Private Tour | 2 Days / 1 Night Private Cheow Lan Lake Tour (Khao Sok)
Located between Khao Sok National Park and Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Cheow Lan Lake offers some of the most scenic views in Thailand.
The lake is best enjoyed with more than one night’s stay, but if you only have one night, you can still experience several activities on this tour. If you’d like to explore more of the lake, a 3D/2N tour would be a better option.
Activities on Cheow Lan Lake
During this 2‑day/1‑night private tour on Cheow Lan Lake, activities include sightseeing among limestone formations, a longer hike to a viewpoint and/or shorter hike to a waterfall, a cave visit, canoeing, and boat trips near your floating resort for wildlife observation.
The tour includes two nights at a floating resort of your choice, a private licensed guide, and a private long‑tail boat with an experienced driver.
Why book a private tour?
Group tours on Cheow Lan Lake usually operate with larger shared boats carrying up to 18 guests and follow a fixed schedule. On a private tour, the boat, guide and room(s) are reserved exclusively for your group.
Our private tours are flexible. Daily activities can be adjusted together with your guide based on your interests, weather conditions, and the location of your chosen resort. The first day morning session of this tour is fixed with visiting of the 3 rocks and a cave before reaching your resort.
Floating resorts on Cheow Lan Lake
500 Rai Floating Resort (high‑end)
500 Rai Floating Resort is one of the most established high‑end floating resorts on Cheow Lan Lake. It offers 15 floating units of various sizes and is located at the far end of the lake, between Phupha Waree and Krai Son raft houses. The resort is known for its open lake views.
500 Rai is the only floating resort on the lake offering 24‑hour electricity in selected room categories (some room types provide air‑conditioning for 12 hours per day).
Accommodation:
| Deluxe (4 pax) | 36 sqm. Master bedroom with double bed, loft with two mattresses. 1 canoe, 5 life jackets. A/C from 6 pm–6 am. Check‑in 2:00 pm, check‑out 9:30 am. |
| Villa (4 pax) | 42 sqm. Master bedroom with double bed, loft with two mattresses. 1 canoe, 5 life jackets. A/C 24 hours/day. Check‑in 2:00 pm, check‑out 9:30 am. |
| Family Villa (8 pax) | 72 sqm. Two connecting villas, two master bedrooms, two lofts with four mattresses. A/C 24 hours/day. 2 canoes, 8 life jackets. Check‑in 2:00 pm, check‑out 9:30 am. |
| Deluxe Suite (4 pax) | 72 sqm. Master bedroom with double bed, loft with two mattresses. A/C 24 hours/day. 2 canoes, 7 life jackets. Sofa beds available for up to 2 extra guests if required. Check‑in 4:00 pm, check‑out 1:00 pm. |
| Family Suite (10 pax) | 86 sqm. Two master bedrooms, two lofts with six mattresses. A/C 24 hours/day. 2 canoes, 7 life jackets. Sofa beds available for up to 2 extra guests if required. |
| Honeymoon Suite (4 pax) | 92 sqm. Master bedroom with double bed, loft with two mattresses. A/C 24 hours/day. 2 canoes, 4 life jackets, private swimming pool and jacuzzi. Check‑in 4:00 pm, check‑out 1:00 pm. |
Important: 500 Rai Floating Resort may apply BAR (Best Available Rate) pricing when limited rooms remain. In such cases, a surcharge may apply on top of quoted prices.
360° Issara Floating Resort (high-end)
360° Issara Floating Resort is a newly opened high‑end floating resort (January 2025). It is located in the Khlong Long tributary of Cheow Lan Lake, approximately 40 minutes by boat from Cheow Lan Pier, between Sai Chon and Laguna Cheow Lan.
Accommodation:
- 10 deluxe rooms for couples
- 10 triple deluxe rooms with one queen‑size and one single bed
- 4 villas with a king‑size bed and a sofa bed (suitable for 2 adults and 2 small children or 3 adults)
Deluxe rooms are air‑conditioned from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. Villa units have 24‑hour electricity.
