The Hidden Gem of The South

📍 Surat Thani – Khanom (76.5 km): 1.11 hr

Upon arrival at Surat Thani Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Khanom, with a short sightseeing stop in Surat Thani. Visit Phra Borom That Chaiya, an ancient chedi that houses Buddha relics highly revered by the local residents. The restored Phra Borom That Chaiya is a fine example of Srivijaya influence on religious architecture and is believed to have been built more than 1,200 years ago. Along the courtyard of the chedi, you will find several sculptures and Buddha images.

Continue to Khanom.

Overnight in Khanom

Inclusions:

📍 Khanom – Nakhon Si Thammarat (102 km): 1.30 hr Nakhon Si Thammarat – Kiriwong (26.5 km): 43 min

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up for a full-day tour.

The morning trip begins with a long-tail boat ride to Ao Taled, where you will have the chance to experience the exotic nature of the Pink Dolphins (sighting depends on weather conditions). You will then continue cruising to the layered formations of Khao Pabpa Mountain, which offers breathtaking views reminiscent of the Pancake Rocks (254–286 million years old) in New Zealand’s South Island. Along the way, you will also see a freshwater hole in the sea, believed to be the place where the legendary Buddhist monk Tuad stood to transform seawater into fresh drinking water.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the mainland.

In the afternoon, drive to the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and visit one of the most revered and largest Buddhist temples in the southern region, Wat Mahathat, which houses relics of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka more than a thousand years ago.

Next, continue to the Shadow Puppet Museum (Nang Talung) of Suchart Subsin. You may be fortunate enough to meet the legendary puppet master himself, who may entertain you with a brief shadow puppet performance. Inside his home is a small museum displaying his masterpieces and a welcoming living hall where his family members demonstrate and explain the process of making puppets.

In the late afternoon, transfer to Kiriwong Village, a hidden village nestled in the lush mountains of Khao Luang. This village is renowned for having some of the freshest air in Thailand.

Overnight in Kiriwong

(Note about Kiriwong Village:

- Kiriwong Village is a more local area, so the accommodation is quite basic, with no hotel-standard facilities or room amenities, no swimming pool, and only one restaurant (opening at 09:00).

- On weekends, the area is generally crowded with local visitors. To avoid the crowds, it is best to visit during weekdays.

- During the summer, the water level in the stream is very low.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast will be served at the resort at 09:00.

Today, you can relax at the resort or take a walk around the village to experience the local lifestyle, explore the local market, and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Kiriwong.

Optional Lunch at the hotel = 650 THB per person.

Dinner at the resort.

Overnight in Kiriwong

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Kiriwong – Khao Sok (225 km): 3.10 hr

Breakfast will be served at the resort, followed by check-out and departure for Khao Sok, heading toward Khao Sok National Park.

Arrive at Anurak Community Lodge just in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, after a short briefing, we will begin hiking along the main dirt track in Khao Sok. This trail winds through enormous bamboo forests, old-growth trees, and strangler figs. With a bit of luck, we might spot dusky langurs, long-tailed macaques, hornbills, small lizards, and more.

We hike at a leisurely pace, taking short breaks from time to time so that anyone reasonably fit can enjoy the walk. Occasionally, we will leave the main track and descend along smaller trails toward the Sok River—if there is enough water, you may even take a refreshing dip. Please keep in mind that the trails are very basic, so be prepared to climb over rocks and tree trunks at times.

At the ranger station at Bang Hua Red, we will stop for a cold drink if you wish. After this relaxing break, we will follow the main dirt track back to the park headquarters.

Return to Anurak Community Lodge between 16:30 and 17:30.

Overnight at Anurak Community Lodge

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Khao Sok – Phuket (170 km): 2.16 hr

Breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy a full-day tour of Cheow Lan Lake, which will give you the opportunity not only to marvel at the magnificent, “fairy-tale” scenery but also to spot wildlife in its natural habitat. This one-day, join-in tour begins with a 9:00 AM pick-up from Anurak Community Lodge.

As part of a small group of like-minded adventure and nature enthusiasts, you will be transported to the lake pier, approximately a 40-minute drive from the lodge. Once on the lake, your local guide will lead you on a jungle hike to a cave or viewpoint (depending on weather conditions). You will also have the opportunity to swim in the lake before enjoying lunch at floating raft houses, which will capture your imagination with their rustic charm.

Afterward, return to the lodge between 17:30 and 18:30.

Dinner will be served at the lodge.

Overnight at Anurak Community Lodge

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 9:00 AM, enjoy a canoe ride down the Sok River. The journey begins a few kilometers upstream, taking you past the towering cliffs of Khao Sok. Along the way, your expert guide will point out brightly colored birds, and you may also spot monkeys, monitor lizards, or even a snake or two resting high in the tree canopies. Our guides come from the local villages, and although their English may be limited, they more than make up for it with their infectious enthusiasm for the unique natural environment and their desire to share their knowledge with visitors.

In the afternoon, transfer to Phuket and head toward Yacht Haven Marina Pier to embark on the hotel’s private speedboat (the hotel accepts the last booking for private boats at 16:00).

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, take some time during your holiday in Southern Thailand to make a positive impact on the local community. Spend a full day on Koh Yao Noi, meeting the friendly residents. The first stop is a visit to a cloth dyeing and Batik painting center, where you can learn about these ancient techniques and have fun creating your own Batik painting as a souvenir to take home. If you wish to have your painting delivered to your hotel, a local delivery service fee applies.

Next, walk through a rubber plantation to see how the trees are tapped for sap—a process done entirely by hand. Then, head to a small workshop to witness the time-consuming process of Batik making.

Around midday, visit a local family home where you will enjoy a lunch of home-cooked dishes and take part in a home-cooking experience, learning from the family. Beyond the experience and delicious meal, this is a special way to gain insight into the lives of southern Thais.

Spend the rest of the day wandering through rice fields and village lanes, where buffaloes and cows graze lazily. Stop by the local market to see the day’s fresh catch and other items for sale.

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure.

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Khao Sok – Phuket (170 km): 2.16 hr

After breakfast at the hotel, take a speedboat from the hotel to the mainland of Phuket, continuing to Phuket Airport. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast