Our Two Step Start

Tag: Thailand Travel

  • Koh Tao Revolution Hostel by the Beach

    Koh Tao Revolution Hostel by the Beach

    As you may have seen, we have we have covered many budget friendly hostels across the north of Thailand in various locations for you to make the most out of your trip… and your money. 3 of these have been with Revolution Hostel who are the most popular Hostel chain in Thailand that offers all you need if you are an avid traveller. Find this one here.

    The hostels covered have included pools, nightlife, amazing tours and so much more!

    If you don’t know already, Koh Tao is an island off the east coast of Thailand that boasts such beauty.

    It’s an Island we haven’t broke down for you guys to make the most of yet, I’m sure we will, but for now we will focus on Revolution!

    *This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂

    Location

    Now, we are starting off with maybe the best part of the Hostel first. Koh Tao is an Island which means you will have a much different experience than what you did when you were staying on the mainland with Revolution.

    The location is pretty much perfect except for one major point, so let’s get onto that. The location you are dropped off from when you make the ferry journey to the island is mighty far away from where the hostel resides. When we arrived, it was probably a 45 minutes walk, if not an hour, for us to make it to Revolution Hostel. We are ask travellers so we don’t mind a nice walk across an island. But with a heavy backpack and a long tiring journey from mainland, it’s the last thing you want to do.

    The only way you can avoid walking Is by hiring a bike or car. The bike is simple enough, but the car definitely would not fit down the narrow paths for a direct route to the hostel. A car would require to go out and away from the main areas and round the island to get to the hostel, potentially taking 30-45 minutes and costing you money. So it can be hard/costly to find your way to the hostel, but once you are there, there is no drawbacks at all.

    You are located at the crossroads of 2 busy streets, perfectly placed next to good food spots regardless of your favourite cuisine. But the most important thing to note is how close you are to the beach. The beach is literally a 1 minute walk away and you know that the views from the beach are magical.

    Hostel Room Experience

    The room we stayed in was a 6 bedroom mixed dorm which currently costs £14.94 per person per night. The room was very simplistic but had all the essentials a good hostel has. This includes lockers, a bathroom, charging ports, and most of all… curtains.

    Even though the room was quite small for 6 people, it felt very quiet and independent once the curtains were closed. The bed was super comfortable and had enough room for a good nights sleep for sure.

    The bathroom was spacious, with a good shower so there’s not much to explain there! Also, each of the rooms had cool names from cities all around the world… I believe we were Sydney but there was loads dotted about.

    We would always recommend people who are travelling alone to try dorms to meet people experience more of what the travelling life has to offer.

    Other Rooms Available

    As it is one of the smaller complexes from a Rev hostel, there were limited types of hostels that you can book.

    For instance, a 6 person dorm is the only sized room you can book and the only differences in these rooms would be a ‘deluxe’ or ‘standard room’

    I’ll be honest, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them but the only one we could find was that the deluxe was inclusive of curtains for independence. And let’s be honest, for less than £1 a night, why wouldn’t you pay the extra??

    There are independent rooms which you can book the Standard double bed private suite which as you guessed it is a room for you and one other for only £41.37 per night! If you think about it, it’s only £6 more than what you pay for a dorm.

    If you are looking to kick back and relax or want to escape the busyness of a dorm, then this is the perfect opportunity!

    Social areas

    Koh Tao revolution has a great social area located around reception which is where they host all of their event nights and games. It’s equipped with a bar, computable chairs, benches and even a pool table. They have live DJs who play music to keep the atmosphere pumping well into the night if you like. Or if you just want to chill with a drink, there are nice, quieter spots that are perfect for you.

    hostel activities in Koh Tao

    The social spots are a great place to meet new people and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

    Koh Tao revolution social area

    Events

    Now this is where Revolution truly stand out from the rest…

    They are world renowned for their amazing trips and experiences. So there’s no better place to look for those once-in-a-lifetime memories.

    The Koh Tao Rev hostel is no different with loads of events to choose from. This includes sunset paddle boarding, Cliff jumping, diving and open water courses, shark bay snorkelling, abandoned hikes, and of course a glow-up party!

