Visit Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world (Khao Sok)
Presentation Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world
Discovered in 1818 by Sir Tomas Stanford Raffles who gave it its name, it lives in the tropical forest of southern Thailand and especially in the Khao Sok National Park which remains the most famous place in the country to see it, in Malaysia and Indonesia. But in restricted areas, and in small quantities. In Thai, the flower is called bua put. The variety in Khao Sok is not very smelly.
During the flowering season, there is no open flower every day and since it only lasts 5 days before wilting, it is impossible to be sure to see an open Rafflesia flower when you come to Khao Sok, even at this period of the year. There is a dedicated trek in the jungle leading the tourists to see the rafflesia in a supervised environment with a local guide and on a route on which the national park rangers have marked the buds and flowers to ensure that the hikers do not damage the plant.
Practical information about Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world
As we are inside the Khao Sok National Park, you will have to pay the entrance fee to the park if you did not already buy a ticket. There is a checkpoint at the beginning of the trek path. It is also required to hire a guide to go see the rafflesias in Khao Sok. Local agencies offer tours wit a local guide, otherwise see the offer I recommend on this page.
How to get to Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world ?
If you have transportatation, you can easily reach the starting point of the trek to the Rafflesia on the side of the road but you are asked to go up with a local guide who will make sure that everything is done to preserve the flower which is a species in danger.
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