Khao Sok Riverside Cottage

We stopped for lunch on the way from the floating resort on Chewan Lak resort to Khao Lak, after our two-night stay there. It turned out to be a surprisingly great break in the trip. Sitting beside the beautiful river and lush jungle, we had an excellent meal and smoothie, served in a glass wrapped with grass around flowers. The food and staff were excellent, with that special Thailand touch we hadn't expected. If you're going from Ratchaprapha pier to Khao Lak, I'd recommend stopping here. We loved it.

We spent four days and three nights on their package and had an amazing time. The surroundings were beautiful, the rooms charming, and the restaurant surprised us in a good way. Definitely try the curries. We canoed down the river looking for wildlife, and even the rain didn't spoil it. They also arranged a night in a floating bungalow, which was a truly unique, peaceful experience. It wasn't surprisingly uncrowded, mostly just our group. I'd highly recommend booking a package.

The national park is beautiful, and we enjoyed kayaking and swimming on our own at the lake most. The three-day cottage and raft house package, though, was disappointing. Activities were okay but not memorable, and the food was mediocre. The group was meant to be 10-18 people, but more than 25 of us were combined with other groups, making the hike and cave walk especially hard to enjoy. It felt as if maximizing profit mattered more than giving us a memorable park experience. We raised our concerns at the end and got only “ok, thank you,” with nothing addressed. The cottage on the first day was nice, especially the setting. The raft house was alright, except a big cockroach crawled on our bed at night and really affected how we felt about it. We checked with other tour agencies and found much lower prices for similar itineraries. We chose this package hoping for a better, more personal experience, but it didn't meet our expectations.

We arrived without a reservation and were told they were full. Instead of sending us away, bodhi went out of his way to find us somewhere else while we waited for rooms to open up at Riverside. The staff were incredibly helpful and attentive throughout, and helped organize activities and day trips that suited what we wanted. During my stay I saw frogs, lizards, geckos, monkeys, and even a resident mangrove snake living happily in a tree over the river. Riverside is brilliant if you want an authentic jungle stay that still has some comfort. The facilities made for a comfortable visit. Thanks to bodhi and everyone at Riverside cottage. If you're visiting khao sok, staying at Riverside is a must.