Thai National Parks

Khao Sok National Park

Private Tour | 3-days/2-nights private tour in Cheow Lan Lake

Situated between Khao Sok National Park and Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Cheow Lan Lake has one of the most beautiful scenic views in Thailand.

While a 2-day/1-night stay leaves less time for various activities due to check-in and check-out times from the raft houses, a 3-days/2-nights tour gives a much better opportunity to enjoy more of the attractions and activities around the lake.

Activities

With the 3-days/2-nights tour in Cheow Lan Lake you will be able to see scenic rock formations, hike to a viewpoint, visit a cave, hike in the jungle, kayak and drive around in the vicinity of your raft house for wildlife watching. The tour includes two nights stay in a raft house of your choice, a private guide and a private boat with driver.

Why to book?

While the group tours offered by most companies are conducted with larger boats, shared by 12-18 people and has a fixed itinerary, no others will share the guide or the boat with you during our tours. Our tours are strictly private and flexible.

Raft house options

500 Rai (deluxe)

500 Rai is one of the two top raft houses in the lake, with 15 houses/cabins of various sizes. The raft house is located at the far end of the lake, between Phupha Waree and Krai Son raft houses, with one of the best views in the lake.

Following are the type of rooms;

Type Pax Size Info
Deluxe 4 36 ㎡ Master bedroom with double-size bed, loft with two mattresses. 1 kayak, 5 life jackets. A/c from 6 pm to 6 am. Check-in 2pm, check-out 9:30am
Villa 4 42 ㎡ Master bedroom with double-size bed, loft with two mattresses. 1 kayak, 5 life jackets. A/c 24h/day. Check-in 2pm, check-out 9:30am
Family Villa 8 72 ㎡ 2 connecting villas, 2 master bedrooms with double-size bed, 2 lofts with 4 mattresses, a/c 24h/day, 2 kayaks, 8 life jackets. Check-in 2pm, check-out 9:30am
Deluxe Suite 4 72 ㎡ Master bedroom with double-size bed, loft with 2 mattresses, a/c 24h/day, 2 kayaks, 7 life jackets (2 sofa beds for additional 2 pax if needed). Check-in 4pm, check-out 1pm
Family Suite 10 86 ㎡ 2 master bedrooms with double-size bed, 2 lofts with 6 mattresses, a/c 24h/day, 2 kayaks, 7 life jackets (2 sofa beds for additional 2 pax if needed). Check-in 4pm, check-out 1pm
Honeymoon Suite 4 92 ㎡ Master bedroom with double-size bed, loft with two mattresses, a/c 24h/day, 2 kayaks, 4 life jackets, private swimming pool, jacuzzi. Check-in 4pm, check-out 1pm
500 Rai rooms
500 Rai rooms
500 Rai rooms
500 Rai rooms
500 Rai - deluxe, family villas and villas
500 Rai - deluxe, family villas and villas
500 Rai
500 Rai Raft House
500 Rai - loft with two mattresses
500 Rai - loft with two mattresses
500 Rai - Villa, loft
500 Rai - Villa, loft
500 Rai - Bathroom
500 Rai - Bathroom
500 Rai - Honeymoon ruite room (the only room with swimming pool)
500 Rai - Honeymoon ruite room (the only room with swimming pool)
Panvaree The Greenery Raft House (deluxe)

While most raft houses in the lake have on average around two dozen bungalows, Panvaree The Greenery Raft House have fewer which makes it a relatively quiet place even when the place is fully booked. Quality wise it is no doubt one of the best and most popular raft houses in the lake. The raft house is located in the entrance of Khlong Long tributary.

Following are the type of rooms;

The price for rooms varies depending on week-day, week-end day or holidays.

Panvaree The Greenery Raft House
Panvaree The Greenery Raft House
Superior room for 2 pax
Superior room for 2 pax
Phupha Waree Raft House

Phupha Waree is set back in a private alcove just inside Klong Pey, compared to most basic/average raft houses in the lake it is considered a bit better option. The rooms are equipped with 2 queen size beds, a private bathroom, a/c, balcony and can accommodate 2-4 people. While the smaller rooms will be booked for up to 3 people, the larger rooms will be booked for 4 people.

Phupha Waree Floating Houses (deluxe option)
Phupha Waree Floating Houses
Phupha Waree Raft House
Phupha Waree Raft House
Phu Pha Waree rooms
Phupha Waree - bigger rooms
Phupha Waree - smaller rooms for 2 pax
Phupha Waree - smaller rooms
Phupha Waree meals
Phupha Waree meals
Sai Chon Raft House

Sai Chon Raft House is a cheaper alternative compared to high end ones, located in Khlong Long tributary of the lake, not too far from the pier. The quality is somewhere between bamboo and high end options. The rooms can accommodate 2-4 people with king size beds, equipped with fans and has rooms with private bathroom.

