Khlong Saeng Wildlife Preserve Area

Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary lies just north of Khao Sok, one of my favorite places in Thailand so far, in Surat Thani Province. It covers nearly 300,000 acres of dense jungle and valleys crowned by great limestone peaks. Over the decades, as the Ratchaprapha Dam flooded the lowland valleys, parts of the sanctuary were submerged, creating the magical Cheow Lan Lake.

Rivers run through the forest, linking the sanctuary and Khao Sok. When you float down these canals, you glide through two distinct yet intertwined wilderness zones, and it’s a feast for the eyes. This region is home to elephants, gaur, clouded leopards, Malayan tapir, sun bears, a variety of rare birds, gibbons, and more. The karst peaks, rising from both water and jungle, are not recent geology either; they stretch back to ancient times.

I arrived later in the day, after the last canoe departure to the floating lake accommodations, so I began in a small bungalow tucked deep in the forest. It was named, Earth, and it was really charming. Signs everywhere warned: lock your doors and windows, monkeys love to slip inside and rummage through belongings. Always kinda makes me laugh when I see these signs.

After dinner and music by the fire, I retreated to my bungalow. The jungle settled around me, and I slept like a rock. Darkness, isolation, and the jungle’s soundtrack are the perfect recipe for deep sleep; kinda like nature’s own white-noise machine. I also had a mosquito net over the bed, which I love for some reason.

The next morning after coffee, I boarded a bamboo float. We drifted down a canal lined with dense foliage, monkeys swinging, and (high above) pythons or mangrove snakes curled in the bamboo canopy. It gave definite Jungle Book vibes. Very similar to the experience that I had at neighboring Khoa Sok. Only myself and my guide, Golf, were the only two people I saw on the water.

When I reached the lake, my jaw dropped. The water was crystalline, and the limestone cliffs were even more dramatic in person than in photographs. For my second night, I stayed in a floating bungalow attached to a string of wooden houses on the water. I love the sound of water, and the sunrise was spectacular. Though the stay on the lake was magical, I realized I prefer being amid the jungle’s darkness and green. Maybe it’s because I have lived on the ocean for much of my life, so it isn’t as new to me as the jungle.

The next afternoon I joined a small group, some “digital nomads” I had met the first night, for a guided hike through the jungle. We talked travel, future trips, and formed instant friendships. A couple of them are even based near me in Hua Hin, so I left not only inspired but with new travel friends.

Walking through that jungle, much of it said to be older than the Amazon, you sense something that transcends description. It still remains unspoiled and before this trip, it was only something I’d seen in movies. I love pausing to watch wildlife and I’m beginning to develop my own photo catalog of some pretty incredible animals.

When it came time to pack and leave, honestly I felt like crying. In Khlong Saeng I felt both peace and the kind of inspiration that leaves you healed and stronger. I know I’ll be back. There are so many people dear to me that I’d love to share this experience with.

I’m home now in Hua Hin for a day before taking the train into Bangkok. Just before leaving for Khlong Saeng, I completed the website for my dear friend, Olympic Bronze Medalist Lisa Wilcox (www.LisaWilcoxDressage.com), and after Bangkok I’ll be completing a travel piece for Klook; my first major writing assignment. On Saturday I’m attending the GoGreen Summit 2025 at the Bangkok Conference Center. I’m told it’s the most incredible science fair ever. I’m looking forward to it and will share the experience here.