Rainforest Camp: Your Floating Hotel In Khao Sok
Rainforest Camp’s floating bungalows are one of the most unique hotels in Khao Sok thanks to their position over Cheow Larn Lake
Khao Sok is one of the most beautiful areas of Southern Thailand, with sprawling rainforests, the emerald expanse of Cheow Larn Lake, and vast habitats for wildlife of every description.
As well as insects and reptiles, the National Park is home to elephants, tigers, gibbons and a vast number of exotic creatures. It is also one of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world, with over 200 species of plant in one hectare.
It’s no wonder then, that people from all over the world make the journey to this corner of the globe to spend some time enjoying all that it has to offer. But which Khao Sok hotel should you stay in? Should your accommodation in Khao Sok simply be somewhere to lay your head, or treated as a key element of your vacation?
Choosing a Hotel near Khao Sok Lake
When visiting Khao Sok National Park, the location of your hotel plays a large part in your overall experience. To get the most out of your limited time in Khao Sok, you may want to stay nearer to the forest, especially after a full day of immersing yourself in its beauty.
Additionally, you simply can’t underestimate the difference that a good night’s rest can make after a long day; the right Khao Sok accommodation should leave you refreshed for a new day of exploration.
Rainforest Camp is the sister camp of The Elephant Camp, Elephant Hills first luxury tented camp, located in Khao Sok. A guest favorite since 2001, Elephant Hills’ two camps encompass the best that Khao Sok accommodation has to offer, allowing guests to sleep in canvas tents beside the jungle, or over the waters of Cheow Larn Lake.
Rainforest Camp and The Elephant Camp are nothing like other Khao Sok hotels. According to TripAdvisor, are the highest rated accommodation in Khao Sok.
For idyllic views, Rainforest Camp is the best hotel in Khao Sok as voted by TripAdvisor
Located directly within the National Park, Rainforest Camp is accessible only by boat. The remote location of Rainforest Camp allows you to spend a night listening to the sounds of the jungle, creating truly memorable experiences as you snuggle down inside your tented Khao Sok accommodation.
The site itself features two restaurants that serve as common areas to allow small groups to come together, discuss their day, play games, and enjoy delicious meals. The restaurants at this Khao Sok hotel cater for all dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc. There are also tea and coffee facilities which you can access at any time of day.
If sustainable travel is one of your priorities, Rainforest Camp is perfectly suited. As part of the ongoing ecological efforts of this Khao Sok hotel, the camp is powered by solar and wind, and also operates a unique waste management system.
Not only that, but Rainforest Camp also offers you some of the most spectacular scenery over Cheow Larn Lake. The lake itself is free of any harmful or dangerous inhabitants of the aquatic kind – so you can swim in the warm, 28°C water, directly in front of your floating luxury tent, at any time of day.
Accommodation in Khao Sok: The Floating Bungalows of Rainforest Camp
Unique accommodation in Khao Sok – private room with ensuite overlooking Cheow Larn Lake – Rainforest Camp, Khao Sok
A night at Rainforest Camp is reserved solely for those who book the popular Elephant Hills Jungle Lake Safari Tour, making it the ideal accommodation in Khao Sok for rest, relaxation, and getting to explore this historical National Park.
The camp consists of 20 luxury canvas tents which float above the glassy surface of Cheow Larn Lake – a totally unique offering among Khao Sok hotels. There is no WiFi or phone coverage at the Rainforest Camp site, so you can unplug and unwind during your time in the rainforest. The small number of tents keeps group sizes low, which ensures an intimate experience for all guests; this makes Rainforest Camp an ideal choice for honeymooners.
Each floating bungalow is fully equipped with hotel-style furnishings which include a solid, linen-covered bed, Western en-suite with hot water, and electric fan. In addition, each tent has its own patio overlooking the water, as well as private use of kayaks for an early morning paddle across the water.
Read more about what you can expect from the Rainforest Camp.
