Cheow Lan Lake Tour: Day Trip or Overnight Stay?

The tour across Cheow Lan Lake is the reason most travelers come to Khao Sok, and we understand that completely since sailing there ourselves: a longtail boat, emerald water and limestone towers rising hundreds of meters straight out of the lake. In this guide you will read exactly what to expect from the day tour and the two-day trip, and why we recommend the latter.

Tip: This article is part of our larger guide to excursions in Khao Sok. Read that guide too for the other top excursions!

In brief:
Day tour: approx. 1,500 to 2,000 THB p.p. (incl. transfer, boat, lunch, guide), all day, back at your lodge around 5:00 pm
Two-day trip with overnight stay in a raft house: approx. 2,500 to 3,500 THB p.p. (incl. meals and activities), plus park entrance fee (300 THB) and pier fee (approx. 40 THB) separately
Departure: pickup at your lodge in Khao Sok village, approx. 50 to 60 minutes’ drive to the pier
Best for: everyone; we recommend the overnight stay for the quiet morning and the lake without day-trippers

What is Cheow Lan Lake?

Cheow Lan Lake (also called Ratchaprapha Lake) came into being in the 1980s with the construction of the Ratchaprapha Dam: 165 square kilometers of water, spread over drowned valleys full of limestone islands and rock towers. Because the lake lies in the middle of Khao Sok National Park, the shore is almost everywhere uninhabited jungle; what you see from the boat is the same rainforest where gibbons, hornbills and wild elephants live. The nickname “Guilin of Thailand” comes from the famous viewpoint at the three rocks, the most photographed scene in the park.

What does the day tour look like?

You are picked up at your lodge in the morning and drive for about 50 minutes to an hour to the pier at the dam. There you board a longtail boat for the trip past the rock towers, with photo stops at the three rocks and swimming stops in open water. Lunch is at a floating raft house, where you have time to swim and kayak. Many tours add a short jungle walk, and outside the rainy season sometimes the wade-through Nam Talu Cave (closed from 1 June through 30 November). In the middle of the afternoon you sail back; by about 5:00 pm you are at your lodge.

Day tour or two-day trip with an overnight stay?

As a day-tripper you see the lake at its busiest; anyone who stays the night gets the two most beautiful moments as a gift. After four in the afternoon the day boats leave and you have the water to yourself, and the early morning, with mist between the rock towers and gibbons calling from the shore, is the most beautiful hour in all of Khao Sok. We slept on the lake ourselves and would choose the overnight stay again without hesitation. The two-day tours include meals, kayaks, a jungle walk and often a wildlife boat ride at sunrise.

If you want more comfort than a basic raft house, book one of the floating resorts; they arrange their own boats and program. Take a look at our guide to floating hotels on Cheow Lan Lake.

Practical tips

• Bring cash. The park entrance fee (300 THB per adult, 150 THB per child) and the pier fee (around 40 THB) are almost never included in the tour price.
• Pack a daypack for the overnight stay. You leave large luggage at your lodge or with the tour operator on shore. Swimwear, something warm for the morning, power bank, headlamp.
• Protect yourself from the sun. There is no shade on open water; the longtails have at most a little roof. Sunscreen and a cap are no luxury.
• Book ahead in high season. The raft houses and floating resorts have few places; December through April fills up early.
• Sensitive to boat noise? Longtail engines are loud. Bring earplugs for the longer trips; once you are lying still, the silence is all the more impressive.

Prices and duration

A day tour from Khao Sok village costs about 1,500 to 2,000 THB per person, including transfer, boat, lunch and guide. The two-day trip with an overnight stay in a basic raft house costs around 2,500 to 3,500 THB per person, including meals and activities. The park entrance fee and pier fee are added separately. Going independently is also possible: drive to the pier yourself and charter a longtail boat there (priced per boat, so good value with a small group), although you then miss the guide who knows the most beautiful corners.

Frequently asked questions about the Cheow Lan Lake tour

Is the lake tour suitable for children?

Yes, this is one of the most child-friendly jungle experiences there is: sailing, swimming and kayaking in calm water. Life jackets are available everywhere. The overnight stay is doable for children from about 6 years old.

Can you swim in Cheow Lan Lake?

Wonderfully so: the water is warm, clean and deep. At the raft houses you swim directly from the pontoon; a life jacket is available for anyone who prefers that.

Does the tour go ahead in the rainy season?

Yes, the lake stays navigable all year and is at its mistiest and most dramatic in the green season. Only the Nam Talu Cave is closed then (1 June through 30 November) and the occasional shower comes with the territory.

What is the difference with the excursions near the village?

The lake and the village are two separate zones more than an hour’s drive apart, each with its own park entrance fee. The canoe trip, treks and night safari you do near the village; take a look at our complete guide to excursions in Khao Sok to plan everything.

Conclusion

The Cheow Lan Lake tour is by far the most impressive experience in Khao Sok, and the difference between good and unforgettable comes down to one decision: staying the night. Book the two-day trip if you possibly can, keep cash aside for the park entrance and the pier, and set your alarm for the mist at six in the morning.