    We did visit shark bay for snorkelling which was an amazing experience, one you can check out ‘here‘. to see our full experience! But the hostel truly has so much to offer, and so does the island with it’s tours. No matter which tour you choose, you will be getting the best of the best and they will not disappoint.

    snorkelling trip in Koh Tao, Thailand

    The reps who look after the tours are super friendly and always happy to help regardless of the situation.

    Overall Experience

    The hostel is definitely up there with some of the best we have stayed at. The views, location, events and people really make this a special place to stay when visiting Koh Tao. You can find out more and book here.

    The hostel really offers so much more than just a place to sleep, it’s a place to make lifelong friends, have forever kept memories, and so much more. We honestly couldn’t recommend this hostel enough, and if we ever make it back to the wonderful island of Koh Tao, we know exactly where we will be staying!! Find out more about their branches in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, & Pai.

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    We post Youtube Videos now! Please check out our newest Vlog!

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    Check out our Social Media’s below!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day.

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  • Pai Revolution Hostel

    Pai Revolution Hostel

    Planning a trip to Pai on your Thailand trip? This hostel is a top pick for visiting, from top-tier trips and discounts, social evenings, free dinners, a pool, the list goes on! Carry on reading to find out exactly why we loved Revolution hostel so much, and how you can visit when you go Pai, Thailand!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Revolution Hostel in Pai, Thailand.

    Location

    Pai is located deep into the northern hills of Thailand and quite a journey away from it’s nearest city (if you have endured the 4-hour journey from hell you will know). It’s a super popular spots for travelers and nomads to visit/stay in as it’s a small place with lots of character and activities.

    Revolution actually have 2 hostels located in Pai with the one we stayed at being by the river (Pai Riverside). But they also have the one in centre of Pai (Pai Town). The one in the centre, as expected, is closer to the busy streets and has a more city hostel to it whereas the riverside hostel is slightly outside giving it a countryside feel. Either way, you will be located no more than 10 minutes away from the centre of Pai which is ideal for those who wants to wander through the beautiful, quirky streets.

    On the same street as Pai Riverside, you have a few takeaway spots for a late snack but also a gym which is very handy if you are looking to keep in shape while you are travelling. Also, there are a handful of bars and local (and not so local) restaurants dotted close by with a 7/11 of course within a 5 minute walk.

    Hostel Room Experience

    The room overlooks the river which was a lovely view and easy to get to. But the room itself was perfect! It had all the basic amenities expected in a hostel room with curtains that offers a good sense of privacy. There are also sizable cages that are meant for you luggage with an option to lock away your bags while you explore for the day.

    The beds were super comfy and blankets were supplied also. The en-suite was roomy and was very clean considering it was a hostel. Shelves were placed near the heads where you sleep so you can store your phones and any other important items close overnight.

    Other Rooms Available

    For dorms, the options are a 10, 8, or 4 bed which start at 549 Baht a night (roughly £12.50). Other rooms include some very cool alternatives which we have not seen from hostels before! So they have a twin room which is a simple 2 person room but they also offer bungalows which are located separately to where the hostels are. These bungalows are surrounded by small gardens to make it feel like you aren’t staying at a hostel at all. The bungalows come as 3 options… a 2 person bungalow, a deluxe bungalow (for 2) or a family deluxe bungalow (for 4). So you can truly live in style at Revolution and enjoy all perks that comes with staying with revolution!

    bungalows available at Pai Revolution Hostel
    Bungalows at Pai Revolution Hostel

    Social Areas

    As we visited during the rainy season, it was hard to make the most out of the social areas that are provided a the hostel. However, there is no better place to start than the pool!! Yes, they have a pool and it’s located outside next to the river. It’s a great place to meet people and take a chill day to just swim and relax.

    The other main social area is around the reception which consists of long tables which is a great place to eat in the evening and where some activities take place in the evening. There is also a pool table and some other machines to keep you occupied and a roof to stop any bad weather from ruining your time. The bar is located in the centre of this social area so make sure to grab a drink and enjoy your time socializing here!

    Social Areas at Pai Hostel

    You certainly cannot forget the local pets! The hostel has roughly 7 dogs which are all owned by the hostel. These are looked after well and can wander free as they wish. They usually chill in the social areas and greet each guest with the expectation of strokes. So make sure to give them a fuss! Also, a local friendly dog called mushroom is adorable and loves to turn up, we were lucky enough to see him enjoying the high life at Rev!

