A full-day Cheow Lan Lake day trip from Khao Lak: glide across the emerald water by longtail boat beneath towering limestone cliffs, explore a cave and swim. Return transfers included.
Join us on our Khao Sok Lake Tour for a sightseeing cruise on the magical waters of Cheow Lan Lake, a strikingly-beautiful region of Khao Sok National Park which could be described best as Shangri La! Many of the world's most awe-inspiring regions are often best viewed from aboard the deck of a boat, allowing unobstructed views of the surrounding landscapes that would otherwise not be possible from land. Khao Sok National Park is such a place and the panoramic views aboard a boat on scenic Cheow Lan Lake are nothing short of extraordinary!
The drive to the pier at the lake from Khao Lak takes approximately two hours, so we will pick you up in front of your hotel bright and early to get a good start on the day. After arriving at the pier at the Rajjaprabha Dam, you will hop aboard a traditional Thai Longtail boat to begin the sightseeing cruise on the lake. Once upon a time, the lake bed was a nearly impassable jungle basin meandering through the sheer cliffs and rugged mountains. The flooding of the Cheow Lan Lake reservoir made navigating this region a dream. Nowadays, islands that were once mountains rise out of the translucent turquoise waters, creating an otherworldly landscape, breathtaking to behold!
Throughout the day, the captain will stop the boat at a few locations where you will disembark with your guide for activities on the itinerary and for lunch. One of activities is a short jungle trek along a path to spot rare and exotic flora and fauna living in the rainforest. The low-effort trek takes about an hour to complete as is suitable for anyone who can walk on slightly uneven terrain. Your experienced guide will assist you in spotting some of the rarest flower species on earth when they are in bloom. Remember to look up! Gibbons and elusive Dusky Leak monkeys can be found hiding in the dense jungle foliage or on the high branches of giant trees.
But wait! We have more planned for your day! The stone foundation of this ancient rainforest region is mainly composed of soft limestone that has been eroded by water over tens of thousands of years, sculpting the soft rock into a multitude of unique and interesting shapes. Caves, caverns, and sinkholes are a common feature of karst regions such as this, and Khao Sok National Park is no exception. Another stop that we will make on land during the lake cruise will be to do a little spelunking to explore the hidden world deep inside an ever-changing karst cave!
We will stop for lunch aboard a floating raft-house restaurant where you will dine on savory Thai cuisine. After lunch, you will have time to jump into the invigorating waters of Cheow Lan Lake for a refreshing swim or kick back, relax, and breathe in the natural beauty of Khao Sok National Park. On some occasions, your guide may choose to have a picnic lunch on the shoreline in lieu of the raft-house restaurant if the restaurant is too crowded. Either way, you will have the grandeur and beauty of the Khao Sok landscape as a backdrop while you dine and replenish your energy.
If you're looking for a relaxing day trip to the heart of Khao Sok, charge up your phone and camera batteries and come along with us! Embrace the opportunity to create timeless memories and photos with Khao Lak Land Discovery! Book your scenic full-day lake tour today and witness the awe-inspiring views only available from aboard a boat on Cheow Lan Lake and experience the wonder of Khao Sok National Park!
Our guide on how to get to Khao Sok from Khao Lak covers the drive, timings, and what to expect at the Cheow Lan Lake pier — useful reading before you book.
Exact timings flex with conditions and traffic — your guide sequences the stops to keep them calm rather than rushed. This is how the day usually runs.
We've got you covered! Your friendly driver and guide will pick you up in a comfy air-conditioned minibus at around 6 am in front of your hotel lobby. The pick-up time may vary depending on the location of your hotel, but we confirm the exact time with you when you book.
We arrive at the pier at the Rajjaprabha Dam, and it's time to step onboard a traditional Thai Longtail boat to begin the sightseeing cruise on Cheow Lan Lake. Light reflects off the water surface, and because of this, it is a good idea to use sunscreen even though the boat is covered. Get your camera ready! There are thousands of photo opportunities coming your way.
As the Longtail cruises around the lake, the captain will make a couple of stops, including one for a one-hour trek through the 160 million-year-old rainforest, where your experienced guide will assist you in spotting some of the more elusive creatures you might otherwise miss.
