Sleeping on Cheow Lan Lake is the highlight of Khao Sok for most visitors, and from our own experience we can only confirm that: you jump from your terrace into the emerald water, paddle through the mist between the limestone towers in the morning, and in the evening there is nothing but stars and the sound of the jungle on the far shore. In this guide we list the 4 most beautiful floating resorts and the simple raft houses.
Tip: This article is part of our larger guide to Hotels in Khao Sok. Read that guide too to choose between the lake and a jungle lodge near the village!
How does staying on the lake work?
All floating accommodations are reachable only by boat: from the pier at the Ratchaprapha Dam you sail there by longtail boat in 30 to 60 minutes. Almost all properties therefore work with packages including boat transfer, meals and activities such as kayaking and a jungle walk; there is nowhere else to eat. You leave large suitcases on shore (at your lodge or with the tour operator); you take only a daypack. Power comes from solar panels and generators, so air conditioning and wifi are scarce. That is exactly why it is so quiet.
Compare the floating accommodations on Cheow Lan Lake
| Accommodation | Segment | Type | Unique feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Rai Floating Resort | Luxury | Floating villas | The luxurious flagship of the lake |
| 360° Issara Floating Resort | Luxury | Floating deluxe rooms and villas | The lake’s first all-inclusive floating resort, kayaks included |
| Panvaree The Greenery | Luxury/upper mid-range | Floating wooden villas | Atmospheric resort deep in a quiet arm of the lake |
| Praiwan Raft House | Mid-range | Floating bamboo huts | Authentic “floating village”, one of the best kitchens on the lake |
| National park raft houses | Budget | Simple floating huts | Via a two-day tour, basic but unforgettable |
500 Rai Floating Resort
500 Rai is the best-known luxury address on the lake: spacious floating villas with sleek bathrooms and large terraces above the water, set against a backdrop of limestone walls. The packages include the boat transfer, meals of surprising quality and daily activities. If you want the raft house feeling without giving up any comfort, this is the right address.
Check the current prices and availability of 500 Rai Floating Resort
360° Issara Floating Resort
The first all-inclusive floating resort on Cheow Lan Lake: 20 deluxe rooms and 4 exclusive villas on the water, each with its own balcony and views of both sunrise and sunset above the limestone walls. The package includes the boat transfer, all meals, a sun terrace with a bar and kayaks to set out on the lake yourself. More comfortable and predictable than most of the floating addresses on this list.
Check the current prices and availability of 360° Issara Floating Resort
Panvaree The Greenery
Panvaree sits deep in a quiet arm of the lake, far from the day-tour routes: wooden villas on the water, a restaurant on the central pontoon and otherwise only rocks, water and jungle. It is just a bit smaller in scale and more Thai than 500 Rai, with a price that sits pleasantly below it. Our tip for anyone who mainly wants peace and atmosphere.
Check the current prices and availability of Panvaree The Greenery
Praiwan Raft House
Praiwan is the mid-range alternative between the luxury resorts and the bare national park huts: run since 2009 by a local couple (Wan and Decho), with 30 floating bamboo bungalows connected by wooden walkways into a proper floating village. The bungalows are simple but furnished with an eye for style, in the same natural bamboo style as their surroundings. The resort sits on the northern side of Klong Long, a quiet arm of the lake, and is known for one of the best kitchens on the water. Kayaking, wildlife spotting and a jungle walk start from your own floating front door.
Check the current prices and availability of Praiwan Raft House
The budget raft houses of the national park
The classic way to sleep on the lake: rows of simple floating huts with a mattress, a mosquito net and a shared bathroom on shore, on national park concessions. You almost always book them as part of a two-day lake tour including meals, boat and activities (expect around 2,500 to 3,500 THB per person). Basic? Absolutely. But you swim in the same water and see the same starry sky as at the luxury resorts, for a fraction of the price.
Frequently asked questions about floating hotels on Cheow Lan Lake
How do I get to my floating hotel?
Via the pier at the Ratchaprapha Dam, about 50 minutes to an hour’s drive from Khao Sok village; from there it is a 30 to 60 minute trip by longtail boat. The resorts arrange the boat (and often the road transfer too) as part of the package.
Is one night on the lake enough?
One night is the minimum and already unforgettable; with two nights you really get hold of the peace and have time for the further corners of the lake. In hindsight we would choose two nights.
Can you swim in the lake?
Yes, wonderfully so: the water is deep, clean and warm, and you swim literally from your terrace. Life jackets are available at every accommodation for anyone who prefers that (the lake is tens of meters deep in many places).
Is the lake doable in the rainy season too?
Yes, Cheow Lan Lake stays open all year and is at its mistiest and most dramatic in the green season. Do expect showers, and keep in mind that the Nam Talu Cave is closed from 1 June through 30 November.
What should I bring to a raft house?
A daypack with swimwear, something warm for the evening, a power bank, a flashlight or headlamp, and cash for drinks and the park fee (300 THB per adult plus a small pier fee). You leave your large luggage on shore (at your lodge or with the tour operator).
Conclusion
A night floating on Cheow Lan Lake is the most beautiful experience Khao Sok has to offer, and there is a version for every budget: the villas at 500 Rai, the deluxe rooms at 360° Issara, the atmospheric Panvaree, the mid-range Praiwan or the simple raft houses via a two-day tour. In high season, book well in advance; the places on the water are the first to fill up.