Sai Chon Raft House
Sai Chon Raft House
Sai Chon Raft House - room for 4 people
Sai Chon Raft House
Krai Son Raft House (basic bamboo)

Krai Son is perched at the entrance to Klong Yee at the remote end of the lake. It is equipped with traditional style bamboo bungalows (2 pax, double beds), no fan, with shared bathroom facilities on land next to the raft house. It is the only raft house on the lake with a view of sunrise and sunset. Local attractions include a viewpoint hike which overlooks the entire lake, and it is close by to the Khlong Saeng wildlife sanctuary not too far from Phupha Waree.

We do not recommend Krai Son to families with kids.

Krai Sorn floating houses
Krai Sorn floating houses - basic bamboo rooms
Krai Sorn floating houses - basic rooms
Krai Sorn floating houses - basic bamboo rooms
Krai Son Raft House

Itinerary

The following itinerary is just an example. Depending on the location of your raft house, weather conditions, your suggestions or eventual shorter/longer time you may decide to spend at attractions may change the planning. Example; you may decide to do more kayaking, skip some activities for the other, or simply just decide to relax and spend some time with friend(s)/family at the raft house.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Gaurs, a mobile shot from one of our guests (Nov 2021)
A challenging but rewarding steep hike
A challenging but rewarding steep hike

Where & When?

The tour starts in Cheow Lan Lake (Rajjaprabha Dam), 65 km from park headquarters. It is easy to get to nearby Ban Takhun Town with buses operating from various destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani. Private transfers by taxi or minivan can be arranged on request.

When to book?

High seasons months in the lake are November to April and July/August. Bookings for these months should be done far in advance, earliest possible. Even if some raft houses may still have rooms available days/weeks before, guide availability is more of a concern. The guides may get fully booked months in advance for the busiest times of the year. During the low season months there is less risk of unavailability. 

Panvaree The Greenery superior rooms should be booked at least 6-12 months in advance for the busier months of the year, even the family rooms may get room far in advance. It is one of the most popular raft houses in the lake.

Laguna Cheow Lan should be booked at least 5-6 months in advance for the high seasons months, they are constantly fully booked at least 3-4 months ahead.

Phupha Waree can be booked a couple of months ahead, but during the high seasons they may get fully booked most dates 1-3 months ahead. There is greater risk for them to get fully booked during the week-ends.

Sai Chon should also be booked earliest possible for any week-end/holiday concerned dates.

Krai Son tends to have availability for the most year even if booked days/weeks in advance but can be fully booked months in advance for long week-end holidays.

Tour details in short:

  • Duration: 3 days/2 nights
  • Type: Private tour
  • Price: * see price table *
  • Group size: 2 or more people
  • Grade: Easy
  • Transport: Long-tail boat
  • Start: 10 am (day 1)
  • End: around 10:30 to 11 am (day 3)

What to bring:

  • Rain clothing, specially on rainy season
  • Sneakers for hiking, sandals for waterfall/cave visit
  • Personal toiletries
  • Swimming clothing & towel
  • Hat
  • Flashlight
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunblock lotion

How much?

The tour will be led by a private guide which means no others will join you while exploring the lake and surrounding areas. The price for this tour package depends on the choice of accommodation and number of people, please see price per person further down.

The prices below do not include entrance fees to the national park.

Optional charges;

Coral Cave Rafthing

Wildlife oriented tour?

(from the vicinity of Krai Son, 500 Rai and Phupha Waree Raft Houses only)

Although our tour is more about visiting the attractions, enjoying the scenery and water activities in the lake, our price includes a bit of safari driving around the lake in hope to see a glimpse of wildlife around.

If you wish a more wildlife oriented tour, we can arrange it for an additional 2,000 Baht for one early morning of late afternoon session a bit further away from our main service area, then our guide could take you to Khlong Saeng tributary on the north/west end of the lake one afternoon. Please let us know in case. The wildlife oriented tour is only suitable for the 2nd day over a 3D/2N tour and for this price, only one driving session.

Price per person
Pax Krai Son (bamboo) Sai Chon Phupha Waree
2 8,300 THB 10,000 THB 12,200 THB
3 6,800 THB 8,050 THB 9,300 THB
4 5,650 THB 7,100 THB 8,350 THB
5 5,300 THB 6,500 THB 8,200 THB
6 4,800 THB 6,100 THB 7,400 THB
7 4,700 THB 5,800 THB 7,100 THB
8 4,400 THB 5,600 THB 6,900 THB
Price per person
Pax Laguna Panvaree 500 Rai
2 13,200 THB 15,400 to 17,900 THB 27,400 to 56,700 THB
3 11,000 THB 15,800 to 19,500 THB 22,400 to 38,400 THB
4 9,900 THB 12,100 to 14,700 THB 20,000 to 30,600 THB
5 9,300 THB 14,200 to 18,000 THB 25,200 to 26,100 THB
6 8,900 THB 11,100 to 13,700 THB n/a
7 8,600 THB n/a n/a
8 8,400 THB n/a n/a

Displayed prices are per person

Tour rates include:

  • Lodging
  • Guide
  • Long-tail boat transportation
  • Lunch and dinner on day-1, all meals on day-2 and breakfast on day-3
  • Drinking water
  • Canoeing
  • Accident insurance during the tour (covering hospital costs)