    Dog at Pai Revolution
    Dog at Pai Revolution
    Dogs at Pai Revolution

    Events

    This can be split into two parts… firstly, the evening events that the hostel have on is to allow people to socialise and make amazing memories together. Each night they offer a local meal cooked which you can enjoy completely free and then a designated activity afterwards. The activity we took part in was their weekly quiz night!! Each event is a great laugh and has some highly desired prizes on the line (if you like a drink!!) An event is planned each night and they are normally free to join so make sure to be social and get involved!

    The other types of events the hostel provide are the tours!

    The tours at Revolution are out of this world and they really don’t stop in Pai! These include tipsy tubing, pub crawls, hot springs, cave exploration and SOO MUCH MORE! We opted for the canyon at sunset and witnessed an amazing sunset over the large canyons in Pai. The views were immaculate and really was a great way to wind down in the evening after a busy day.

    Also, we decided to visit the bamboo bridge which was a great way to explore local rice fields and wander the bridges. The experiences we had are ones we truly enjoyed and we definitely look to coming back to Pai and seeing more one day! And of course, come back to the Riverside Pai for more unforgettable experiences.

    Overall Experience

    Riverside Pai was an amazing place to stop over at whilst in Pai. It was a great place to stay and allowed us to meet some great people. The tours we attended were affordable but also allowed us to see some of the beautiful parts of Pai even though it was rainy most of the time. The social areas were great and really gave the hostel some life in the evening and we would recommend anyone who is heading to Pai to stay at the Riverside in Pai.

    We hope you enjoyed our breakdown of our experience and overview of the Riverside Pai in Thailand and you can check out Revolution ‘here’ for more locations, bookings and more!

    We post weekly Youtube Videos! Please check out our newest Vlog from Bangkok!

    Looking for more Thailand inspiration? Find out how to see elephants in Thailand, or maybe our Khao Sok National Park guide!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Bangkok is a bustling city that truly never sleeps so make sure your Instagram posts don’t either! There’s an endless supply of activity so make sure to keep your posts booming for all your followers and get them dreaming of their own Bangkok adventure’s!

    Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day!

    Leave a comment

  • Revolution Hostel – Chiang Mai Hostel Review

    Revolution Hostel – Chiang Mai Hostel Review

    Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? This hostel is a top pick for visiting, from top-tier trips and discounts, social evenings, free dinners, a pool, the list goes on! Carry on reading to find out exactly why we loved Revolution hostel so much, and how you can visit when you go Chiang Mai, Thailand!

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Revolution Hostel sign in Chiang Mai.
    1. Location
    2. Hostel Room Experience
    3. Other Rooms Available
    4. Social Areas
    5. Would We Recommend
    6. Want help planning your Thailand adventure?
    7. Find our Travel Essentials!

    Location

    Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities outside of Bangkok in the north of Thailand. However, the centre of Chiang Mai is a small quarter which is surrounded completely by an old moat with a few bridges crossing. The Revolution Hostel is located on the east side of the centre inside the moat allowing for easy walks to the centre and even perfectly placed between the two largest markets in the area.

    Also, around the corner are quite a few breakfast and food spots which are highly rated, and bars across the road if you like some nightlife. Don’t forget there is always a 7/11 around the corner which is always handy for snacks, drinks and more.

    Artwork in Chiang Mai's Revolution Hostel.

    Hostel Room Experience

    The hostel room we stayed in was a 4 person dorm right next to the pool which was perfect! The room itself had good space and much needed luggage room under the bed for storage. The bed were suuuper comfy and had shelves for storage as well as a curtain if you aren’t feeling too social.

    The en-suite is one of the better touches with a large bathroom. It’s rare to find an en-suite in Thailand with a hostel that is large enough to separate the toilet and shower to avoid any issues. The room overall was a great offering for the price and had all you needed in a dorm room in Chiang Mai.

