab Khao Sok National Park FAQ

Before you go…

You’re ready to go on the Thailand adventure of a lifetime to Khao Sok National Park. Explore even more of Thailand’s beautiful islands in our 2-week itinerary, or find out if Krabi or ao Nang is right for you.

If you’re looking for more fun things to do, check out this legendary abandoned hotel in Koh Tao and snap some pictures for Instagram, for which we have some Thai-inspired captions for you here.

Celebrating a special occasion in Thailand? You’ll love these ideas for spending your birthday in Bangkok.

Did I miss anything?
If you have any questions or feel like something is missing from this post, please leave a comment below or contact me.