Koh Samui, Khao Lak & jungle adventure in Khao Sok

Today your Thailand adventure begins. You’ll fly from your selected airport to Koh Samui with connecting flights along the way.

You’ll arrive at Koh Samui’s exotic airport, pass through immigration, and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall, dressed in a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, making it easy for you to find them. From here, you’ll be driven to your hotel, located on the northern side of the island in a peaceful bay by Mae Nam Beach.

After checking into your hotel, you’ll probably want some time to unwind after the long flight, so the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Your standard accommodation is by Mae Nam Beach, close to the tranquil area of Bophut in the northern part of Koh Samui. Bophut is famous for its stunning bay with calm waters and golden sandy beaches. This is also where you’ll find Fisherman’s Village, with its beautifully preserved rustic facades that form a charming backdrop to the lively area. The village is filled with small shops selling local art and craftsmanship, cosy bars, and, not least, delightful restaurants where you can savour the bold and vibrant flavours of Thai cuisine. If you choose a beachfront restaurant, you can enjoy dinner overlooking the bay, and as night falls, you might even be lucky enough to watch the so-called 'Fireboys' giving spectacular fire shows.

If it’s more city life you’re after, then head to Chaweng, just a 20-minute drive away. Here, the atmosphere is livelier, and there’s plenty more to choose from. Along the main street, you’ll find an abundance of restaurants, cafés, shops, and bars. Down by Chaweng Beach, the buzz continues into the evening, when restaurants set out tables for open-air dining. What could be better than sinking into large, soft lounge chairs in the glow of torches and fairy lights, with the scent of the grill drifting through the air as you cool off with an ice-cold drink?
The best part is that your holiday has only just begun.

Today, you’ll set out to discover Koh Samui, which has so much more to offer than just its beautiful sandy beaches.

After a relaxed start to the morning, it’s time to explore the island’s hidden corners and gain an insight into its history, culture, and natural beauty. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, and you can ensure that you have an exciting day ahead.

The first stop will be the Big Buddha Temple, the symbol of Koh Samui. Seventy-two steps lead up to the huge Buddha statue, which rises impressively and gleams with its golden surface. From here, you can also enjoy a stunning view of the sea.

Next, an unforgettable encounter with Buddhist and Thai culture awaits as you stop at the Buddhist temple, Wat Khunaram, home to the mummified monk, Luang Pho Daeng, who passed away in 1973.

Your day continues to the rock formations Hin Yai and Hin Ta, which translate to grandmother and grandfather – a natural sight that some might find bordering on the bizarre. The large boulders in the water are shaped like the male and female sexual organs. According to legend, a married couple tragically capsized their boat and died here, only to be reborn into the landscape.

Afterwards, you’ll visit one of Koh Samui’s picturesque waterfalls, Na Muang No. 1, where you’ll be wrapped in the refreshing mist of the 18‑metre‑high cascading waters while enjoying a lovely moment of tranquillity in nature.

The day ends in the main town of Nathon, where you’ll have the chance to browse through the local shops.

You’ll then be driven back to the hotel, where there’s plenty of time to unwind. Slip into your swimwear and head for the beach.

These days are yours to enjoy as you please, with complete freedom to set your own pace and choose your own activities. Perhaps you’d like to unwind by the hotel’s pool with a good book? Or how about exploring some of the island’s other beaches and waterfalls?

If you’re craving more adventure, we highly recommend a boat trip to the picture-perfect Ang Thong Marine National Park, where rows of lush tropical islands rise beautifully from the sea. Or perhaps a visit to the world-famous islands of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, renowned for their incredible and vividly coloured marine life?

You can read more about the tours below.

Today, you’ll leave Koh Samui and head for the mainland. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the pier, from where you’ll take a boat to Surat Thani. The crossing takes around one hour.

Upon arrival at Donsak Pier, a driver will be waiting to take you to Khao Sok National Park, where a true jungle adventure awaits.

Khao Sok is one of Thailand’s largest National Parks, and arguably one of its most beautiful. Here, you’ll find one of the country’s biggest areas of untouched primary rainforest – ancient and pristine, having stood for millions of years. The lush surroundings and life-giving rivers are home to an abundance of wildlife, including gibbons, langurs, and macaques. The tiny mouse deer also lives here, alongside muntjacs and serows. If you’re really lucky, you might even catch sight of the stunning, long-tailed marbled cat. Bird enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to too, with hornbills and red-headed trogons among the many residents of the dense jungle.

The drive from Donsak Pier to Khao Sok takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at your hotel, a peaceful canoe trip awaits you on the Sok River. Admire the dramatic limestone cliffs and lush greenery as you glide along. High in the treetops, you can hear birds singing, while closer to the riverbank you may catch a glimpse of an iguana. Best of all, you can simply sit back and take it all in while your local guide does the paddling.

Back at the hotel, you can enjoy a delicious lunch and relax while taking in the stunning views of nature right on your doorstep.

In the evening, you’ll have the option to join a night safari, offering you the chance to experience the jungle after dark. Read more about this optional tour below.