360° Issara applies three seasonal price levels: low season (May–June), mid season (July–October), and high season (November–April).
Important: BAR pricing may apply when availability is limited, resulting in a possible surcharge.
Panvaree The Greenery (high-end)
Panvaree The Greenery is located at the entrance of the Khlong Long tributary. With fewer floating units than most resorts on the lake, it remains relatively quiet even during busy periods. Electricity is available from 1:00 pm to 7:00 am.
Accommodation:
| Superior Room (2 pax) | Suitable for couples or two adults with a small child (child shares bed with parents, charged at half price). Bed type (double or twin) is subject to availability. |
| Family Section (4 pax) | Two‑storey unit with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one king‑size bed in each room. |
Room rates vary depending on weekdays, weekends, and public holidays.
Panvaree Resort (high-end)
Located next to Panvaree The Greenery, Panvaree Resort offers similar quality and pricing, with different bed configurations. It also has a limited number of floating units, contributing to a quieter atmosphere. Rates can be slightly lower for groups of three or more guests.
Accommodation:
|
Garret House King (4 pax) |
King‑size bed with loft area containing two single mattresses. |
| Garret House Queen (4 pax) | Twin beds with loft area containing two single mattresses. |
| Private Garret (4 pax) | Stand‑alone unit with twin beds and loft area with two single mattresses. |
Prices vary depending on weekdays, weekends, and public holidays.
Laguna Cheow Lan
Laguna Cheow Lan is located in the Khlong Long tributary, roughly in the middle of Cheow Lan Lake. Rooms feature floor mattresses, a king‑size bed and one single bed, private bathroom, air‑conditioning, and a balcony. Maximum occupancy is three guests. Electricity is provided from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Nine rooms designated as “sea view rooms” face the opposite mountain range and are charged at a higher rate.
Phupha Waree Raft House
Phupha Waree Raft House is situated in a sheltered inlet just inside Khlong Pey. Compared to most basic raft houses on the lake, it offers a slightly higher comfort level. Rooms include two joined queen‑size beds, private bathroom, air‑conditioning, and a balcony, accommodating 2–4 guests. Electricity is available from 5:30 pm to 9 am.
There are two types of rooms at Phupha Waree:
- Standard Rooms – Located in Zone B. These rooms are scheduled for renovation in the future, offered at a cheaper rate.
- Renovated Rooms – Located in Zone A. These rooms have been fully renovated with updated interiors and furnishings.
Sai Chon Raft House
Sai Chon Raft House is one of the more affordable options on Cheow Lan Lake. While basic, it stands out among similar categories by offering private en‑suite bathrooms. It is located in the Khlong Long tributary, relatively close to the pier.
Smaller rooms feature one king‑size bed; larger rooms include two king‑size beds. Rooms are fan‑cooled, with electricity available from around 6:00 pm to 6:00–7:00 am.
Canoe use at Sai Chon is not included. Rental is available at 200 THB per canoe and is optional.
Itinerary
There is no fixed itinerary for our lake tours. The schedule below is only an example. Depending on the location of your raft house, weather conditions, and your preferences, the activities may vary. For example, you may choose to spend more time canoeing, skip certain activities, or simply relax and enjoy time at the raft house with friends or family.
Because the lake is surrounded by steep cliffs and mountain slopes, there are no long hiking options. Most hikes in the area are relatively short.
The time spent visiting attractions and doing boat safaris also needs to be balanced. Although the boat is available to you during the tour, it cannot be used continuously for wildlife safaris. Wildlife activity is usually limited during the middle of the day and tends to be more active in the early morning and late afternoon. For this reason, safari trips are usually done early in the morning and again later in the afternoon before sunset.
Note: From Sai Chon, Laguna Cheow Lan, Panvaree resorts, and the 360° Issara area, either the viewpoint trail or waterfall can be visited, not both. The Swamp Forest Trail is accessible from these locations.
