Khlong Phanom National Park

Open Days: Open Seasonally, Outside The Annual Recovery Closure Period

Opening Hours: 08.30 – 16.30

 

Khlong Phanom National Park in Surat Thani Province is a protected forest area known for steep limestone mountains, tropical evergreen forest, natural streams, limestone caves, waterfalls, and nature trails. It is an excellent destination for travelers who want to experience the inland rainforest side of Surat Thani beyond beaches and Cheow Lan Lake. The park’s main attractions include Tham Kaeo Cave, Tham Nam Lod Khao Wong, Khao Wong Waterfall, Ton Sai Waterfall, Wang Matcha, Wat Tham Wararam, the Rafflesia trail, and the Khlong Sok water route.

 

The park is located in Khlong Sok, Phanom, and Phlu Thuean subdistricts of Phanom District, Surat Thani Province. It covers about 256,500 rai, or 410.4 square kilometres. Most of the landscape consists of complex limestone mountain ranges, high cliffs, dense forest, and many streams. These streams flow into Khlong Sok, connect with Khlong Saeng, and form part of the Khlong Phum Duang and Tapi River watershed system. For this reason, Khlong Phanom is important not only as a nature destination but also as a protected watershed forest of Surat Thani.

 

For travel planning in 2026, Khlong Phanom National Park operates seasonally. All tourism and overnight areas in the park close for annual recovery from 1 July to 31 August. The Rafflesia trail at Ban Saphan Nak closes from 1 May to 31 October. The rock painting site at Phaeng Khao Nok Yang, Tham Phra, and the Rafflesia trail at Ban Tham Phueng are closed indefinitely. Travelers should therefore plan their visit during the open season and check park announcements before traveling, especially when planning cave visits, waterfall walks, hiking, or Rafflesia viewing.

 

The forest of Khlong Phanom National Park is a highly fertile tropical evergreen forest. It is cool, shaded, and moist through much of the year. Important tree species include takhian, ta suea, chik khao, krathon, wild jackfruit, siad cho, inthanin, nak but, hong kai, and wild champak. These trees form the canopy of the rainforest, retain soil moisture, provide food for wildlife, and keep the park’s streams healthy. Visitors walking along the nature trails can feel the cool shade, hear flowing water, and see the character of a southern limestone rainforest.

 

The richness of the forest makes the park a habitat for many wildlife species, including wild elephants, deer, serow, tigers, bears, monkeys, langurs, gibbons, muntjac, mouse deer, squirrels, jungle fowl, forest birds, and reptiles. General visitors may not see these animals directly, but their presence shows the ecological value of the park. Visitors should travel quietly, keep to designated routes, avoid feeding wildlife, and help reduce disturbance in the forest.

 

Tham Kaeo Cave is one of the park’s most memorable attractions. It is about 2 kilometres from the park headquarters. The walking route starts from Wang Matcha near Wat Tham Wararam and follows a steep limestone slope for about 919 metres, taking around 30 minutes. Inside the cave are chambers with stalactites and stalagmites in many forms. Some cave walls contain sparkling mineral flakes that catch the light like tiny pieces of glass, giving the cave its name, Tham Kaeo, or Crystal Cave.

 

Inside Tham Kaeo, natural chambers are known by names that reflect the shapes of the formations. The Klet Kaeo chamber is known for glittering mineral surfaces. The Ruesi chamber has a rock formation that resembles a hermit. The Seahorse chamber contains many hanging formations that look like rows of seahorses. The Medicine Pot chamber features a stalagmite form associated with local stories. The charm of Tham Kaeo lies not only in its beauty but also in the slow geological processes that created these shapes over a long period of time.

 

Wang Matcha and Wat Tham Wararam connect local faith with the natural landscape of Khlong Sok. Wat Tham Wararam is a cave temple where Buddhist images are enshrined for visitors to pay respect. After passing through the cave, visitors reach the side connected with Khlong Sok. Near the water landing, many red tinfoil barbs, locally known as pla lam pam, gather in the stream. This area is both a local religious site and an important starting point for the walk to Tham Kaeo.

 

The Wang Matcha-Tham Kaeo Nature Trail is about 1 kilometre long and is suitable for visitors who want an accessible forest walk. Along the route, interpretation signs explain relationships between plants and animals in the forest. There are also viewpoints where visitors can see the richness of the evergreen forest and limestone landscape. This trail is best enjoyed slowly, with attention to plants, birdsong, rock formations, and the natural character of the forest.

 

Tham Nam Lod Khao Wong is a limestone cave with a stream flowing through it all year. It is about 5 kilometres from the park headquarters. Walking through the cave takes about 45 minutes and leads through to the other side of the mountain. The experience combines a dark cave, flowing water, stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone terrain. Visitors should carry a flashlight, wear footwear suitable for wet ground, and check with park staff before entering because water levels and cave safety can change with the weather.

 

Khao Wong Camp is a historically significant area connected with the Tham Nam Lod Khao Wong route. Access involves streams, Khao Wong Waterfall, and humid forest. The terrain includes enclosed mountains, cave passages, and forest that feels separated from the outside world. This area is suitable for visitors interested in both nature and local history, but it should be visited with park staff or a knowledgeable guide rather than independently.

 

Khao Wong Waterfall is a multi-tiered waterfall that descends along the mountain. The waterfall has 8 levels, with water flowing down from a high cliff toward Khlong Phanom and passing near Tham Nam Lod. The surrounding area is shaded, green, and humid. It is suitable for visitors who enjoy forest waterfalls and are ready for a more physically demanding nature route than the short trail near the park headquarters.

