The formidable curves of the road didn't effect our local bus drivers speed one bit, as we casually hugged the corners of the mountain clinging highway. Climbing higher and higher, the trees around us seemed to grow exponentially with our altitude. The extensive country side of Khao Sok unfolded before us as we forged on toward our destination for the weekend, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge and Safari in Khao Sok National Park. After a quick 3 hour bus trip from Phuket, we arrived at the lodge, a lush eden nestled alluringly against a massive limestone crag, a common feature in the evergreen landscape of Khao Sok. Located in southern Thailand among the densely forested outskirts of the Khao Sok National Park, Tree Tops has established an unrivaled presence in experiential stays and park exploration. Khao Sok Park is home to the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, and offers an abundance of adventure activities such as elephant trekking, canoe excursions, river tubing, wildlife kayak tours, mountain trekking, cave exploration, monkey temples, waterfall walks and night safaris.

We settled into relaxation mode right away and headed out with our driver and guide to experience some of the most exquisite elephant trekking in all of Thailand. The two hour trek took us deep into to the natural terrain of the rainforest, lined with massive stalks of bamboo and giant evergreen trees. Plodding along the rugged path, our elephant ambled over rocky terrain that at some points required him to make gigantic steps 5 feet high which he did with masterful ease. Having done such a wonderful job, we made sure to reward his hard work, staying on to feed him four baskets of bananas afterwards. After our trek we moved to the Klong Sok River for a two hour canoe tour. Depending on the season you can also choose to tube down this river if the water level is high enough. Our experienced guide gracefully glided us down the river pointing out wildlife such as lizards, frogs, snakes, and birds. As he paddled, he stopped to allow us to take pictures and approach wildlife for a closer look. Exploring the river was exquisite as you wind through enormous limestone cliffs, whose brilliance was only magnified by being right at their base. After drifting to the end of the river, our last stop of the day was a sacred monkey temple, conveniently located right beside the Lodge. Like many other cheeky macaque monkeys found in Asia, these were no different. By no means shy, these monkeys jumped and climbed on any and everything to get to the food we brought. A fun and close up experience with some local wildlife!

Following a delicious meal in the huge open air dining room at Tree Tops, we settled into our room for the night as evening approached, a tree house set in the canopy of the Khao Sok forest. Our balcony offered us a real time nature channel right before our eyes, swarming with exotic bugs, bats, and other unknown creatures. This natural setting was pleasantly relaxing, as we fell asleep to the lively hum of the nightlife around us.

Early the next morning we headed to Chiao Lan reservoir dammed by the Ratchaprapha dam, to journey deep into the heart of Khao Sok National Park, and move to our new accommodations, the Tree Tops raft houses. Khao Sok is a huge park covering over 739 km², and as we sailed through the alluring blue freshwater lake, we were overwhelmed with the beautiful scenery. Scattered with hundreds of huge limestone crags covered in lush greenery, a sense of rare splendor manifested. No two cliffs the same, each was aged and eroded by time to display a unique sense of being, full of caves and trees that grew straight out from the cliff with no notice of the sharp angle. Simply serene. Approximately two hours by car and boat we arrived at the raft houses, a set of 19 simple bamboo and thatched style huts, equipped with a mattress, bug net, and a small back porch to swim off of. Extremely basic, but beautiful in their simplicity. As we approached the huts in our long tail boat, we could see Gibbons jumping from tree to tree on the nearby island. After a quick bite to eat we promptly readied for ourselves for a mountain hike. A demanding climb was forewarned, and it delivered on its promise. After about two hours of hiking through the forest we came to the peak of our climb. The final 200 m assured to challenge the last bit of our determination, as we clambered over sheer and jagged rock face. Perched percariously at the top of a small cliff, drenched in sweat, we reached the view point, a view which invited a silent awe. The stunning landscape allowed a commanding view of Khao Sok Park, a view which was intimately ours, off the beaten path. Two and a half hours later, we were back at the raft house celebrating with some Singha's over dinner. Exhausted from the heat and effort from our trek, we happily went to bed early.

Waking to a symphony of exotic birds singing, we sat on our small back porch and enjoyed the sunrise. Although the accommodations were not luxurious, we felt flush with an abundantly captivating vista, sun glistening off the waters and peeking through the tree tops. The raft house accommodations were a highlight of our entire South East Asia trip, offering the best in back to nature experiences you can find. Setting out for an early kayak tour around our island, the moist morning air infused with the scent of sweet local flowers created a savoury sensory experience. With the sun rising in the distance, we quietly paddled around the island viewing countless tucans and even a few Gibbons.

The best time to visit Khao Sok National Park, is December to March. During this time for a few short days the Rafflesia flower, the largest flower in the world at approximately 80cm, blooms. During the bloom period Tree Tops Safari can arrange tours to see this rare flower. The rainy season April to October, also has benefits such as higher water levels ensuring fuller waterfalls and the ability to tube Klong Sok River. You will however, need to prepare for leeches, so be sure to include running shoes, long pants and good socks.

Make sure to bring some money along for alcoholic drinks and snacks while out at the Raft houses. Taking the bus from Phuket to Khao Sok is easy and cheap. Have your taxi take you to the Phuket Bus Station in Phuket town and on arrival the bus drivers will approach you and ask where you are headed. Tickets are purchased on the bus for roughly six dollars Canadian.