One of then most fascinating places in Thailand has to be the Khao Sok national park.

Khao Sok is the largest area of virgin forest in Southern Thailand and is the remains of a rainforest which people claim to be older and more diverse than even the Amazon Basin rainforest.

With Surat Thani situated to the east, Phuket to the south and Ranong to the north, Khao Sok can be easily accessed. And there lies the beauty of Khao Sok, tourists head for Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phuket in the south and Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north, and very rarely have the time to explore Khao Sok. It is therefore unspoiled and still offers outstanding natural beauty.

Personally, I would get in the car, travel from Bangkok via Ranong, possibly staying there for the night, and then head down Khao Sok. Going by this route you can see the beauty of both western seaboard of the Gulf of Thailand and also the spectacular scenery alongside the Andaman Sea.

On settling into my riverside bungalow for the evening, I would then look forward to the two or three days of visiting the forests, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and magnificent limestone cliffs.

Many of the resort and lodge owners can provide you with complete package tours, including your room, all meals, River Sok adventure trips, guided hiking tours, elephant trekking and even a night safari. And along the way you will see real species diversity as Khao Sok has a vast range of mammals, tropical birds, reptiles and plants.

If you are really lucky you may see the Bua Phut, or Rafflesia Kerrii, flower which grows within the park. The Bua Phut red flowers smell awful, similar to meat that has gone bad, and can grow up to eighty centimeters in diameter, making it one of the largest known flowers in the world. The flower only blooms for about one week, and you can normally see it January to March, and, very occasionally, around July.

Over the last few years there has been a genuine commitment to conserving Khao Sok. For example, the Bua Phut is actually endangered, so nowadays you cannot walk right up to the plants. On the other hand, elevated walkways have been built near to them so you can still view this truly remarkable plant.

And the commitment to conservation does not stop there. You will find many resorts offering educational programs relating to the national park.

A visit to Khao Sok would not be complete without visiting the Chieow Laan Lake which was created in 1982 when the Chieow Laan dam was completed. It is here that that you will find some of the best places to see animals such as gibbons, barking deer and wild boar.

If you have time, you should also plan to stay at one of the floating raft houses on the lake. Just the perfect place to relax and take in the truly magnificent natural surroundings. It is here that you will find the limestone cliffs that are typical of the entire region. The cliffs very much resemble the ones along the Krabi coast and in Phang Nga Bay. At Chieow Laan they really are stunning as they spectacularly rise up out of the lake.

All too soon it is time to head back to Bangkok, this time taking the road east to Surat Thani and then up the western seaboard of the Gulf.

And finally, and as usual, a big hello to all my friends at the Thailand Web Zone, www.thailandwebzone.com, which is a new Thai social networking and Thailand community site. Share information in Thai forums and Thailand articles, meet people, share photos, music and video, find & submit information on Thailand travel. Make new friends from all over the world! For those readers who have not visited TWZ, go have a look now!

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Thailand still maintains its appeal to visitors, with its golden, palm-fringed beaches, its jungle-clad mountains, its welcoming people, its vibrant nightlife and world-renowned cuisine. And our experience shows that “there is no better time than 09” to visit!

Whilst Thailand has not suffered the economic woes to the same extent as experienced elsewhere across the globe, it has definitely seen a decrease in visitor arrivals in 2009. In a country that is so dependent upon tourism to prop up its foreign reserves and to provide employment for its nationals, the importance of reacting quickly to the situation has not been missed, and every effort is being made to lure visitors back to the kingdom.

So what does this mean for us, the guests?

To start with, getting to the country has become cheaper. Oil prices have collapsed and air tickets are now considerably less expensive than in 08, and numerous airlines have special offers for trips to the major aviation of Bangkok. 

Upon arrival, visitors have reported noting to a new attitude: whilst the Thais have always been welcoming to foreigners, there is a suggestion that whilst a steady flow of guests had previously been taken for granted, there is now a genuine desire to ensure all visitors are welcomed with open arms. 

When it comes to recommending where to stay and what to see, our suggestions have now changed in the new climate. The visitor to Thailand will find best value in seeking out properties either owned and operated by locals, in their home towns or provinces (to which they have returned after a period of economic migration to the capital), or properties owned by foreigners now feeling the pinch and needing to seek a return on what were once dream holiday homes for personal use.

So by all means book yourself a hotel in Bangkok for the beginning and end of your stay (and insist on a good package or deal!), but between these capital breaks, sandwich a relaxing holiday in your own private house or villa. 

Finding and renting a holiday house may not always appear simple, but if you target reputable sites specializing in Thai holiday homes, or identify professional sites from standalone villa owners, you will not go wrong. We recommend Thailand Holiday House with its limited listings of only five or so privately held villas, usefully sorted by region or province, with a description of the area itself. Most of these villas have private swimming pools, and many offer full service when required, making your vacation so much easier.

As an example of the kind of private villa stays available in Thailand in 09, check out this Thai country villa in the northeast of the country. The oddly named Gecko Villa and its large private swimming pool is surrounded by rice fields, off the beaten track in the plateau of Isaan. Book this property and you will enjoy your own large rural house, and delicious Thai meals prepared especially for your each day, as well as an introduction to the local area, its sights and unusual activities, for those who wish to get “under the skin” of the country. At just over US$200 / night, a family of four will stay in comfort, have no additional expenses and get to see a fascinating side of the kingdom.

When arranging your travel around the kingdom, buff up on the possibilities. Rather than heading straight for the national carrier, Thai Airways, check out the budget airlines which will get you to your destination in equal comfort and safety, such as Nok Air and Air Asia. If you rent a car, Budget and Avis currently have attractive deals in place, and local Thai rental companies are also making some hard to beat offers – but do make sure you get full insurance!

And finally, remember that Thailand is also the major gateway to many of the countries formerly labelled as “Indochina”. Why not get the most out of your trip and combine a stay in one of Thailand’s provinces with a trip across the nearest border to visit the neighbouring culture? After a stay near Udon Thani, head up to Nong Khai and cross the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River into the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Or, after a stay in Trat, head to the border and over into Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat.

So in short:
- There’s no better time than 09 in Thailand
- When you book your hotel, request a discount. Don’t be shy!
- When flying domestically, review the airline options.
- For stays out of the capital, try a private villa
- Go local
- Then go beyond borders – combine your trip with a neighbouring country.