Things to do in Ban Ta Khun

We took an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok and arrived at Sutatani Railway Station early the next morning. A small restaurant diagonally opposite the station offered ride-hailing services. We and several other Caucasian tourists took a 7:15 AM minibus to Khao Sok National Park in Thailand. The journey took about 1.5-2 hours and cost 300 baht per person. The minibus dropped each passenger off at their respective hotel. We booked the Three Tops River Huts hotel, located right at the park entrance. Our rooms and restaurant were situated by a stream. The hotel staff helped me carry my luggage to my room. The toilets and bathrooms were shared, requiring us to remove our shoes, but they were very clean. We crossed a small bridge to reach the park. The hotel provided three meals a day, but lunch took an hour to arrive. Entering Khao Sok Park from the main gate, there's a forest hiking trail. Without a guide, we walked 3 kilometers along the dirt path by the river, where we saw monkeys and rested at a nearby stream. As a non-athletic tourist, 3 kilometers was my limit in the hot weather. Hiking enthusiasts can hire a guide for a full day or half a day. The scenery consists of tropical rainforests, bamboo groves, and streams. The hotel offers bookings for day trips or half-day tours to the surrounding lakes, including boat rides, elephant rides, or bamboo rafting. This area is mostly populated by white tourists, with very few Chinese visitors. Those not interested in hiking shouldn't bother coming.

A nice viewing platform with a great view of Cheow Lan Lake from the top. There's a cafe, equipped parking, and restrooms. It gets crowded on weekends and holidays.

The view is very beautiful. The boat ride is not long. The view of Rama VIII is extremely beautiful at Cheow Lan Dam.

Exactly as booked. We booked to feed the elephants and that's what we did, I was just a bit underwhelmed, not sure what I was expecting but maybe to last a little longer. We were offered a complimentary refreshment once finished. Amazing animals, which are clearly loved by the keepers at the sanctuary, my children had a lovely time, so I would certainly recommend this as a family activity whilst on Samui.

Upon arrival at the camp, staff greeted us and, after verifying our tickets, we were able to interact with the elephants. The camp has restrooms and convenient parking. The staff patiently taught us how to feed the elephants and introduced each one. The elephant we fed was 54 years old and had a very calm and gentle temperament. After interacting with the elephants, the staff explained that the next interaction, the Capibala, was at the coffee shop. Our package included a drink and a small canvas bag. The drinks were freshly made, including coffee and milk tea, and were very delicious, but be sure to ask for less sugar. The Capibala are in a separate area outside the coffee shop; they are very lively and adorable little creatures. Be careful to move slowly, as moving too quickly might frighten them. Overall, it was a very good experience.