    Other Rooms Available

    The Hostel has many other rooms available for your preference. These include a 4/6/9/10 bed dorms as well as private rooms. Some of these dorms have a unique style. The 9 bed dorm is a 3 tier bunk bed which we have never seen before. The other dorms are as usual and offer the same facilities as the 4 bed dorm we described above.

    The private rooms are a great spot for a small group of friends or couples. Sometimes you need a break away from the busy dorms so do check out the private rooms available. Some of the private rooms offer 3 beds so if you have 2 friends then why not. The rooms are super spacious and are actually tucked away from the social areas of the hostel which offer a quieter experience.

    3 Bed Private Room at Revolution Hostel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

    Social Areas

    The hostel has 2 main social areas with one being the pool area. Here is it busy during the day with many enjoying the pool and the games in the area – whereas others might just be enjoying the weather and relaxing ready for the evening. Considering you are in a large city, it’s pretty surprising to see a hostel with a pool. But it definitely changes your experience so much! There are also tables alongside the pool for games such as beer pong and a newly opened drinks bar where you can enjoy alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks during the day.

    The main social area around the reception at the entrance to the hostel. Here you have benches which are ideal to social on with a bar to get drinks throughout the day and into the evening. This space also has an upstairs area which unfortunately was being renovated during our stay but is perfect for travellers who are working while they travel. Its can also be used as a quieter space. In the social area they have a large board which outlines the evening activities alongside tomorrows evening activities and a whole host of tours that the hostels provide – but we shall get onto this later.

    Activity Schedule in Revolution Hostel

    An important but small addition to this area is a water outlet for drinking. It costs 1 Baht to fill up a normal sized water which is crazy cheap but also stops people from reusing plastic bottles to help the environment. Lovely touch.

    This area is usually where the hostels evening events will start. The people attending will be given a time to meet in this area and mingle before heading out for the evening. It’s a great spot to meet people and have a few drinks before the event.

    Events

    The hostel offers a wide range of events for their guests and they really don’t disappoint. The one we enjoyed the most was the elephants we visited! This experience truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one we won’t forget. The best part of the experience really was that the elephants were protected and are allowed to roam. During our trip, we spent the time looking for the elephants and finding them. The elephants were of course eating and relaxing where we spent some time stroking and taking photos of them. Once we finished, we went on a short walk to a local waterfall and enjoyed the water which was super relaxing. For Aimee, it was her 1st waterfall so she absolutely loved it!!

    Ethical Elephant Sanctuary trip organised in Chiang Mai.

    We wandered back to the main area where the elephants were enjoying time in the local river and we joined in! We ended up washing the elephants and spending time with them before have a lovely lunch overlooking the elephants enjoying their lunch also. The experience was honestly amazing and we would totally recommend anyone who visits Chiang Mai Revolution to go on this experience! The other events include a pub crawl, watching Muay Thai fighting, Cooking classes, sticky waterfall and Drag Queen Cabaret!

    The events are very broad which caters to many people and are very reasonably priced for the experiences. We would recommend doing atleast 2 experiences while at the hostel as all the people we spoke with during our stay said they were totally worth it.

    Would We Recommend

    The hostel offers a whole host of room options to stay with the needed amenities in each. The beds were comfy and there was ample space for your luggage to store. The social areas are really the highlight of the hostel with a swimming pool and loungers! This is pretty rare for a hostel in the city and is a great addition. They also have a bar so if you want a chill day, you can enjoy the pool and drinks at the bar in peace. However, they also have an evening social spot to enjoy and meet people. It’s the perfect place to meet fellow travelers and like-minded people.

    Pool outside door rooms in Revolution Hostel

    The events and activities during the day and in the evening really are the star of the show for the hostel. You can enjoy some crazy nights and unforgettable experiences with the hostel and we couldn’t recommend it more!

    The hostel is more than just a nights stay, they provided a family feel and allow you to get the most of your experience in Chiang Mai whether it’s a 2-day stop or you are here for weeks!

    We also wanted to highlight a big thank you to Lyndsey, the manager at Revolution Chiang Mai; Jack fell extremely ill during his stay in Chiang Mai, and needed a hospital visit. Lyndsey and the Revs team did everything they could to help in this situation, and we were SO grateful of their help and assistance throughout our stay.

    We post weekly Youtube Videos! Please check out our newest Vlog from Bangkok!

