Located in the stunning environs of Khao Sok National Park, Anurak Community Lodge is an award-winning eco-resort ideal for nature lovers and responsible travellers. With their ongoing commitment to sustainable travel in Thailand, Anurak is a welcoming place to stay and make the most of the natural wonders of Khao Sok.
Responsible Thailand Awards
The wonderful work being carried out by Anurak Community Lodge was recognised in the 2024 Responsible Thailand Awards with Anurak winning the prestigious Responsible Tourism Accommodation award. The eco-resort was also runner-up in the Responsible Conservation category.
The judging panel gave Anurak Community Lodge kudos for the way the resort encourages guests to support conservation. In its simplest form, this is achieved through easy-to-implement measures like using refillable glass water bottles and refillable soap and shampoo dispensers in the rooms.
Anurak has also supported large conservation projects including a partnership with Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU). As part of this project, oil palms in the Khao Sok area are being replaced with indigenous species. A forest nursery is also being established while guests at Anurak are offered the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint through the tree reforestation program.
Supporting local
When the founders of Anurak were looking for suitable locations to establish their eco-resort, it was local villagers who suggested the former oil palm plantation which has now been transformed with the rewilding of indigenous trees and plants. Fittingly for a community lodge, many of the villagers now form the backbone of the Anurak team. From serving as guides to taking on roles in the kitchen, housekeeping, and restaurant, their contributions have been a key part of the resort’s success.
By providing local people with meaningful employment opportunities, Anurak has been able to foster an appreciation for nature conservation as a sustainable alternative to harmful practices like destructive farming and poaching.
Explore Khao Sok National Park
Situated roughly midway between Thailand’s Gulf Coast and Andaman Coast, Khao Sok National Park is a haven of breathtaking natural beauty waiting to be explored. A longtail boat ride across the emerald waters of Cheow Larn Lake offers stunning views of limestone karsts rising dramatically from the surface, while hiking trails invite you to wander through some of the world’s oldest evergreen rainforests.
With its towering limestone cliffs, lush greenery, and intricate waterways, Khao Sok boasts one of Thailand’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. As a protected area, the park is teeming with wildlife, including wild elephants, sun bears, marbled cats, dusky langurs, and majestic hornbills, making it a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.
Anurak Community Lodge has teamed up with wildlife conservation organisations to provide tours and events that help support conservation efforts. All of the activities and tours at Anurak focus on responsible travel and ethical interactions with the natural environment and the local communities. Guests can also do their own exploring with activities like the Anurak Trail, a one-hour self-hike around the lodge. Complimentary mountain bikes are also provided to allow you to explore the area. And to help you appreciate Khao Sok even more, Anurak has a library full of information about the flora and fauna of Thailand.
Cheow Larn Lake
Cheow Larn Lake can be explored on a day trip or as part of an overnight adventure where you can stay on a raft house. You can kayak on the lake, take a longtail boat trip, and go on a nature hike led by an expert local guide.
Bamboo rafting
Enjoy a leisurely ride on a bamboo raft as you glide down the Khao Sok River. This river is part of an ancient trade route and on this trip, you get a taste of what it would have been like for traders plying this route. Admire the scenery, look out for wildlife and try your hand at making jungle-style tea using a bamboo stem.
Jungle dinner
A fascinating way to learn about traditional life in forest areas is to join a jungle dinner. A century ago, Thai forest communities like those in Khao Sok relied on the forest for their food. With the help of Anurak, you can discover more about traditional Thai cuisine and the role of ingredients like bamboo, plants, and herbs that were originally sourced from the jungle.
Foodies can also learn more about Thai cuisine with an organic farm cooking experience. Learn the old techniques used by rural communities to select and cook their produce including how to boil rice in bamboo.
Ethical elephant experience
Guests at Anurak Community Lodge have the opportunity to visit a small, responsible elephant centre where you can learn more about the elephants and the role of their handlers (mahouts). Your guide will show you how to prepare a natural medicinal snack for the elephant and you can walk with them and their mahouts to watch the elephants bathe.
Hiking
Hiking the trails is one of the highlights of Khao Sok National Park. Guests at Anurak can opt for a short, self-guided hike near the lodge or join a longer hike with local experts. Guides will be able to point out unique wildlife and plants that you may otherwise miss.
Cycling
Enjoy a scenic bike ride along quiet local roads where you will pass through villages and rubber plantations while admiring Khao Sok’s spectacular scenery. Different routes are available so no matter what your level of fitness is, you should be able to enjoy the ride.
Rainforest Rising
The Rainforest Rising program is one of the more eye-catching initiatives implemented by Anurak. Working closely with the local forestry department and the Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) from Chiang Mai University, Anurak is helping to bring back indigenous trees and plants to the Khao Sok area.
Anurak Community Lodge was built on land that was formerly an oil palm plantation. Although the palm oil industry has brought some financial benefits to areas of Southern Thailand, that short-term reward has come at a significant long-term cost. The introduction of oil palms has led to deforestation and negatively impacted endangered wildlife species. Growing oil palms absorbs a lot of water and nutrients and water from the soil and consequently makes it difficult for other tropical plants and trees to grow in the same area.
Building an ecolodge on an oil palm plantation meant that no native trees needed to be cleared away, and Anurak has been able to successfully rewild the area with indigenous plants and trees. The project has been an outstanding example of what can be achieved and shows there is a viable alternative to oil palms. Returning the land to its original state provides refuge for wildlife and ensures the land is there for future generations.
Guests at Anurak Community Lodge can join in with the initiative and plant a tree to offset their carbon footprint. Trees are sourced from Anurak’s native forest nursery in Krabi Province.
Stay at Anurak Community Lodge
To find out more about Anurak Community Lodge and enjoy a memorable stay in Khao Sok, check out their website and social media channels:
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Images and videos © Anurak Community Lodge