Day 1
- 10:00 am: Board long‑tail boat at Rajjaprabha Dam (Cheow Lan Lake Pier)
- Scenic cruise past limestone karsts (Khao Sam Kloe / Three Rocks)
- Visit to Diamond Cave
- Check‑in at floating resort and Thai lunch
- Guided hike to Kri Sorn Viewpoint or Bang Hoi Waterfall
- Late afternoon leisure time or wildlife boat safari
- Dinner at the resort
Day 2
- Early morning mist or wildlife safari by boat, or canoeing near the resort
- Breakfast
- Return to Cheow Lan Lake Pier around 9:30–10:00 am
Where & When
The tour starts at Cheow Lan Lake Pier (Rajjaprabha Dam), approximately 65 km from Khao Sok National Park headquarters. Transfers can be arranged from Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Ao Nang, Surat Thani, and Khao Sok village.
Nearest airports:
- Surat Thani (~1 hour)
- Krabi (~2 hours)
- Phuket (~2.5 hours)
It is recommended to arrive in the area at least one day before the tour. Starting the tour on the same day as arrival from islands or airports is not advised.
This tour operates year‑round.
When to book
Peak season at Cheow Lan Lake runs from November to mid‑April and mid‑July to late August. During these periods, bookings should be made as early as possible, primarily due to limited guide availability.
- Panvaree The Greenery: Superior rooms often require booking 6–12 months in advance during peak periods.
- Laguna Cheow Lan: 3–6 months advance booking recommended for high season.
- Phupha Waree: Typically 1–4 months in advance during peak months.
- Sai Chon: Usually more availability, some dates may get completely booked out by group tour operators well in advance
FAQs
Will we see elephants?
Cheow Lan Lake is a wild, protected area, not a zoo, so elephant sightings can never be guaranteed.
On average, the chance of seeing wild elephants is around 15–20% during a 2-day/1-night tour and 30–40% during a 3-day/2-night tour. While elephants are among the most sought-after animals, you are much more likely to see other wildlife, such as monkeys, hornbills, and a variety of other birds and reptiles.
What happens if it rains?
That depends on how much it rains and your preferences. If you would rather avoid the rain, you can relax at the floating resort until it passes. If you don't mind wearing a raincoat and getting a little wet, most activities on the lake can continue as planned. In the event of very heavy rain or thunderstorms, we will pause the tour and wait until conditions are safe to continue.
Rain is possible at any time of the year, not just during the rainy season. Although occasional all-day rain does occur, it is relatively uncommon. Even during the rainy season, it is not unusual to have several consecutive days—or occasionally even weeks—without any rain. When it does rain, showers are often brief, typically lasting 20–40 minutes, and many days experience only a single shower.
Tour details in short:
- Duration: 2 days / 1 night
- Tour type: Private
- Group size: 2 or more people
- Difficulty: Easy
- Transport: Long‑tail boat
- Start: 10:00 am (Day 1)
- End: Around 9:30–10:00 am (Day 2)
What to bring:
- Rainwear (especially during rainy season; boats have no rain cover)
- Waterproof bag for electronics
- Walking shoes for hiking, sandals for caves and waterfalls
- Personal toiletries
- Swimwear and towel
- Hat
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Sun protection
- Cash; to pay your entrance fees, snacks, beers etc to buy from the resort canteen/restaurant, to pay for your transfers to/from the lake
Pricing overview
The tour is operated with a private guide and private long-tail boat, meaning no other groups will join you during the lake activities. Tour prices depend on the selected floating resort and the number of participants. Please refer to the per-person pricing table below.
National park entrance fees are not included.
Resort-specific pricing notes
Phupha Waree Raft House – Lower rates apply to current rooms; higher rates apply to newly renovated rooms
Laguna – Lower rates apply to regular rooms; higher rates to 6 rooms with better view
360° Issara Floating Resort – Three seasonal price levels applying to deluxe/triple deluxe rooms (not villas):
- November–April (high season)
- July / August / October (mid season)
- May / June / September (low season)
Panvaree The Greenery & Panvaree Resort – Prices vary by weekday, weekend, and public holidays. For Panvaree The Greenery, new higher prices will apply for bookings concerning January 2027 onwards.