Tour rates doesn't include:

  • Entrance fees to the park
  • Transfer to the lake from the nearby towns

Reviews from our guests

Rated 4.75/5 based on 159 customer reviews

By: | posted Sun 16 Apr, 2023 | Sai Chon

5/5 stars

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: | posted Sun 17 Mar, 2024 | Panvaree

5/5 stars

What an amazing experience we would recommended to all our Friends

By: | posted Wed 13 Mar, 2024 | Sai Chon

3/5 stars

Food and accommodation was great. The guide was ok, he was unfriendly and didn't seem to like us or wasn't very interested in telling us about the animals. We did spot elephants, which was awesome but wouldn't want to do a trip with him again. After speaking to other customers it sounds like we were unlucky with our guide.

> Tour operator's response

Very sorry to hear you experience with your guide. He is one of our top 3 guides, has been guiding in the lake for 3 decades, we generally get very positive reviews/feedback regarding him. We never heard him being rude to our guests before, such behaviours, unless he has a different story to tell, is very rare and unacceptable.

I have personally been in the lake with him 5 nights back in October, no doubt he is one of the top guides in finding elephants or other animals. We also find this guide very honest, he is our main contact in the lake.

We will discuss your feedback with him and hear his side of the story. If there is anything to improve, we will of course discuss with him further.

By: | posted Wed 13 Mar, 2024 | Phupha Waree

5/5 stars

Wie hatten unvergessliche 2 Nächte/3 Tage im NP verbracht. Unser Tour Guide M und der Bootsführer Nun waren grandios. M sprach ein ausgezeichnetes Englisch und mit ihm durften wir Geier, Büffel, Affen, Tukan und sogar einen Elefanten in ihrer freien Natur entdecken. Einfach grossartig und ein wohlverdientes Dankeschön an beide.

By: | posted Tue 12 Mar, 2024 | Phupha Waree

5/5 stars

We had a wonderful time at Khao Sok nationalpark. Everything was organised perfectly and we had the best tour guide (Bee). He was super friendly, told us many facts and funny stories about the lake and was so nice with our children. Food and rooms at Phuphawaree was very nice.

The tour really was the highlight of our Thailand vacation.

By: | posted Fri 8 Mar, 2024 | 500 Rai

5/5 stars

This tour was definitely one of the highlights of our whole month in Thailand! Bee was an amazing tour guide! We did things and went places that very few others were going to. It was a great decision and we were so glad we went with these guys!

By: | posted Sun 3 Mar, 2024 | Sai Chon

5/5 stars

We adored our tour with Bee, our amazing guide so knowledgeable about the area, and Son, our boat captain who can spot wildlife from miles away. Amazing scenery, kayaking, and a lot of boat rides to spot wildlife. We were fortunate enough to see wild elephants. We did take the extra wildlife tour, however we did not see a lot of wildlife during that extra tour and it was a very long boat ride , so not sure we would have done it had we known how much boating it would requiere, however all the rest was truly amazing and having a private guide did make it very special for us.

By: | posted Sun 3 Mar, 2024 | Phupha Waree

5/5 stars

We had a lovely 3D/2N in Kao Sok at Phupa Wharee. It was very good organised from the start of the booking at the site with Guitar. But Ann and the boatcaptain where perfect. We had a private tour and we can recommend it to everybody.

By: | posted Sun 3 Mar, 2024 | Sai Chon

3/5 stars

Took a 3 day, 2 night private tour and stayed at Soi Chon Raft house. Our tour guide, Tim, was 5 out 5, and so was our long tail boat driver. We even saw elephants twice!! Monkeys, wild pigs and neat birds too. Our guide Tim showed us a cool spider hole on our waterfall walk, she tapped at a small round paper type door, about the size of a large coin, and out popped a spider. You would never know it was there!

The Sai Chon rafthouse was a model of efficiency, moving day trippers and overnight guests in and out for meals and room turnover. However, the condition of the rafthouse complex was rather dilapidated; rooms are basic, and slightly dirty, and the boardwalks need serious attention as there were rotted planks every few steps. This is similar to a camp experience, except we had our own bathroom. The overall organization by Thai National al Parks was impressive and ran like a well oiled machine.

> Tour operator's response

Thanks for your kind words. You are very lucky to have seen elephants twice, changes to see once is perhaps around 30-40% over a 3D/2N tour this time of the year.

We have already pointed out the conditions of the boardwalk, and that certain rooms need attention. Due to the nature of the lake, not only humid, the boardwalk being floating on the water, naturally gets a bit rotten over the time, and an expensive subject to change. Deffo needs to be addressed soon. But unfortunately we are not managing these raft houses, we can only forward the complaints to them.

By: | posted Fri 1 Mar, 2024 | Phupha Waree

5/5 stars

My husband and I had a great tour with Junn. She was so kind and helpful and loved the animals. We had a great stay at the raft house and used the kayaks to see some gibbons. Thank you very much