Shared van / minivan
Best balance of price, convenience and hotel pickup options
Private taxi / transfer
Door-to-door ride with flexible timing and comfortable travel
Local bus
Cheapest option but requires drop-off near highway junction
Expecting direct hotel drop-off by bus
Public buses stop on main road, not directly in Khao Sok
Quick answer: From Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park you can travel by minivan/bus (the most budget‑friendly) or by private car/taxi (fastest & most flexible). Book your transfer in advance to get best timing and convenience. Tickets or private car to Khao Sok from Khao Lak can be easily booked online in advance.
At a glance:
- 📍 Distance: ~60 km by road.
- ⏱️ Travel time: Minivan/bus ~1‑2.5 hours | Taxi/private car ~1‑1.5 hours.
- 💰 Price range: Bus/minivan approx US$7‑14 per person | Taxi/private car approx US$40‑70 per vehicle.
- 🚍 Bus/Minivan: Regular departures from Khao Lak to the park; great value.
- 🚕 Private Car/Taxi: You’ll get door‑to‑door service; ideal if you have luggage or prefer comfort.
Last updated in April 2026
From Khao Lak to Khao Sok you can travel by minivan/bus or taxi, car.
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- The travel distance from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park is only approximately 60 km by road. The most popular option for traveling to Khao Sok from Khao Lak is by minivan/minibus. The journey by bus/minivan from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park takes about 1-2.5 hours, with bus tickets costing around $7-14 per person. Hotel transfers are available from and to your hotel in Khao Sok, offering a convenient and swift mode of transportation. Another option to reach Khao Sok is by private car or taxi. The travel time by private car/taxi with a driver from Khao Lak to Khao Sok is about 1-1.5 hours, with prices ranging from $40-70 per vehicle (for up to 9 passengers).
- Private car or taxi is the quickest mode of transport between these locations. Train travel to Khao Sok is not possible due to the absence of a railway, and there is no airport, rendering flights unfeasible. Alternatively, you can rent a motorbike or scooter in Khao Lak and embark on a self-guided journey to Khao Sok, although this option is suitable only for experienced motorbike riders. Easily book and purchase tickets or private car transfers from Khao Lak to Khao Sok online. From Khao Sok National Park, you can travel to Krabi + Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nha Bay.
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- Khao Sok National Park is situated in the province of Surat Thani in Thailand, covering an area of 739 km², including 165 km² of Lake Cheow Lan, part of the Ratchaprapha Dam. As the largest area of virgin forest in southern Thailand, the park is a sanctuary of biodiversity, boasting a rainforest that predates even the Amazon. It stands as one of Thailand’s best-preserved national parks, home to numerous rare plant and animal species. There are two primary methods of reaching Khao Sok from Khao Lak: by minivan/bus or private car. Train and flight options are unavailable between Khao Lak and Khao Sok National Park.
| Transfer modes from Khao Lak to Khao Sok: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bus / Van / Minibus | 1–2.5 hours | $7–14 per person |
| Private Car/Taxi with a driver | 1–1.5 hours | $40–70 per car |
How do I get from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
1. BUS / MINIVAN from Khao Lak to Khao Sok
👉 Bus or minivan is the cheapest and most popular way to travel from Khao Lak to Khao Sok.
- ✔️ Best for: budget travelers and solo travelers looking for an easy transfer
- ✔️ Travel time: ~1–2.5 hours (depending on route and stops)
- ✔️ Cost: $8–14 per person (buses are usually cheaper than minivans)
- ✔️ Comfort: medium (basic buses or more comfortable minivans)
- ✅ Best Option: Frequent minivans or buses from Nang Thong Center to Khao Sok National Park
- 💡 Tip: Arrive at least 30–60 minutes before departure and check exact pickup location.
- 🌏 Extra tip: Some services include drop-off near park entrance or accommodation.
The cheapest and most used ground transportation option from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park is a transfer by bus or smaller minivan / minibus. The companies 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport, Black Tiger Tour, Phichet Transport, Phuket Bus and Van Travel, Phuket Bus 465 Intercity or Call Me Taxi will offer this transport option, which is preferred by most solo regular travelers.
Bus company of 465 Surat Thani Phuket Transport (Phuket Bus 465 Intercity) operates larger classic buses with seats and other companies will offer you mostly smaller minivans for a limited number of passengers. Buses and minivans depart from Khao Lak Nang Thong Center or Khao Lak McDonalds and arrive at the Entrance to National Park or a transfer is provided to the places where you will be accommodated.
You will see all the information about the departure places and stations in Khao Lak and the arrival points in Khao Sok National Park when searching for tickets online, so read everything carefully and see where these points are located. Transfer by bus or minivan to Khao Sok National Park from Khao Lak takes about 1-2.5 hours, but this time can vary, it also depends on your travel route, where exactly you will go.
BOOK BUS TICKETS to Khao Sok ➜
Buses can also have a delay in departure, unfortunately this can happen in Thailand. Transportation by bus or minivan from Khao Lak to Khao Sok costs between $8-14/pp, larger classic buses are usually a cheaper option than smaller minivans. These ticket prices may vary slightly throughout the year and seasons and are not fixed. But it is always the cheapest option of transport between these places, because there is no railway here.
