Thailand Jungle Survival Course Itinerary

jungle survival bamboo shelter Khao Sok is our primary destination for jungle survival courses as the terrain is very rugged and this is the largest area of old-growth jungle in Southern Thailand.

We are based in Phuket and trips to Khao Sok generally start in Phuket. We can arrange transfers from elsewhere. Transfers from Phuket are included in the price of the tour.

Khao Sok National Park jungle survival courses also include our standard tour activities such as kayaking, wildlife-spotting and hiking (trekking) to the viewpoint and the Nam Taloo Cave.

Day 1
- Pick up anywhere in Phuket at approximately 7:30 AM (depending on where you are staying)
- Transfer to the dam at Chiew Larn Reservoir at Khao Sok National Park
- 90 minute boat transfer to the remote floating bungalows
- Short paddle and discussion about prioritizing
- Back to the bungalows for lunch
- Afternoon walk in the jungle to find water sources and learn more about bamboo
- Working with knives and the benefits of the Thai jungle knife
- Back to the bungalows and out for a sunset wildlife-spotting paddle

Today's focus: water, fire, using a knife

Day 2
- Sunrise wildlife-spotting paddle
- Return to the bungalows for breakfast
- Hike to the viewpoint, learning about the various plants and how to safely travel on rugged terrain
- Back to the support boat (used to transfer to the viewpoint) for lunch
- Transfer to the cascading creek for a trek in very steep terrain
- Transfer back to the bungalows and prepare for an afternoon paddle

Today's focus: traveling safely on rough terrain, making natural rope, water from vines, wild edible plants

Day 3
- After breakfast, transfer to an island and spend the first half of the day learning how to lash bamboo and build a bamboo shelter
- Transfer back the bungalows and learn how to make a hammock out of one piece of bamboo
- If you are on a three-day trip, go for a short paddle and prepare to return to Phuket
- If you are on a longer course, go fishing using only the tools (fishing gear) found in the survival kit

Today's focus: making shelter, survival fishing

Day 4
- After breakfast, transfer to the Nam Taloo Cave.
- Return to the bungalows for lunch
- Afternoon trek on a trail that has a lot of evidence of large mammals. Learn about animal signs.
- We'll identify several common wild edible plants and insects along this trail
- If you are on a four-day trip, prepare to return to Phuket
- If you are on a longer trip, do an afternoon wildlife-spotting paddle

Today's focus: traveling safely through a cave, trekking, edible plants and insects

Day 5
- Sunrise paddle
- Mountain trek in a different part of the park. Learn more about wild edible plants
- Work on trying to produce a friction fire
- Have lunch at the support boat or in the jungle
- Continue training in this mountain area
- Return to bungalows and prepare to return to Phuket

Today's focus: friction fire, wild food

Flexibility and customizing: Though not listed in detail, the above itinerary is a rough guideline for the programs offered.

If you would prefer a more rigorous program, the paddling option can be eliminated or lessened. If you would prefer a more casual program that takes more advantage of the abundant wildlife found in this amazing national park.

On more rigorous programs, you have the option of learning all that is listed on this page. On less intense programs you focus on the most essential elements.

Our mission with this endeavor is to help you build the confidence to stay calm if you ever find yourself lost. You should be able to analyze your situation and figure out the best course of action.

Our method is to teach you common sense survival that is regional-specific (tropical Asian jungles), but can still be adapted to elsewhere. There is a lot of misinformation about what is essential in a survival situation and what priorities should be addressed in order of importance. Our approach is always energy conservation first.

Interesting web pages to check out:

Definitely check out the shots taken by professional photographer Frits Meyst of Adventure4ever.

Here is a map of Cheow Larn Reservoir

The floating bungalows that we use are in one of the most remote parts of the park.

Click here to see a jungle survival image gallery.

Check out the various videos on our YouTube channel

See our tour prices list for prices.

Or, you can choose from some smaller national parks or conservation areas. Contact us for details.

Please follow us on Twitter.

Join our Facebook Jungle Survival goup. It focuses on logical, compassionate and low impact methods to survive by cooperating with Mother Nature. Click on the icon.

Check out our YouTube videos on survival skills. This one is about the Thai Jungle Knife, as used on Dual Survival "Bitten" episode of Season 2. Here is one about making a bamboo floor. This one is about a bamboo fire saw. Here is one about the wild edible plants that are in my yard in Phuket.

Join our YouTube Channel. Bytheway, "Raksaht" is Thai for "Love Animals".

Recommended reading: The US Navy Seal Survival Handbook covers a wide range of topics as well as the issues in various climates. This books is well-written and easy to read. There is no shortage of nice color photos.

The first 41 pages covers the types of training that Seals do. They are certainly hardcore, but this is of course not a prerequiste for being able to survive in the jungle. It is interesting.

I contributed a quite a bit to the tropical section of this book as well.