500 Rai Floating Resort – Prices for deluxe and villas (not for suite options)
Optional activities and additional charges
Coral Cave rafting (optional)
- From 500 Rai Floating Resort or Phupha Waree Raft House:
- 2,900 THB per trip (fixed price)
- +200 THB per person Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary entrance fee
- From Sai Chon, Panvaree Resort, or Panvaree The Greenery:
- 1,400 THB per trip (fixed price)
- +200 THB per person Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary entrance fee
Wildlife-focused boat safari (optional)
This is not offered with a 2D/1N tour, only with a 3D/2N tour. For more info, please check our 3D/2N tour details page.
| Price per person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pax | Sai Chon | Phupha Waree | Laguna |
| 2 | 7,600 THB | 8,600 to 9,200 THB | 8,600 to 9,300 THB |
| 3 | 5,800 THB | 6,500 to 6,950 THB | 6,800 to 7,300 THB |
| 4 | 4,850 THB | 5,650 to 6,150 THB | 5,900 to 6,700 THB |
| 5 | 4,350 THB | 5,350 to 5,850 THB | 5,350 to 6,000 THB |
| 6 | 4,000 THB | 4,800 to 5,300 THB | 5,000 to 5,550 THB |
| 7 | 3,750 THB | 4,550 to 5,050 THB | 4,750 to 5,450 THB |
| 8 | 3,900 THB | 4,700 to 5,200 THB | 4,900 to 5,500 THB |
| Price per person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pax | 360° Issara | Panvaree Resort | Panvaree T. G. |
| 2 | 10,100 to 13,000 THB | 10,900 to 12,600 THB | 11,100 to 12,700 THB |
| 3 | 8,250 to 11,200 THB | 8,500 to 10,100 THB | 10,600 to 13,100 THB |
| 4 | 7,400 to 10,300 THB | 6,700 to 8,000 THB | 8,350 to 10,100 THB |
| 5 | 6,850 to 9,800 THB | 7,300 to 9,000 THB | 9,200 to 11,700 THB |
| 6 | 6,500 to 9,500 THB | 6,700 to 8,300 THB | 7,500 to 9,200 THB |
| 7 | 6,250 to 9,200 THB | 6,000 to 8,550 THB | 7,800 to 9,850 THB |
| 8 | 6,400 to 9,350 THB | 5,750 to 8,450 THB | 7,400 to 9,300 THB |
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| Pax | 500 Rai |
| 2 | 18,200 to 20,400 THB |
| 3 | 14,500 to 16,000 THB |
| 4 | 12,600 to 13,800 THB |
| 5 | 13,600 THB |
| 6 | 12,500 THB |
| 7 | 11,800 THB |
| 8 | 11,600 THB |
Displayed prices are per person
What is included in the tour price
The tour rate includes:
- Accommodation at the selected floating resort (1 night)
- Licensed private guide
- Private long-tail boat from tour start to tour end
- Boat tours around Cheow Lan Lake
- Meals:
- Lunch and dinner on Day 1
- Breakfast on Day 2
- Drinking water during the tour
- Canoe use at all listed resorts (except Sai Chon Raft House)
- Basic accident insurance during the tour (covering potential hospital expenses)
What is not included
The tour rate does not include:
- National park entrance fees
- Transfer to/from Cheow Lan Lake Pier (available on request)
- Parking fee at the pier (if arriving with your own vehicle)
- Canoe rental at Sai Chon Raft House (200 THB per canoe, payable locally)
Reviews from our guests
By: World Wild Hearts | posted Sun 16 Apr, 2023 | Sai Chon
A video review from one of our guests. This clip wasn't promoted by us, nor were we informed in advance about it.
Review by; World Wild Hearts
By: Kyle Klindworth | posted Fri 26 Jun, 2026 | 360° Issara
Amazing experience! Our guide Au was very friendly and knowledgeable. She showed us tons of animal and plant life and explained what they are used for, and even provided us with some fresh Rambutan to enjoy! We saw a mother and baby elephant on our evening safari and watched them swim and bathe in the mud for almost an hour, it was incredible! Everything was set up and communicated for us well in advance, from pick up at the airport to arrival to the pier, and dropping us back off at the dock for our ferry ride the next day everything went smoothly. Highly recommend, unforgettable experience!