You can easily search and buy bus tickets from Khao Lak to Khao Sok online in advance, the bus schedule is relatively long. There are plenty of buses and minivans running between these places every day, and you can easily choose your suitable connection. It is advisable to arrive at the departure point at least 30-60 minutes before the departure of the bus / minivan.
| Bus Company | Departure | Arrival | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 08:20 | 10:20 | From $8.00 |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 09:30 | 11:10 | From $8.00 |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 10:30 | 12:10 | From $8.00 |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 11:30 | 13:50 | From $8.00 |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 13:00 | 14:40 | From $8.00 |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | 15:40 | 17:20 | From $8.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 10:00 | 11:10 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 10:30 | 11:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 11:30 | 12:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 12:30 | 13:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 13:00 | 14:10 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 13:30 | 14:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 14:30 | 15:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 15:30 | 16:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 16:00 | 17:10 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 16:30 | 17:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 17:30 | 18:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 18:30 | 19:40 | From $11.00 |
| Phichet Trans. | 19:30 | 20:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 10:30 | 11:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 11:30 | 12:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 12:30 | 13:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 13:30 | 14:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 14:30 | 15:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 15:30 | 16:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 16:30 | 17:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 17:30 | 18:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 18:30 | 19:40 | From $11.00 |
| Black Tiger Tour | 19:30 | 20:40 | From $11.00 |
| Call Me Taxi | 11:00 | 12:00 | From $14.00 |
| Call Me Taxi | 17:00 | 18:00 | From $14.00 |
2. TAXI / PRIVATE CAR from Khao Lak to Khao Sok
👉 Private taxi/car is the most comfortable and fastest way to travel from Khao Lak to Khao Sok.
- ✔️ Best for: travelers who want a direct, flexible, and hassle-free transfer
- ✔️ Travel time: ~1–1.5 hours (depending on route and pickup location)
- ✔️ Cost: $40–70 per car (can be shared among passengers)
- ✔️ Comfort: very high (modern cars, SUVs, or spacious minivans)
- ✅ Best Option: Private transfers with companies like Andaman Taxis, Bangkok Taxi24, or Call Me Taxi
- 💡 Tip: Smaller cars are cheaper, while minivans are ideal for groups.
- 🌏 Extra tip: Perfect for direct hotel-to-hotel transfers in jungle areas.
The most convenient, but at the same time more expensive option of transportation from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park is a transfer by private car/taxi with a driver. Companies such as Bangkok Taxi24, Andaman Taxis, Smile on Transport, Happy EV Taxi and Call Me Taxi offer this option of transportation to Khao Sok. The advantage of a private transfer by modern car is the possibility to choose your departure point in Khao Lak and arrival point in Khao Sok National Park.
This way you can save some of your time, because you can go straight from your hotel in Khao Lak to your accommodation in Khao Sok, for example. The companies that offer these transfers to Khao Sok from Khao Lak offer modern smaller classic cars for 1-3 passengers or larger SUVs or minivans for up to 9 passengers. Larger minivans are therefore suitable for those who want to travel in a group of several people at once.
Another advantage is the fact that you can always divide the fare for these cars and budget for individual passengers, so a transfer for a group can also be advantageous. Transportation by private car/taxi from Khao Lak to Khao Sok takes about 1-1.5 hours, but this time may vary slightly depending on your exact travel route. Private car/taxi with driver from Khao Lak to Khao Sok costs between $40-70/car, these prices vary depending on the type of car you choose.
Smaller classic cars for 1-3 passengers are always a cheaper option than larger minivans for up to 9 passengers. You can easily find and book your private car with driver to Khao Sok National Park from Khao Lak online in advance.
When searching and booking your private car, read all additional information and instructions for the transfer and follow the conditions given by the taxi companies. Transportation by private car to Khao Sok will be a suitable transfer option mainly for travelers with a larger budget.
| Taxi Company | Departure | Travel Time | Price (Car) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Taxi24 | Any Time | 01:00 | From $64.00 / Economy 3pax |
| Bangkok Taxi24 | Any Time | 01:00 | From $71.00 / Van 9pax |
| Bangkok Taxi24 | Any Time | 01:00 | From $67.00 / SUV 4pax |
| Bangkok Taxi24 | Any Time | 01:00 | From $67.00 / SUV 4pax |
| Andaman Taxis | Any Time | 01:15 | From $58.00 / Comfort 3pax |
| Andaman Taxis | Any Time | 01:15 | From $53.00 / Van 9pax |
| Call Me Taxi | Any Time | 01:30 | From $40.00 / Economy 3pax |
| Call Me Taxi | Any Time | 01:30 | From $49.00 / Comfort 3pax |
| Call Me Taxi | Any Time | 01:30 | From $57.00 / Van 9pax |
| 465 Surat Thani Phuket | Any Time | 01:20 | From $50.00 |
| Smile on Transport | Any Time | 01:10 | From $41.00 / Economy 3pax |
| Smile on Transport | Any Time | 01:10 | From $49.00 / SUV 4pax |
| Smile on Transport | Any Time | 01:10 | From $73.00 / Van 9pax |
| Happy EV Taxi | Any Time | 01:00 | From $80.00 / EV Class 3pax |
❓ FAQ – Travel route from Khao Lak to Khao Sok:
1. How to book tickets or taxi/car from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- You can book tickets or taxi from Khao Lak to Khao Sok online on 12go.asia ➜.