Another adventure awaits you today. You’ll leave the jungle behind and head towards Cheow Lan Lake, which forms part of Khao Sok National Park. The lake was created when the Rajjaprabha Dam was built in 1987, flooding the area. 385 local families were relocated and compensated, while animals were either guided out via the rivers or airlifted to safety. As the area gradually filled with rain and river water, parts of the rainforest were transformed into a vast lake. The tall limestone cliffs that once towered above the treetops now rise as small islands from the shimmering emerald waters. It's easy to see why Cheow Lan is often described as Thailand’s answer to Guilin, one of China’s most breathtaking natural landscapes.

Please note that it’s not possible to bring all your luggage onto the lake, so you can safely store it at the hotel. Instead, we recommend taking a backpack with the essentials you’ll need for the next few days on the lake. When you meet your driver again on day 9, he’ll have your luggage with him.

From the hotel, your journey begins with a short drive to the small local town of Ban Ta Khun. Here, you’ll visit the local market, known in particular for its papayas and excellent turmeric.

You’ll then continue to the Ratchaprapa pier, located near the impressive dam. Here, you’ll board a longtail boat and sail out onto Cheow Lan Lake, where you can take in the majestic scenery and the iconic limestone cliffs.

Around lunchtime, you’ll arrive at your overnight accommodation, a floating raft hotel. After check-in, the staff will be waiting to serve a traditional Thai lunch, which you can enjoy with stunning views of the spectacular surroundings.

Later, you can choose to join an exciting jungle walk to the Coral Cave, a beautiful stalactite cave, free of charge. Be sure to bring water and sturdy closed shoes, and note that the paths may be slippery during the rainy season.

Together with your guide, you’ll be taken by longtail boat to the starting point of your tour. From there, you’ll continue on foot through the jungle, where you can soak up the lush vegetation and, with a bit of luck, spot some of the area’s exotic birds and insects along the way.

After around 45 minutes of walking, you’ll reach a lagoon where a bamboo raft awaits to take you the final stretch to Coral Cave. Inside the cave, you can admire the fascinating stalagmites and stalactites that, over the years, have formed shapes resembling elephants, witches, and snakes. Afterwards, you’ll return the same way.

Back at the hotel, you can unwind with a good book, explore the surroundings by kayak, or enjoy a refreshing dip in the lake directly from your veranda.

Later in the afternoon, a wonderful boat safari awaits. Keep an eye out for the area’s birdlife and wildlife as you glide through the spectacular scenery. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of hornbills, sambar deer, or some of the other residents of the lake. On rare occasions, you might even spot wild elephants along the banks. As you return to the hotel, the sunset paints the dramatic cliffs golden, creating an almost magical scene. On the journey back, the sun begins to sink behind the towering limestone cliffs – a truly enchanting sight!

In the evening, a traditional Thai dinner awaits you. As night falls, sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet beneath a clear, starry sky – far away from the artificial lights of the cities.

It’s an utterly magical feeling to wake up in the middle of Cheow Lan Lake. Draw back the curtain, open the door to your veranda, and watch the mist slowly lift over the mirror-like water, where the silence is broken only by the distinctive call of the Asian koel.

Early in the morning, you’ll set off on another exciting boat safari in the gentle light of dawn. Keep an eye out for spectacled langurs, gibbons, and macaques along the lake’s shores.

After the boat trip, breakfast is served, and then you’ll have time for a refreshing dip in the lake, a canoe trip, or a quiet moment on your veranda.

Late in the morning, it’s time to check out, and you’ll be taken back to the mainland by boat. Along the way, enjoy the final views of the enchanting limestone cliffs rising steeply from the emerald-green water.

Back at the pier, your driver will be waiting to take you back to the jungle, where a delicious Thai lunch will be served.

Next, you’ll be driven to the beach paradise of Khao Lak, just over an hour away. Here, a serene atmosphere, honey-coloured sandy beaches, and the stunning Andaman Sea set the scene for the next few days of your beach holiday.

Upon arrival, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Khao Lak is synonymous with tranquillity and adventure. This beach paradise lies around 100 km north of Phuket, yet the feeling here couldn’t be more different. The pace is slower, the surroundings more peaceful, and at the same time, you’ll have everything you could wish for – from beautiful nature to charming local restaurants.

The area is made up of a series of adjoining beaches that together form a relaxed holiday paradise, with the Andaman Sea on one side and lush rainforest on the other.

Spend your days unwinding on the beach or find a spot by the pool with a good book. You could also set out on your own to explore the area and soak up the unique atmosphere that makes Khao Lak a favourite among many travellers.

If you’re up for more adventures, we highly recommend a snorkelling trip to the Surin or Similan Islands – considered among Thailand’s finest snorkelling and diving spots. Expect vibrant tropical fish, sea turtles, powder-white sands, and crystal-clear waters.

In the evening, you can head into Khao Lak’s centre, where charming restaurants, little shops, and laid-back bars sit side by side.

Today, it’s time to say goodbye to Thailand. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Phuket airport, from where you’ll fly back to Europe with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You’ll arrive at your selected airport after a wonderful holiday filled with relaxation and spectacular natural experiences.