Everything You Need to Know About Cheow Lan Lake (Khao Sok National Park)

Cheow Lan Lake (also known as Khao Sok Lake) is one of the most magical places in Thailand. It’s like a mini Halong Bay, but without the crowds. It has floating bungalows you can stay in, a forest older than the Amazon rainforest, and wild elephants! 

We’ve visited Cheow Lan Lake 6 times now, and here are our top tips!

Why go to Cheow Lan Lake?

Cheow Lan Lake is located in the Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand, and it isn’t just another “scenic spot.” Even though it’s getting more popular, it still feels really raw and wild. You’re on this huge lake with towering limestone cliffs that reminds us of Guilin, China, and jungle that’s older than the Amazon rainforest. 

There’s loads of wildlife here - you’ll definitely see hornbills, monkeys, water buffaloes… and if you’re really lucky, maybe even wild elephants chilling by the banks! 

And what we love most are the floating bungalows. You can literally wake up on the lake, step out of your room, and jump straight into the water!

What to do at Cheow Lan Lake

The must-do here is a lake tour around Cheow Lan Lake - seeing epic rock formations, spotting wildlife and stopping for short hikes or caves along the way. If you book a floating bungalow or a stay in Khao Sok town, activities are usually included. What you end up doing depends on where you stay: some rafthouses are near caves, some near waterfalls, and others deeper in the jungle with more wildlife. 

Here’s a rough idea of what to expect at Cheow Lan Lake:

• Boat safaris
  The classic Khao Sok Lake experience. You’ll go at sunrise or sunset when the animals are most active. Most boats come just with a non-English speaking driver (i.e. not a guide!) so don’t expect lots of information. If you want to spot wildlife and learn more about the area, we’d highly recommend doing a trip that comes with a private guide!
• Kayaking/Canoeing
  Most rafthouses keep kayaks/canoes free for guests, and this was one of our favourite things to do in between meals. Super relaxing thing to do and a nice slow way to explore surrounding your rafthouse
• Swimming
  We spent half our time just floating in the lake. The water is super clear, so cooling, and honestly an amazing relief from the Thai heat. We also love to cannonball straight from our rafthouse deck!
• Jungle treks
  Cheow Lan isn’t just a lake — it’s surrounded by some of the oldest rainforest in the world. You can go on short jungle hikes or longer treks deeper into the forest if you’re adventurous.
• Caves
  Two of the most popular are Coral Cave and Nam Talu Cave. To reach Coral Cave, you’ll usually go by boat -> short hike -> bamboo raft -> cave. Inside you’ll find glittering walls, stalactites & stalagmites, and yes, bats too! Nam Talu is wilder and more adventurous one. It’s closed from June 1 to November 30 every year because of flash flood risk. 
• Bamboo rafting
  Slow, chill, and so fun. You’ll be poled along on a handmade bamboo raft, gliding across the lake like people used to travel before motors. It’s quieter than a boat and lets you really soak in the sounds of the jungle. The raft is part of the journey to Coral Cave.

When to go to Cheow Lan Lake?

Our favourite time to visit is Nov to May as it's less crowded and the weather is pretty nice. If you want the best chances to see elephants, dry season is the best (try to go in April as it's very chaotic otherwise).

• Dec–Apr (Dry season): Best weather so it’s peak season. This is when most people visit, so expect crowds if you come during this time!
  
  We’d highly recommend NOT staying in a basic floating bungalow when you come during peak season. They will pack you into an excursion with over 100 people which is really not pleasant!
  
  If you come during peak season, make sure to book 2-3 months in advance so you can get a better guide and floating bungalow.
• Shoulder months (Nov and May): Our favourite time to visit. Weather becomes more unpredictable here but you’ll still get good weather most days, with way fewer crowds.
  
  This is perfect if you want the best balance of (chances of) good weather and space to breathe! Honestly, we personally would not recommend going during peak season if you can help it as it can get quite chaotic (especially if you're booking a more budget stay!)
• May–November (Rainy season): Rain start to pick up around May and peak from August to October. Some caves and trails might close when water levels get dangerous, but if you don’t mind getting wet, this is when the lake feels most wild and alive and you get to see a side of the lake most do not get to see.
  
  There's much, much fewer people around, the jungle is at its greenest, and and you might even have a higher chance of spotting wildlife during this time because there's least human activity = wildlife more willing to come out (not during heavy downpours of course, but the in betweens).

Where to stay at Cheow Lan Lake

People often get confused about where to stay or how to navigate Khao Sok, so we wanted to clear this up! Khao Sok National Park in Thailand is split into two main zones that offer very different experiences.