Rainforest Camp: Khao Sok Accommodation, with a Difference
As part of your tour package to Rainforest Camp, all meals and transfers are included, as well as a range of excursions which are sure to leave you spellbound. A handful of these activities are: canoeing down the Sok River, a soft jungle trek, and meeting Asian elephants as part of the famous Elephant Hills Elephant Experience.
Elephants roam in chain-free ethical elephant park in Southern Thailand. Elephant Experience is included on Jungle Lake Safari tour with stay at Rainforest Camp
During the Elephant Experience, you will get up close and personal with Thailand’s gentle giants, helping to prepare their meal before offering up the fruit by hand. If you’ve ever wanted to meet an elephant in a chain-free, ethical, and mutually beneficial environment, Rainforest Camp is the Khao Sok accommodation to choose; holding the Thailand Green Excellence Award for Animal Welfare.
The jungle trek will see you taking a walk of medium intensity through the Khao Sok rainforest. You’ll be accompanied on your trek by your friendly local guide, who will bring your attention to the sights and sounds of the jungle as you go. Drink in the exotic beauty of one of the world’s oldest rainforests, while keeping an eye open for the birds, insects, reptiles and mammals which call this forest home.
To give you a completely different view of the rainforest, on the final day of your tour you’ll also take part in a canoe safari over Cheow Larn Lake. This peaceful experience allows you to see Khao Sok National Park from the water as you paddle your own canoe around the lake’s channels. Perhaps you’ll even spott a few river-dwelling amphibians as you quietly glide, get your binoculars at the ready!
The Best Hotel in Khao Sok as Voted By… Everyone!
When it comes to locating the right accommodation in Khao Sok for your vacation, Rainforest Camp comes highly recommended by a number of international organisations.
We are in the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame, having been voted the best Khao Sok hotel for five consecutive years, and have recently been awarded the Travelers’ Choice Award for the fourth consecutive year. We’re also proud holders of the PATA Grand Award for our environmental work, which has seen the eco efforts of Elephant Hills recognised for being higher than any other place in Asia.
Elephant Hills tour guides celebrate TripAdvisor award for best hotel in Khao Sok
In 2018 we were also named the winners of the Responsible Thailand Awards in the category – Eco Lodge. This recognises the ongoing work being achieved at our floating bungalows at Rainforest Camp as we aim to raise the bar among not just Khao Sok accommodations, but hotels in Thailand in general.
Further awards include the Premier Holidays Most Unique Product award and becoming runner up in National Geographic’s World Legacy Award. Feel free to read up further details about our international accolades.
What Guests Say About Our Khao Sok Accommodation
Although our international awards are a source of great pride, when looking for hotels in Khao Sok, reviews left by fellow travelers are the best source of information. Here are what some of our visitors have said about Rainforest Camp:
“We did the 2 night, jungle and lake safari. Wow, it was amazing . . . glamping on the lake and being able to swim off your deck was so much fun! An amazing experience and one that you can’t miss!”
Travelling as part of a couple, Jane, from the United Kingdom enjoyed the peaceful serenity that is unique to our Khao Sok accommodation, and reported:
“At the Rainforest Camp, well what can I say a total chill out, no phone signal, just you and the jungle, monkeys chattering, the sound of cicadas will stay with me forever … I was sat on the deck at 4 am listening to all the animals waking up, eagles swooping in the lake for fish, saw monkeys swinging in the branches, it was totally amazing and can’t wait to go back. Thank you to all staff at Elephant Hills for the best experience possible.”
Guests kayak over Cheow Larn Lake at Rainforest Camp, floating bungalow accommodation in Khao Sok
Meanwhile, Andrea from California, who chose Rainforest Camp as the Khao Sok hotel of choice for her family vacation, stated:
“We loved the Rainforest Camp on the lake … and since there are a limited number of tents it will never feel crowded. Our kids are 11 and 13 and they loved every minute of the experience.”
An impressive 1,944 guests have left us 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor alone, and we know that you’ll love your Rainforest Camp experience too. For a hotel in Khao Sok which is unlike any other, come and visit us soon at Rainforest Camp.