- You can change your departure, arrivel, e.g. Khao Lak > Phuket, Khao Sok > Bangkok…
2. What is the travel time from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- Travel by minivan / bus from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park takes about 1-2.5 hours.
- Travel by private taxi / car from Khao Lak to Khao Sok National Park takes about 1-1.5 hours.
3. What is the travel distance from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- Travel distance from Khao Lak to Khao Sok national Park is about 60 km by land (bus, car).
4. How much does it cost to get from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- Travel by minivan/minibus from Khao Lak to Khao Sok costs about $8-14/pp.
- Travel by private taxi/car from Khao Lak to Khao Sok costs about $40-70/car.
5. Is it possible to travel by train from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- No, there is no railway to Khao Sok from Khao Lak, it is not possible to travel by train.
6. Is there a flight from Khao Lak to Khao Sok?
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- No, there is no flight to Khao Sok National Park from Khao Lak, because there are no airports in these sites.
7. What is the best way of transfer to Khao Sok from Surat Thani
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- The best and fastest option how you can reach Khao Sok National Park from Surat Thani town is to take a private car/taxi. But this way is the most expensive option of transport. There are various modern cars or fast minivans.
8. How to get from Khao Sok to Surat Thani?
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- From Khao Sok National Park you can travel to Surat Thani – there are minivans / minibuses or private taxi. There is no railway and no flight from Khao Sok National Park to Surat Thani. Travel distance is about 130 km and it takes about 2.5 hours by minivan.
9. Where you can also travel from Khao Sok National Park?
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- From Khao Sok National Park you can also go to Koh Samui via Surat Thani, by combination of minivan + ferry. Travel time by minivan + ferry to Koh Samui is about 5-6 hours. There is no flight to Koh Samui from Khao Sok.
10. Where to stay in Khao Sok National Park? Hotel or bungalow?
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- There are various types of cheap and also luxury bungalows or resorts in Khao Sok National Park. A lot of them are in Khao Sok city or nearby. There are tourist resorts, ecolodges, cheap guesthouses. Most of them are very well reviewed, check and book your stay in Khao Sok online > Book your accommodation in Khao Sok online.
11. How to travel from Khao Sok National Park to Bangkok?
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- From Khao Sok National Park you can travel to Bangkok by various ways. There are some sleeper tourist buses, or you can travel to Surat Thani and from Surat Thani you can take a train or direct flight to Bangkok. There are also some private cars between Khao Sok and Bangkok. You can search and book tickets to Bangkok online.
12. How to travel solo in Thailand?
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- Embark on a solo adventure in Thailand by researching destinations, ensuring personal safety, trying local experiences, connecting with fellow travelers, and savoring the diverse landscapes and attractions the country has to offer. Traveling on your own in Thailand is very popular by travelers. Read this article: Solo Travel in Thailand.
💡 Practical Travel Tips for Khao Lak to Khao Sok
These practical travel tips are based on real travel experience and local insights for the journey from Khao Lak, a peaceful beach town, to Khao Sok, home to one of Thailand’s most stunning national parks and rainforests. Though nearby geographically, the route offers a unique travel experience through rural landscapes.
1. Travel Time Is Short but Road Conditions Can Vary
The trip typically takes around 2 to 3 hours, but some rural roads leading into Khao Sok can be bumpy or narrow. Choosing a reputable transfer service or private taxi improves comfort on these stretches.
2. Shared Vans Are a Popular Budget Option
Many travelers opt for shared van services which run regularly between Khao Lak and Khao Sok. Booking these in advance helps avoid waiting, especially during high season.
3. Private Transfers Offer Flexibility and Convenience
For more comfort and direct service, private taxis or car hires can pick you up from your accommodation in Khao Lak and drop you at your lodge or guesthouse in Khao Sok, saving time and hassle.
4. Bring Light Layers for Changing Weather and Air Conditioning
The climate shifts from coastal to rainforest conditions, which can be cooler and more humid. Vehicles often have strong air conditioning, so packing a light jacket or shawl is recommended.
5. Plan for Limited Services in Remote Areas
Khao Sok is more remote and less developed than coastal towns, so ensure your transfer service is reliable and confirm pickup details clearly. Mobile signal can be patchy in parts of the national park area.
6. Combine Your Transfer with Guided Tours or Activities
Many tour operators offer combined transfer and tour packages, such as jungle trekking or lake kayaking. This can simplify logistics and enrich your experience.
Tip: Shared vans and private transfers from Khao Lak to Khao Sok can be searched and booked online in advance, helping you secure the best schedules, prices, and comfort for this scenic but less-traveled route.