There are some activities that require lots of equipment, lots of instructions and lots of effort, and River Tubing in Khao Sok isn’t one of them.
You sit in a big inflatable tube.
You get into the river.
And you let nature do the rest.
It sounds ridiculously simple.
That’s because it is.
And perhaps that’s exactly why river tubing has become such a popular way to experience Khao Sok.
Floating gently down the Sok River, surrounded by towering limestone mountains and lush tropical rainforest, gives you an entirely different perspective of this incredible part of Thailand.
There’s no engine.
There’s no rush.
Just you, the river, your family or friends and the rainforest drifting slowly past.
So, Where Did River Tubing Begin?
The history of tubing is surprisingly simple.
Long before today’s purpose-built recreational tubes existed, people discovered that the large rubber inner tubes used inside vehicle tyres were pretty good at floating.
As automobiles became increasingly common during the early 20th century, old inner tubes became readily available. People living near rivers began using them as a cheap and very effective way to cool down on hot days.
Instead of swimming against the current, why not sit inside a giant rubber ring and let the river take you?
Exactly who invented recreational tubing is debated, but organised recreational river tubing was already being documented in the United States by the 1940s.
From there, an incredibly simple idea spread around the world.
Today, purpose-built inflatable tubes have replaced old tyre inner tubes, but the basic idea hasn’t changed very much at all.
Sit down. Float. Relax. Have fun.
And Khao Sok happens to be an incredible place to do it.
What Is Tubing Like in Khao Sok?
Imagine sitting comfortably in your tube with your feet touching the cool water.
Above you is a canopy of tropical vegetation.
Ahead of you, enormous limestone cliffs rise from the rainforest.
You hear birds calling from the trees.
Someone in your group inevitably spins around backwards.
Someone else splashes them.
Everyone starts laughing.
And all the while, the Sok River continues carrying you downstream.
That’s tubing.
There are calmer sections where you can simply lie back and enjoy your surroundings, while changes in the river and small faster-flowing sections can add a little extra excitement along the way.
The experience changes with the river conditions, which are influenced by recent rainfall and the time of year.
That’s part of the fun.
You’re experiencing a real river in a real rainforest.
Why Is Tubing So Much Fun for Families?
One of the best things about tubing is its simplicity.
You don’t need to know how to paddle a kayak.
You don’t need to trek for hours.
And you certainly don’t need to be an extreme adventurer.
For families, it’s an opportunity to enjoy an adventure together without making everything too serious.
Kids can splash.
Parents can relax.
Friends can float alongside each other.
And there will almost certainly be plenty of laughter along the way.
Of course, this is still a natural river environment, so conditions matter. Activities should always be undertaken with appropriate safety equipment and experienced local guides, and suitability for younger children will depend on their age and the river conditions on the day.
That’s why local knowledge is so important.
River Tubing in Khao Sok
What Might You See While Tubing on the Sok River?
Don’t spend the entire journey trying to splash the person next to you.
Remember to look up!
The Sok River takes you through some beautiful Khao Sok scenery, with dense vegetation along the riverbanks and dramatic limestone formations rising above the landscape.
And then there’s the wildlife.
Keep watching the branches above you and you might spot monkeys moving through the trees.
Look towards the sky and you could see tropical birds flying above the river.
You may encounter colourful butterflies close to the riverbank, lizards amongst the vegetation and, occasionally, other rainforest wildlife.
You might even hear animals you never actually see.
That’s the wonderful thing about being in a real rainforest.
Nothing is staged.
Nothing appears on demand.
You simply have to watch, listen and see what nature decides to show you.
See Khao Sok From a Completely Different Perspective
There are many ways to experience Khao Sok.
You can hike through it.
You can explore its caves.
You can travel across Cheow Lan Lake.
You can drift along the river on a traditional bamboo raft.
But tubing puts you right at water level.
Everything suddenly looks different.
The limestone cliffs seem bigger.
The trees seem taller.
The rainforest feels closer.
Instead of looking at the landscape from a viewpoint, you’re moving right through the middle of it.
And because you’re not concentrating on paddling or walking, you have time to actually look around.
Green Season Makes It Even More Special
Tubing is particularly associated with wetter periods because the Sok River needs sufficient water to provide the right conditions for floating.
And this happens to be when the rainforest is looking spectacular.
The vegetation becomes incredibly lush.
Waterfalls flow.
The river comes alive.
Mist can hang around the limestone mountains.
And the whole landscape seems to turn another shade of green.
Of course, more water doesn’t automatically mean better conditions. Heavy rainfall can cause river levels and currents to change quickly, so tubing should only take place when local guides determine that conditions are suitable.
Nature gets the final say.
And we think that’s exactly how it should be.
Sometimes Simple Experiences Are the Best
Perhaps the reason tubing has remained popular for so long is because nobody has needed to reinvent it.
There’s no complicated technology.
No big engine.
No screen.
No need to rush.
You simply climb into your tube and allow the river to carry you.
For an hour or two, your biggest decision might be whether to splash the person floating next to you.
In a world where we’re constantly checking phones, answering messages and thinking about what we need to do next, there’s something wonderfully refreshing about that.
Go Tubing During Your Stay at Lost Horizon Resort
At Lost Horizon Resort, we want our guests to experience Khao Sok rather than simply visit it.
River tubing is one of those wonderfully simple activities that allows you to do exactly that.
Spend part of your day drifting down the Sok River surrounded by rainforest, limestone mountains, wildlife, friends, family and plenty of laughter.
Then return to the peace and comfort of Lost Horizon Resort, slow things down and enjoy the rest of your day surrounded by nature.
Sometimes the best adventures don’t need to be complicated.
Grab a tube.
Get in the river.
And let Khao Sok do the rest.