Exotic wildlife is not all there is to see! Khao Sok is home to many rare and endemic orchid species, as well as the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia arnoldii. Spectacular landscapes and a vast array of flora and fauna combine to make the Khao Sok a paradise for nature lovers and photographers! Your senses of perception are in for a treat. Unique sights, smells, and sounds are ever-present in the jungle and impossible to ignore.
After the morning activities, you will likely have worked up an appetite. Your captain will make way to a floating restaurant where a delicious traditional Thai lunch awaits. After filling your belly, there is time to jump in for a refreshing swim in vivacious waters or sit back, relax, and take in the view. Please inform us when you book if you have any special dietary restrictions or requirements. We will do our best to accommodate them.
After completing the lake tour itinerary, your captain will return to the pier, where your minibus driver will be waiting. Please be sure to take all of your belongings off the boat when you disembark. Now is the time to use the facilities if you need a bathroom break before the minibus departs the pier to take you back to Khao Lak.
Your driver and guide will return you to your hotel around 6 pm. If you are hoping to get a chance to see wild Asian elephants, Guar, and more of the 200 species of birds found further away from the pier, we proudly offer overnight trips that take you further into the lake, where you will have a much better chance of spotting them. We hope to see you again soon.
You can tell your friends after today that you are an amateur spelunker! One of the stops your boat captain will make will allow you to step back in time as you walk through speleothems that took thousands of years to form. Stalactites hang precariously from the cave ceiling, and stalagmites rise from the floor, continuously growing in size. Today, the snapshot of the interior has never looked the same, nor will it ever again. The interior shape of this cave is constantly evolving and will continue doing so long after we are gone.
Not included
Children age 2–11 ฿2,900 · hotel pickup & lunch included
Check dates & book →Being about 160 million years old, Khao Sok National Park belongs to the oldest rainforests in the world.
It covers an area of approx. 739 sq km and offers thousands of animals and plants a wonderful place to live. Even nowadays new species can be found, among them wild elephants, sun bears, macaques, prehistoric deer, tigers, hornbills and the rafflesia flower.
Besides breath-taking jungle vegetation Khao Sok shows off with majestic limestone cliffs (up to 960m high), which remind of long-gone coral reefs. Waterfalls and the unique barrier lake Cheow Lan are part of the almost untouched nature as well.
Cheow Lan Lake (also written Chiao Lan or Rajjaprabha Reservoir) is a 165 km² man-made reservoir at the heart of Khao Sok National Park, created when the Rajjaprabha Dam was completed in 1987. Thousands of submerged trees gave rise to its nickname "Guilin of Thailand." Dramatic limestone karst peaks rise directly from the turquoise water, making it one of the most photogenic landscapes in Southeast Asia.
Yes. Floating bungalows and raft-house guesthouses moored on the lake allow overnight stays. Waking up surrounded by mist-covered limestone cliffs and the sounds of the jungle is a highlight for many visitors. Our standard tour is a full-day return trip, but we can arrange multi-day packages with overnight accommodation on the lake on request. Contact us for availability and pricing.
Khao Sok National Park is one of the most biodiverse rainforests on earth. On and around the lake you have a good chance of spotting white-handed gibbons, Dusky Langur monkeys, hornbills, kingfishers, and large monitor lizards. Wild elephants, sun bears, and clouded leopards inhabit the park interior, though sightings require time and luck. The rare Rafflesia arnoldii — the world's largest flower — blooms seasonally in the park.
Yes, the tour is fully accessible for non-swimmers. The main activities — a scenic longtail boat cruise on Cheow Lan Lake, a gentle jungle trek, and cave exploration — do not require swimming ability. Swimming is offered as an optional activity at a calm section of the lake. Life jackets are provided for anyone who wishes to enter the water. Children and elderly guests participate on this tour regularly.
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Khao Lak Land Discovery Co., Ltd. 21/5 Moo7 Khuk Khak, Phang Nga 82220 TAT 41/00132 Thailand-licensed tour operator
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