2 Day Khao Sok Wildlife – A Fascinating Cheow Lan Lake Wildlife Spotting Adventure

After arriving at the pier near the Rajjaprabha Dam, you will board a traditional Thai Longtail boat to begin a sightseeing cruise across Cheow Lan Lake. As you’re captain and guide navigate the way to your accommodation for the night, make sure you have your camera ready, there are thousands of panoramic photo opportunities awaiting to be captured that are only possible by boat! Soon, you will take note that the boats carrying tourists on day trips begin to fade into the distance behind you. Your destination is much further across the lake, near protected wildlife sanctuaries, where wild elephants and big cats still roam.

After cruising across Cheow Lan Lake for a few hours, you will arrive at the location where you will stay for the night. Dig into a traditional Thai lunch to satisfy your hunger, after which you will have time for rest and mingle with the other guests or take a refreshing swim in the lake. One thing to note is that the electricity at the accommodation comes from a generator that only operates during the day, so it is a good idea to use every available opportunity to recharge your batteries and electronic devices.

After you have had time to relax and let your food settle your captain and guide will take you on a late afternoon wildlife spotting expedition by boat. Animals move and do not follow a tourist viewing schedule, so with a pinch of luck, they will entertain our wishes and come to the shoreline for a drink. As the warm, soft light from the Magic Hour shifts the hue to blue, we return to the accommodation for dinner.

Once you're back at your humble accommodation, we have a traditional Thai meal waiting for you. The rest of the evening is all yours, so feel free to do whatever you like! We just want to remind you to take advantage of any chance you get to recharge your batteries and electronic devices. You may find it surprising, but not having electricity can be a wonderful thing on a clear night. Without light pollution, you can gaze at the stars and even capture some stunning images of the cosmos. So don't hesitate to enjoy the peace and solitude in darkness and marvel at the beauty of the night sky!

The spartan yet charming bamboo huts serve as more than adequate accommodation for adventurers who wish to escape mainstream mass tourism. Slip into bed and catch up on some rest in preparation for an early morning wake-up call and tomorrow’s activities.

If the sound of gibbons and birds hasn't already woken you up already, your guide will. It's time to embark on an early morning wildlife spotting expedition before breakfast. Dawn is the perfect time to spot diurnal creatures that are just starting their day. Photographers love the light of the Magic or Golden Hour for its warm hues and soft contrast. During the first hour after sunrise, the warm hue of the soft morning light make colours and skin tones look more vibrant. The low contrast from the morning light brings out details in the shadows, making it easier to get the perfect exposure without overexposing the highlights. While you can try to achieve similar results in post-processing on your computer, the effect will never be as natural as the real thing.

After the morning excursion, your captain and guide will bring you back for breakfast. Once again, remember to use this opportunity to top up your batteries. After breakfast, you will head into the depths of the rainforest on foot in search of more wildlife encounters.

Get ready for an incredible adventure! Your experienced guide will lead you on a thrilling trek through the lush rainforests and grasslands in search of elusive wildlife. While cruising on the lake is the ideal way to spot elephants, guar, and other large animals that visit the shoreline, exploring the surrounding terrain on foot allows you to discover many of the smaller creatures that call the jungle canopy and forest floor home. From playful gibbons swinging high up in the trees to elusive Dusky Leaf Monkeys hiding in dense foliage, there is always something exciting to discover. Around 200 species of birds can be found in the park, including nine of the world's 57 hornbill species. While catching a glimpse of the wildlife may be the highlight of the trek, keep your eyes open to spot strange carnivorous pitcher plants and delicate endemic orchids nestled among the trees. Please note that your guide will select the best location for the trek based on certain conditions, such as the water level of the lake and the amount of recent rainfall the area has received.

As we start the journey back to the pier, keep your eyes open for wildlife along the shoreline and in the sky. While we cruise across the lake, there will be plenty of opportunities to take more gorgeous pictures of the karst limestone landscape that took water millions of years to form.

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. Weather permitting, your guide may alter the location and take you for a picnic-style lunch on the shoreline if the restaurants are too crowded. After lunch, there is time to swim in the lake for a refreshing swim or sit back, relax, and take in the view.

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.

It is often said that all good things must come to an end. Your captain will navigate the Longtail boat back to the pier, where your minibus driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. Please be sure to take all of your belongings off the boat when you disembark. It's a good time to use the facilities if you need a bathroom break before the minibus departs to take you back to Khao Lak.

Your driver and guide will return you to your hotel around 6 pm. The exact time depends on weather conditions at the lake and the location of your hotel. From everyone at Khao Lak Land Discovery, we hope to see you again soon.