Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok
An emerald reservoir under 200-metre limestone cliffs, with floating raft houses and longtail boats to caves and trails.
Cheow Lan Lake is the reservoir inside Khao Sok National Park, 60km from Surat Thani, with limestone cliffs rising straight out of the water. The way to do it is one or two nights in a raft house, from about 3,500 baht including boat, meals and guide.
Open Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok in Google Maps8.9700, 98.6300
Khao Sok park fee THB 200 + THB 300 special zone at the lake
Entry fee checked against operator or park publication, October 2026. Hours can change without notice — confirm on the day.
An emerald reservoir under 200-metre limestone cliffs, with floating raft houses and longtail boats to caves and trails.
The lake was formed in 1982 when the Ratchaprapha Dam flooded a valley of limestone karst, drowning forest and displacing villages. The drowned trees still stand in the shallows, and the cliffs above the water are the same 260-million-year-old limestone as the karst in Phang Nga Bay. The forest around the lake is older and more diverse than the Amazon.
It is the most dramatic landscape in southern Thailand and it feels genuinely remote. A night on the water, with the jungle noise and a morning mist, is worth building an itinerary around.
What you’ll actually see
- The cliff-lined channels at dawn, when mist sits on the water and gibbons call
- The drowned tree skeletons standing in the shallows near the raft houses
- A night safari by boat or on foot — civets, slow loris and flying squirrels
- The kayaking into the small side-lagoons, where the cliffs close overhead
How to visit it well
- Book a raft house with a private bathroom — some are very basic.
- Bring a torch and insect repellent.
- The Nam Talu cave walk is closed in the wet season for safety.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Doing it as a day trip — the lake at midday is bright and crowded, the mornings are the point
- Booking a raft house without checking whether it has a fan or air conditioning
- Swimming off the raft at night — the water is 20 metres deep and there are no lights
Is it worth it?
Worth two nights, and one of the best experiences in southern Thailand. It is not a beach holiday — no sand, no sunbathing — but the mornings on the water are extraordinary. Book a raft house with a private deck and go kayaking at 6am.
Common questions
From Khao Sok village it is a 45-minute drive to the pier, then a 45-minute longtail boat to the raft houses. Tours include both.
From about 3,500 baht per person for one night including boat transfer, meals and a guide. Two-night packages are 6,000–8,000 baht.
Yes, but you get about four hours on the water in the middle of the day, which is the least interesting time. Overnight is much better.
December to April for calm water and clear skies. In the rainy season the lake is dramatic and quieter but boats can be cancelled.
Tours that include Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Nattapong Srisuwan