    Looking for more Thailand inspiration? Find out how to see elephants in Thailand, or maybe our Khao Sok National Park guide!

    Find our Travel Essentials!

    We have a full list of recommendations for any travels! Check out our:

    We also recommend using these when planning your next trip!

    • Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
    • Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
    • Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
    • HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
    • Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
    • Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
    • ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Bangkok is a bustling city that truly never sleeps so make sure your Instagram posts don’t either! There’s an endless supply of activity so make sure to keep your posts booming for all your followers and get them dreaming of their own Bangkok adventure’s!

    Also, check out our Social Media’s for our amazing travelling journey! Hint Hint: we have just came back from our trip to Thailand!!

    Finally, share this post with your friends! Let’s build those travel plans and make memories!

    We post daily content of our travel experiences and also must know travel tips so be sure not to miss out on this!

    Thank you for reading this blog, and have a good day!

    Leave a comment

  • Khao Sok National Park Travel Guide

    Khao Sok National Park Travel Guide

    Khao Sok National Park

    Nestled in the heart of southern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park is an oasis that offers lush rainforests, towering rock formations, and tranquil waters. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, wildlife enthusiast, or simply a lover of natural beauty, Khao Sok has something extraordinary to offer. Here’s a travel guide will make your visit unforgettable.

    To visit the beautiful park we would first recommend staying just outside the park in Khao Sok Morning Mist Resort which is a popular stay close to the national park with easy access. It’s best to reach by taking the bus from Surat Thani which takes roughly 2/3 hours. The bus will drop you off at the tourism information centre which requires a 20 minute walk down the road to your hostel Khao Sok Morning Mist Resort. Here, the resort sort out your booking for the park and will provide transport to the entrance of the park.

    *There are affiliate links in this post – they do not come at any extra cost to you, but just means we can earn commission to help us pursue this further 🙂

    Floating bungalows in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
    Khao Sok National Park
    1. Khao Sok National Park
    2. Visiting Khao Sok National Park
    3. Encountering wild Elephants
    4. Kayaking and exploring
    5. Hiking Trails
    6. Exploring the Caves of Khao Sok
    7. Night Tours in Khao Sok
    8. Swimming in the lakes of Khao Sok National Park
    9. Is Khao Sok Worth visiting?
    10. Our favourite must-needed travel resources
      1. Where to Fly
      2. Where to Stay
      3. Where to Explore
      4. Where to get Connected
      5. Where to be Protected
    11. Our Top Traveller’s Essentials
    12. Thank you for reading our Khao Sok Guide!

    Visiting Khao Sok National Park

    Khao Sok National Park is a beautiful treasure of Thailand! With the best time to visit being between December – April (this is not necessary at all, however, these periods are recommended for the best visit), explore the perfect bliss of this national park.

    Multiple trip variations exist, including different activities such as hikes boat tours etc! We have listed this one, which includes a morning jungle hike, two wildlife safaris by longboat, two lunches, dinner and breakfast!

    Find the link to an amazing 2 day experience in Khao Sok National Park here.

    Encountering wild Elephants

    One of the most awe-inspiring activities in Khao Sok is the chance to see wild elephants in their natural habitat. As you venture deep into the park, guided tours can lead you to areas where these magnificent creatures are known to roam. Imagine the thrill of spotting a herd of elephants bathing in a river or feeding on lush vegetation. Be sure to maintain a respectful distance, allowing these gentle giants to go about their day undisturbed.

    When we venturing through the national park, we spotted a mother elephant meander down to the waterfront with her young calf for hydration. This was a truly surreal experience which left us in wonder. It’s amazing to see parts of this beautiful country protected to allow these beautiful creatures freedom to roam and be wild.

    Wild elephants seen in Khao Sok national Park
    Wild Elephants spotted in the National Park.

    Kayaking and exploring

    When arriving at your chosen stay for your time in the national park, you are free to explore the local surroundings which include free access to a kayak! This gives you freedom to explore the waters and and limestone cliffs. There is so much to see you cannot miss out on this! While exploring you can see gibbons calling and swinging through tall trees, storks/hawks & eagles gliding through the skies, or if you are lucky… elephant or a shy Tapir meandering near the waters edge! The waters are crystal clear with many fish visible to spot.