On the Cheow Lan Lake side, you’ll find the iconic floating bungalows, boat safaris, hidden caves, and those dramatic limestone cliffs. Note that if you care about luxury accommodation, you won’t find it at Khao Sok Lake. The floating bungalows here are mostly 1-3 star hotel standard. 

On the Khao Sok Village side (near the park HQ), most hotels or farmstays are here, and this is also where you can go for camping, night safaris, jungle treks, river tubing, and cooking classes. Even if you book a stay on the Khao Sok Village side, many will include an excursion to Cheow Lan lake. However there are no floating bungalows here. If you care about comfort (eg luxury stays), then you’d want to stay in the Khao Sok Village area. 

Regardless of where you stay, you should visit Cheow Larn Lake - do check that your stay includes an excursion to the lake! You can choose from a few package styles: do a quick day trip to the lake, spend 2–3 days in a floating bungalow with activities included, or combine both with one night stay in Khao Sok village and one night stay in Cheow Lan lake for the best of both worlds.

Floating Bungalows at Cheow Lan Lake

The top highlight of Cheow Lan is that you actually get to sleep on floating rafthouses on the lake (and yes, this is the only type of accommodation on the lake!) 

There are tons of floating stays on Cheow Lan Lake, from simple bamboo bungalows to fancier rafthouses. The main thing to look out for when booking isn’t the type of place, but what you actually get for the price. It really depends on your comfort level vs how much you’re willing to rough it out. Here’s a rough guide, rates based on two persons to a room:

Basic: From ~THB 3,500 per person per night

• Super basic stays - thin mattresses on the floors, shared bathrooms, and no AC.
• During peak season, you might even have to share rooms with others!
• Food is simple, mostly pad thai, fried rice, lacks choices.
• Can get pretty packed on property (100+ people during peak!), though safaris are split into smaller boats of about 20 pax.
• If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind going back to basics, this is a fun, no-frills way to experience the lake.

Best for: young backpackers, budget travellers.

Not recommended for: Solo female travellers (as you may need to share a bed during high season), people who don’t like huge group tours, and any high season travel. 

2D1N Khao Sok Lakeside Stay + Wildlife Safari
If you want a basic stay, we’d recommend this one. Quiet, cheapest option, and there are no other rafthouses nearby or boats passing by. Staff speak basic English. Meals are simple (pancakes + bananas for breakfast, rice + dishes for lunch/dinner). There’s a short nature trail to a small waterfall and the sunset on the way back is beautiful. If you stay behind instead of joining excursions, kayaking here feels like having the whole lake to yourself.

Deluxe: From ~THB 4,000 to THB 5,500 per person per night

•  Depending of your selected room type, you’ll get a private room with proper beds (still no AC) but shared bathrooms, or with an upgrade - private room with ensuite bathroom!
•  Meals have more options. Comes with some curries, salads, and local dishes.
•  Crowds are a little less intense here (about 75 guests).
•  Great if you want a bit more comfort without spending too much.

Best for: unfussy couples, families, groups of friends.

3D2N Comfy Khao Sok Rafthouse | Boat Safari + Coral Cave

Family-run and full of heart, this place is tucked away from the crowds, and also right where elephants like to hang out so your chances of getting lucky are higher here. It’s cosy and comfortable, and just a 5-minute boat ride from Coral Cave, one of the most popular adventure spots on Cheow Lan Lake. They also have a deluxe room upgrade available with ensuite bathrooms!

3D2N Riverside & Raft House Stay | Bamboo Rafting + Kui Lin
Closest to the pier, so no long boat ride. Clean rooms, best food of all the raft houses we tried, and even a bar with cocktails. Bonus: a golden retriever + a cat on site!

Premium: From ~ THB 9,000 per person per night

•  Big beds, AC (the highlight of premium rooms), ensuite bathrooms, sometimes even a TV.
•  Usually include private local guides and private boat, so no sharing with big groups.
• This is our top pick! Super comfy rooms, and private boat and guide means you get to avoid crowds and connect alot better to Cheow Lan Lake!

Best for: Those who do not want to give up comfort + want a private, no crowd experience

Best 3D2N Cheow Lan Stay | Rare Stay with AC + Amazing Private Guide

Comes with both AC and a private guide. This combo is something we really recommend because most stays only provide a boat driver, but with this you’ll have a seriously engaging and knowledgeable guide who points out wildlife, shares lake stories, or even myths and legends of Khao Sok. It just makes the trip a lot so much more fun and meaningful!

How to get to Cheow Lan Lake

The only way to get into Cheow Lan lake is via Ratchaprapha Dam Pier (aka Cheow Larn Lake Pier). 

