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Khao Sok National Park

Surat Thani, Thailand · December 2025

Khao Sok National Park serves as a preservation for a portion of ancient rainforest estimated to be over 160 million years old; both older and holding greater biodiversity than the Amazon Rainforest! Had the pleasure of visiting this place with my dad when we made the trip to Phuket for diving, and we spent most of our time at this park on the Cheow Lan Lake that was created by the construction of the hydroelectric Rajjaprabha Dam back in 1982.

  1. View forward from under the canopy of a wooden longtail boat, its red-trimmed bow pointing at a limestone tower rising straight out of the lake, with cliffs on both sides and scattered cloud above.
    1/8View from the boat on Cheow Lan Lake
  2. A lawn and a bank of magenta bougainvillea above the reservoir, with a colorful Thai-script arch sign at the water's edge, a longtail boat crossing behind it and karst ridges on the far shore.
    2/8A photo opportunity spot for tourists overlooking Cheow Lan Lake
  3. From the bow of a red kayak on clear green water, looking up at a jungle-covered limestone cliff whose bare grey face rises above the treeline.
    3/8One of the many limestone cliff faces from the view of a kayak on Cheow Lan Lake
  4. A sheer limestone wall dropping straight into dark green water, densely forested from the waterline up, with a single longtail boat moored at its foot for scale.
    4/8A tour boat about 15-20 feet long dwarfed by the limestone cliffs, which I couldn't fit even half of in frame
  5. Looking up between two cliffs in silhouette at a bright cloud-streaked sky, a lone rock spire with a plant growing from its tip standing against the light.
    5/8Silouette of some rock unique limestone rock formations sticking out from the water below
  6. The reservoir at golden hour, a forested point in the foreground and two limestone peaks catching the last light behind it.
    6/8The edge of Cheow Lan Lake, with limestone ridgelines in the distance that reminded me of The Grand Canyon
  7. A high viewpoint over a wide valley of rubber and palm plantations, with rounded karst hills in the middle distance fading into blue ridges at the horizon.
    7/8A view inside the national park about 30 minutes away from the lake
  8. The Rajjaprabha Dam seen from the water in evening light: a long dark embankment across the frame, transmission pylons and a visitor building on the green bank above it.
    8/8The Rajjaprabha hydroelectric dam, with cars driving atop its walls and powerlines in the distance

Skills

  • Photography