    A kayak trip would be perfect to take photos, just relax and be one with nature for a short while. The park is beautiful everywhere you look so be sure to soak up all the surrounding views and all the natural beauty.

    Kayaking in the national park lake, Thailand
    Kayaking in Khao Sok

    Hiking Trails

    Khao Sok is crisscrossed with an array of nature trails, each offering a unique perspective on the park’s biodiversity. The park’s guided hikes range from leisurely walks to challenging treks, catering to all levels of fitness and adventure. As you traverse these paths, you’ll encounter a rich variety of flora and fauna. Listen to the symphony birds and spot exotic flowers in bloom. Popular trails include the scenic route to Sip-et Chan Waterfall, where you can cool off with a refreshing dip in crystal-clear waters.

    While wandering the trails, you will encounter broken trees from wild elephants not so elegantly weaving through the forests. You may even be lucky enough to find elephants footprints but these are rather hard to come by. Be sure to watch out for any leaches which are common in Khao Sok and hard to notice. We were shown a demonstration by our guide on how to spot and remove them so hopefully you will too!

    Exploring the Caves of Khao Sok

    Khao Sok is dotted with intriguing caves waiting to be explored. One of the most famous is the Coral Cave, named for its stunning coral-like formations. A guided tour will take you through narrow passages and vast chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. The cool, dim interiors offer a fascinating contrast to the bright, humid jungle outside. Some caves involve wading through water and emerging in secluded forest areas, adding an element of adventure to your exploration.

    The reach caves, you may require to embark on long hikes or bamboo rafting across rivers to your chosen cave. Some may even require the physical activity of climbing steps or rocks to the entrance of the cave. It is so worth it!

    Night Tours in Khao Sok

    Although this sounds daunting, this can be one of the best ways to see a lot of the wildlife in the national park. A lot of the wildlife are nocturnal which will open up a whole new experience with different encounters than in the day. Bats can be seen darting through the blackened skies and you may even spot a leopard out on the hunt. You will have a expert guide navigating you through the jungle with a flashlight your only visibility. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! As you are hidden deep in the national park, the stars will be shining at their brightest giving you a beautiful natural show when you look up.

    Swimming in the lakes of Khao Sok National Park

    At your accommodation, you will have free time to entertain yourself and what better way to do this than going for a swim in the lake. The waters are so clear and pure, inviting you in! As you are staying on bungalows, this offers a great opportunity to jump in and enjoy your time with picturesque beauty in the background. There’s something truly peaceful about going for a gentle swim in the lakes in the clear water to unwind. Alternatively, it’s also a perfect spot to sit on the side of the bungalows and read a book and watch the world go by. There’s barely a pin drop in national park so just kick back, relax and soak it all in! There’s not many better views in South East Asia than this national park so be sure to make the most of it!

    Is Khao Sok Worth visiting?

    Khao Sok National Park was definitely one of the many highlights that stood out during our time in Thailand and South East Asia! There’s so much to do and see and if we went back we would definitely spend longer there, just being in the wild. It’s a place everyone should visit and one we couldn’t recommend enough!

    To see more on our trips across Thailand check out our South Thailand 2-week itinerary, and our North Thailand itinerary! Make sure to subscribe to see more blog content!

    Views across the lake.
    Floating bungalows in Khao Sok National Park.

    Our favourite must-needed travel resources

    Where to Fly

    Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.

    Kiwi – Use Kiwi’s amazing service that is pioneering in the flight space! They use virtual interlining, which means they can provide seamless connecting flights into one single itinerary!

    CheapOair – Being one of the fastest growing online travel companies in the US, CheapOair offers great flight deals, hotel rooms, rental cars and more!

    Where to Stay

    Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!

    HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!

    Vrbo – Find stunning vacation rentals with Vrbo! Offering over 2 million paid listings in 190 countries, find memorable experiences with this accommodation service!

    Where to Explore

    Viator – A trip advisor company, viator offers over 300,000 experiences over 200 countries, including water sports, walking tours, boat trips, food tastes tours and more! Including activities for many budgets, check out Viator!

    Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!

    Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common too!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!

    Where to get Connected

    Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!