1. Getting there by Public Transport
   Most public buses and cheap minivans from Phuket, Krabi, or Surat Thani will drop you in Khao Sok village (the backpacker hub near the park HQ). From there, it’s about an hour by car to the pier.

If you book with Seek Sophie, pickup from the village is included.

1. Getting there by Private Transfer
   You can also get a private transfer directly from Phuket Krabi, Surat Thani to the pier. All Seek Sophie experiences will include these as an add-on - just check the add-ons when you book! 

Once you’re at the pier, a longtail boat takes you across the lake to your floating bungalow (20–40 mins depending where you’re staying).

How to book a trip 

Most trips to Cheow Lan Lake are booked as packages, and you’ll find three options:

• Day tour to the lake: Not our fave way to explore the lake as it's too short, but perfect if you have no time to spare. You’ll at least get a glimpse of the beauty of the lake - the limestone karsts, wildlife safari, maybe see the sunset.
• Floating bungalow stay (2D1N or 3D2N): The classic option. You’ll spend a night or two in a raft house, with boat safaris, hikes, and activities included.
• Combo: Floating bungalow + Khao Sok village stay: The best of both worlds. You’ll spend a night in a floating bungalow and a night in Khao Sok village.

How long to spend on Cheow Lan Lake

We would highly recommend spending 3D2N on Cheow Lan lake. This gives you enough time to properly soak in the beauty of the lake and maximises your chance to see elephants!

Your itinerary will vary depending on which floating bungalow you stay at! If you can’t spare 3 days, 2D1N still works, but try to avoid the day trip as it’s way too rushed.

What a 3D2N trip would look like: 

• Day 1
  Boat into the lake → stop at Kui Lin Thailand (where the limestone karsts are) → jungle trek + bamboo rafting to Coral Cave → sunset on the lake.
• Day 2
  Sunrise mist safari → breakfast → swim/kayak/chill → sunset safari.
• Day 3
  Morning coffee + lake views → breakfast → back to pier by mid-morning.

Planning a longer trip:
Most travellers do Khao Sok as part of a longer trip, so it could also look like: 2-3 days in Khao Sok village → 3 days on the lake → Krabi or Phuket

Other tips

Get a Private Guide

We highly recommend this!! We’ve been to Cheow Lan many times now, but the trip that stuck with us most was when we finally hired a private guide. Having someone with you the whole time makes such a big difference — you learn so much more about what you’re seeing and hearing, from the wildlife to even local myths and legends. It just makes the whole experience feel so much more connected.

Park Fees

Park fees are usually excluded from the price of the stay/activities. You’ll need to pay a couple of entrance fees along the way, all in cash. 

(1) At the park entrance when entering the Khao Sok National Park from the HQ area: THB 300 baht per adult & 150 baht per child

(2) When taking a boat from Ratchaprapha Dam to the raft houses: THB 300 baht per adult & 150 baht per child

(3) When entering Coral Cave: TBH 200 baht per adult & 100 baht per child

Please make sure you have baht on hand as other forms of payment are not accepted. These fees are usually excluded from any tours or packages you may be purchasing.

WiFi / Data Situation

Once you’re on the lake, you’re pretty much off the grid. No Wi-Fi, and super spotty network. It’s nice actually because it really forces you to slow down. 

Electricity

Most rafthouses run on generators or solar, so expect limited hours (like evening only, or sometimes daytime only - check with your hosts!). A powerbank is a must-have when visiting Cheow Lan Lake!

What to pack? 

• If you’re swimming, pack: swimwear, a towel, and light clothes since it’s hot and humid. 
• Trekking sandals with good grip for wet/muddy treks, and high socks if you’re going during rainy months (leeches!). 
• A dry bag and poncho/rain jacket are handy for boat trips (backsplash!). If you’re doing our 3D2N trip with 1 night in the village and 1 night on the lake, just pack a small overnight bag. You can leave your big luggage safely at the village stay while you’re out on the lake.
• Also, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, a hat, and any meds you need (motion sickness pills are handy for boat rides). 
• Powerbank and a torch/headlamp are lifesavers with limited electricity. If you love wildlife, pack binoculars too.
• And don’t forget cash for tipping and park fees, as there are no ATMs or card machines on the lake!

Getting the best photos

The lake is beautiful any time, but if you want that epic Insta shot, you should go during sunrise as the karst backdrop against the misty morning is super dreamy! Sunset safaris also give amazing lighting although without the mist. 

Respect Wildlife 

Don’t feed, touch, or shout at animals to get their attention, it stresses them out. Best wildlife encounters are always the ones where you just watch quietly and observe them in their natural habitat.

Overall it’s an amazing getaway in Thailand we cannot recommend enough, and a trip that you need to do at least once in your life (especially before it reaches mainstream tourism!)