The chance to see wild elephants, tigers, deer, gibbons, cloud leopards and other wildlife in their native habitat is a great reason to visit the vast Khao Sok National Park, where limestone peaks rise up to 900 metres and numerous streams and waterfalls sparkle among the greenery.

The flora is just as special as the fauna, with three species of the world's largest flower, the rafflesia, growing here. One of these is the rafflesia Kerrii Meijer, whose red bowl-like flower grows up to a metre across. These enormous parasitic plants give off a rather pungent smell, but are nevertheless an impressive sight when in bloom (normally between December and February).