    Where to be Protected

    ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!

    Our Top Traveller’s Essentials

    Backpack – Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours!

    Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc!

    Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it!

    Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once.

    Find our full packing list guide here.

    Thank you for reading our Khao Sok Guide!

    Thank you for reading our blog and we hope it helped with planning your trip to Khao Sok National Park!

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  • The BEST Foods to Eat in Thailand!

    The BEST Foods to Eat in Thailand!

    Thailand is renowned for it’s all round experience and beauty. It’s a country full of endless possibilities- and therefore is one of the most popular travel spots across the globe.

    When speaking to people who have previously visited, the food is one topic no one forgets to mention! The vibrant flavours are not to be missed.

    Here we have compiled a list of the best foods you MUST try in Thailand! There are so many to choose from so be sure to try them all…

    Thai Omelette

    This is one we had to start on! When travelling Thailand, it was by far Jack’s favourite dish. So much so it was his breakfast EVERYDAY (this is no exaggeration).

    The best part about this dish is the pure simplicity it has. We mean there’s not much to the dish, it’s fried rice with an omelette on top. You can choose to have a veggie, chicken, pork omelette etc, but Jack’s choice was always vegetable.

    It’s just a great way to start a day; and is perfect for breakfast. The crazy part is that the dish is always one of the cheapest items on the menu so you don’t have to spend a lot (so always budget friendly)!

    Pad Thai

    This is known to be one of the most popular dishes people in eat when visiting Thailand. This dish is the perfect balance between salty, sweet and sour, and one we would never get bored of.

    Again, this is one of the cheaper options to eat in Thailand. There are so many varieties on the dish, with most meat and vegetables alternatives available.

    Please be aware that this dish is usually served with a side of chillis and crushed peanuts- so if you do have an allergy, please take precaution.

    Mango Sticky Rice

    Now this is a combination that to many people is weird, including us! And that’s why we never tried it. Seems like a combination of food that would never go!

    However, we have spoken with many people who have dared to try the dish, and say that it is one you should not miss! The sweetness of the mango, with the coconut covered sticky rice is supposed to be a perfect mix.

    Even though we haven’t tried it (yet), it will be top of the list once we go travelling! And I’m sure it will be a meal we revisit regularly.

    Pad See Ew

    This traditional Thai dish commonly consists flat rice noodles, cooked in an array of spices and flavours.

    This is not a dish that either of us have tried, but is a popular dish to have when visiting Asia. It’s a soy-based dish, and one that we have been recommended many times.

    This is definitely added to our to-try list once we go back!

    Panang Curry

    The Panang curry is one of the most popular Thai curries. It’s perfectly spiced, and usually on the hotter side when it comes to heat. It’s infused with red chillies, and is a saucy curry- which is always perfect to mop up with a side of bread.

    Like most of Thai food, it comes with most meats, and can come with veggie alternatives, but our favourite would be chicken or tempeh!

    It’s definitely one of those meals that you need to eat at a traditional restaurant to make the most of the rich flavours that the dish has!

    Massaman Curry

    This is another Thai curry dish you can’t miss out on. The massaman curry is heavily rich in flavour, and is usually accompanied by tender meats like a lamb shank or chicken. It is typically less spicy than some others leaving it good for even the more sensitive pallets!

    The dish for us is best served with beef, and with soft and soaked potatoes in the massaman broth-like sauce (it’s making our mouths water already)! As the same as a lot of dishes in Thailand, it is cooked with coconut milk giving it a sweet taste and fish sauce giving it a sour tinge.

    This dish really does encapsulate the rich flavours of traditional Thai food and one we couldn’t recommend enough.

    We honestly could of kept naming Thai dishes as there is so many to choose from. They are so rich in flavour and spices.

    There is no wonder Thai food is named one of the best cuisines in the world for taste, and something you can only fully experience when visiting Thailand.

    We would always give any Thai food a try, as it’s all freshly made and have never disappointed!

    We cannot wait to visit again and eat their luscious foods (and we will 100% be trying the mango sticky rice this time)!

    Please let us know your favourite Thai foods and inform us if we missed any off of the list that are a must-try!

    Like this post? We have also made a South of Thailand travel guide which you can find here.

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