The Camper Lodge, Khao Sok

I spent two nights in a female shared cabin while backpacking in Thailand, and I’d definitely recommend this hostel. The view is breathtaking, and the location itself feels like an attraction and a lovely retreat. I didn’t feel you needed to take many tours while staying here. The service was great, and the staff looked after me so well. Aee is lovely and happy to answer any questions. The restaurant food was delicious too. I hope I can return in the rainy season :)

The view over the surrounding nature and mountains is beautiful, and the setting is ideal for switching off. We also thought the nearby lake trips were well organized and would recommend them. Staff were welcoming, friendly, and always willing to help, and the food was delicious for the price. We were very happy with our stay at the Camper Lodge and would gladly come back.

We stayed three nights and really enjoyed the views. The included breakfast was great, and dinner was tasty, with vegan options, though it costs extra. We took the Lake Tour, which felt chaotic and touristy at first but was absolutely worth doing, and explored the national park on our own. We also went on an ATV tour with spectacular views. There aren’t any shops nearby, so use the free shuttle to the center or national park for shopping and ATMs. Bring enough cash for tours and dinner because the 6% PayPal fee is quite high. Laundry is 100 Baht/kg, mosquito repellent is available at reception, and you get two free water bottles each day. For us, a private taxi from Surat Thani for 2000 Baht was the easiest option. They can also help arrange a bus to your next destination. Ms. Aee and Mr. Big were exceptionally friendly. A little music at dinner would be a nice touch. As far as we know, there was no room service during our stay.

Getting there took some planning. You can arrange transport in advance through their website at the standard rate for the area. We ended up scrambling to find a taxi after the bus dropped us in town, since the usual apps don’t work there. I’d book ahead. Once there, we spent a whole week at this incredible place. We came for the dark skies and the Perseids meteor shower, then stayed for a relaxing week. The cozy container home had a wood finish that reminded me of my log cabin back home. From the front porch we had an epic view of the cliff, and there was a hammock on the roof. The lodge restaurant became a regular stop for us, with delicious, fresh food at good prices. WiFi worked well in the common area, and we liked having none in our container home. We booked tubing, a jungle night trek, a farm cooking class, and an overnight stay on Cheow Lan Lake through the lodge. They provided transport for each activity. The staff were sweet and kind and took great care of us, so saying goodbye was hard. We were there in the quiet season and loved how calm it was. You could hear animals from the cliff throughout the day, and sometimes spot monkeys. It was a wonderful week surrounded by incredible nature and kind-hearted people, and we’re so grateful we got to spend it there.