 

Ton Sai Waterfall is another important waterfall in Khlong Phanom National Park. It has multiple tiers and is surrounded by mature forest. Large banyan trees grow around the waterfall and spread their branches over the area, creating deep shade. The waterfall is about 3.5 kilometres from Ban Saphan Nak, Moo 5, Khlong Sok Subdistrict. Visitors can drive to the village and continue on foot to the waterfall, a walk that takes about 2 hours. This route is suitable for travelers who enjoy hiking and want to experience a true rainforest waterfall.

 

Rafflesia is one of the rare plants that makes Khlong Phanom National Park especially interesting. Rafflesia is a large parasitic flower that draws nutrients from wild grape vines. In Thailand, it is found in the areas of Khao Sok National Park and Khlong Phanom National Park. It usually has a chance to bloom from late year to early year, depending on moisture and local conditions. The flower takes a long time to develop but remains open for only a few days, so seeing it requires timing and current information from park staff.

 

The Rafflesia trail at Ban Saphan Nak is a seasonal nature route that should be planned carefully. It closes for natural recovery from 1 May to 31 October. This closure allows the area to recover, reduces impact on the rare plant, and lowers risk during the rainy season. Visitors who want to see Rafflesia should travel after the trail reopens, check blooming updates, and stay strictly on the designated path. Do not touch, pull, or step near the flower, because Rafflesia is fragile and has a long growth cycle.

 

Khlong Phanom National Park also offers the Khlong Sok water route, starting from Wang Matcha toward Ban Chiao Pong. Along the waterway, visitors can see limestone cliffs, shaded forest, and the natural scenery of Khlong Sok. This route shows a different side of the park from cave and waterfall walks. It allows travelers to experience the cool water, quiet forest, and limestone formations that define the inland landscape of Phanom District.

 

Getting There is straightforward by road. Use Highway 401, the Surat Thani-Takua Pa route, which is also the main route to Khao Sok National Park. From Surat Thani city, travel toward Phanom District and Khlong Sok Subdistrict. At kilometre marker 90, turn into the park access road for about 50 metres to reach the park headquarters. Travelers using public transport can take the Surat Thani-Phuket bus or the Surat Thani-Khao Sok van and get off near kilometre marker 90, then walk or take local transport to the park office.

 

Visitors should plan activities according to time and difficulty. Wang Matcha and Tham Kaeo can fit into a half-day visit. Tham Nam Lod Khao Wong, Khao Wong Waterfall, and Ton Sai Waterfall require more time and better preparation. Recommended items include non-slip shoes, a flashlight, drinking water, rain protection, a dry bag, and personal medicine. For cave and waterfall routes, check with park staff before entering, especially on rainy days or shortly after heavy rain.

 

The best time to visit Khlong Phanom National Park is during the open season when the weather is suitable for forest walking. After the rainy season and into the early dry season, the forest is lush, waterfalls have water, and Rafflesia may bloom in season. However, safety is more important than scenery. If water levels are high, currents are strong, or park staff advise against entering a route, visitors should adjust the plan and choose safer areas such as Wang Matcha, Wat Tham Wararam, or visitor areas near the park headquarters.

 

Responsible travel is essential in Khlong Phanom. Do not collect forest plants, catch animals, make loud noise, write on cave walls, break stalactites or stalagmites, litter, or leave designated paths. Limestone caves and tropical evergreen forests are fragile. Cave formations take a very long time to form, and every plant and animal in the forest is part of an interconnected ecosystem. Good visitors leave as little trace as possible.

 

Khlong Phanom National Park is suitable for nature travelers, light hikers, limestone cave enthusiasts, waterfall lovers, and anyone who wants to combine Surat Thani’s inland rainforest with nearby Khao Sok and Khlong Sok routes. Its appeal lies in its quiet atmosphere, dense forest, and variety of natural features: caves, waterfalls, streams, rare plants, and limestone mountains. Visited at the right time and with respect for park rules, Khlong Phanom is one of the best places to understand the richness of southern Thailand’s rainforest landscape.

 

 

A: Khlong Phanom National Park is in Phanom District, Surat Thani Province, covering areas of Khlong Sok, Phanom, and Phlu Thuean subdistricts. The park headquarters is near kilometre marker 90 on Highway 401.

 

A: The park operates seasonally. All tourism and overnight areas close from 1 July to 31 August, and some nature trails have separate recovery closures.

 

A: The entrance fee is 20 baht for Thai adults, 10 baht for Thai children, 100 baht for foreign adults, and 50 baht for foreign children.

 

A: The main highlights include limestone mountains, tropical evergreen forest, Tham Kaeo Cave, Tham Nam Lod Khao Wong, Khao Wong Waterfall, Ton Sai Waterfall, Wang Matcha, and the Ban Saphan Nak Rafflesia trail.

 

A: Tham Kaeo Cave is about 2 km from the park headquarters. The walking trail from Wang Matcha to the cave is about 919 metres and takes around 30 minutes.

 

A: Rafflesia usually has a chance to bloom from late year to early year, but the Ban Saphan Nak Rafflesia trail closes from 1 May to 31 October. Visitors should check blooming updates before traveling.

 

A: Travel on Highway 401, the Surat Thani-Takua Pa route. At kilometre marker 90, turn into the park access road for about 50 metres. Public buses and vans on the Surat Thani-Phuket or Surat Thani-Khao Sok route can drop travelers near the kilometre marker.