> Tour operator's response
Thanks for your feedback. :)
Chances to see elephants during a 2D/1N tour is around 15-20%. You are very lucky! Glad to hear it all went well.
Kind regards,
Rushen
By: Milosz Mytych | posted Tue 21 Apr, 2026 | Laguna
The tour was very well organized—everything matched the description on the website and in the additional chat. Whenever we had questions, the team responded quickly and provided all the necessary information.
Cheow Lan Lake looked exactly like the pictures—it was gorgeous and had all the facilities needed to fully enjoy the experience. The food is also worth mentioning: there was plenty of it, and it was absolutely delicious.
A big shout-out to Junn, who was a fantastic guide. At every place we visited, she provided detailed and engaging explanations.
By: Nicolas Cormier | posted Mon 20 Apr, 2026 | Phupha Waree
I can only recommend the 2D/1N tour. It really made a difference to have our own private boat, driver and guide Kitcha (we rarely had such a pleasant and passionate guide! Kudos to him!). As for activites, we sailed across the lake, did a short jungle walk wwith lots of explanation, and 2 wildlife safaris with lots of birds and monkeys spotted). Kitcha also tailored the tour so that are 10 and 5 yo kids would enjoy and learn.
Accomodation wise : the common part of the floating plaform is pleasant, all meals delicious and tailored to kids too upon request. The large bungalow was rustic (we had better nights..) but we were warned. For that, we could jump into the lake, swim and do kayak right from our bungalow. The lake was surprisingly hot (30-32 degrees).
Organisation wise, Julia and the team at Thai National Parks were very reliable and transparent - much appreciated.
By: Tamas Vari | posted Mon 20 Apr, 2026 | Sai Chon
We had a great private tour with Rob at Khao Sok. He was an informative and funny guide, who lives and breathes nature. He has been amazing at animal spotting and imitating bird sounds. We enjoyed the beauty of the rock formations and the animals and can only recommend this tour.
By: Julien Merlin | posted Tue 14 Apr, 2026 | Laguna
Our family of four thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Cheow Lan Lake. The Laguna floating resort provided excellent comfort and cleanliness, with all the essentials we needed. Our guide Bee was outstanding—professional, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about sharing the lake’s natural beauty with us. The activities were well-organized and memorable. We would definitely return!
By: Kristine BARDULE | posted Fri 27 Mar, 2026 | Sai Chon
We had a great 2-day, 1-night tour at Cheow Lan Lake. The experience was beautiful, peaceful, and well organized.
The guide was very welcoming and did his best to make sure we felt comfortable. The boat trip was a highlight — stunning limestone cliffs.
The accommodation was simple but atmospheric, and the traditional Thai food was a nice touch.
Overall, highly recommended for a relaxing and authentic nature experience.
By: Niclas Kaehlert | posted Fri 20 Mar, 2026 | Laguna
The tour in the national park on Cheow Lan Lake was truly impressive. Our guide, in particular, was very attentive and friendly. He really made the experience even better. We especially enjoyed interacting with the locals and hearing their stories and explanations, as well as seeing the beautiful natural surroundings and wildlife, which urgently needs to be preserved here. We were also grateful for the food and how our individual dietary requests were accommodated. Everything was clean on the houseboat as well. The only part we didn’t enjoy as much was the cave, since it was very crowded and we felt like it was a “mass tourism” site.
By: Michelle Kidd | posted Mon 16 Mar, 2026 | Panvaree T. G.
Incredible experience. The whole process was seamless.
By: Jarir Mallah | posted Mon 9 Mar, 2026 | Laguna
Excellent tour. Su was an amazing tour guide and we got to go at our own pace. She was great at spotting wildlife and we got to see wild elephants and Gibbon monkeys. Highly recommend the tour for anyone going to Khao Sok.