Cheow Lan Lake Overnight: 2D/1N Floating Bungalow Tour, Khao Sok
Looking for an unforgettable experience in Thailand? Spend a day at Khao Sok Lake, officially Cheow Lan Lake, in Khao Sok National Park. Here you’ll find all the information you need to plan your visit to Khao Sok Lake (Cheow Lan Lake) and you can book your tour right away.
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Cheow Lan Lake & Floating Bungalows – 2 Day 1 Night Tour
Looking for a unique experience during your trip to Thailand? Spend a night (or even longer) in a Khao Sok floating bungalow on the stunning Cheow Lan Lake. You’ll stay in charming floating cabins on emerald-green water, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and lush jungle. It’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful ways to spend the night in Thailand.
Tour Details – Day 1
- 8:40 AM – Meet your guide and fellow travelers in Khao Sok Village. You’ll make a quick stop (about 15 minutes) at a local market or temple to pick up some fresh fruit and snacks.
- Hop aboard a traditional longtail boat and soak in the stunning scenery as you glide across Khao Sok Lake.
- Arrive at the floating rafthouse—your home for the night—and check in to your floating bungalow (modern bungalow with shared bathroom).
- Enjoy a delicious Thai lunch (set menu) at the floating restaurant.
- After lunch, you’ll have free time to swim in the crystal-clear waters, kayak, or simply relax and take in the fantastic views.
- Depending on the season, your guide will take you on a jungle walk to the Coral Cave, a viewpoint, or a waterfall.
- Before dinner, you’ll set out on an evening safari by longtail boat to spot wildlife as the sun sets.
- Enjoy a tasty Thai dinner (set menu) back at the floating restaurant.
- Jump in the lake or fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the jungle in your floating bungalow!
Tour Details – Day 2
- Wake up early for a magical sunrise boat trip across Khao Sok Lake—watch as the sun peeks out from behind the mountains.
- Breakfast is served (set menu) in the floating restaurant.
- 10:00 AM – Check out from your floating bungalow.
- Enjoy one last scenic boat ride back to the pier.
- Around 11:00 AM, you arrive back at the pier.
- Lunch is served at the pier.
- 12:00–12:30 PM – Return to Khao Sok Village.
Price per person: 2,500 baht
- Accident insurance is included in the tour price.
- Maximum group size is 20 people.
- All transport mentioned in the tour description is included.
- The tour price includes all listed meals and coffee/tea/water.
- Park entrance fee is 200 baht per person plus a 20 baht trash fee per person. This isn’t included in the tour price – you pay this at Khao Sok Lake.
Our personal experience and review
We’ve spent over a week in different places on the lake ourselves and can say with confidence: this place is truly magical. Whether you’re here for just one night or a bit longer, it feels like sleeping right in the heart of nature—far from the crowds, yet with all the comfort you could want.
Wondering if we’re just biased about how amazing Khao Sok Lake is? That’s why we asked Keith and Dev to spend a night on the lake for Thailand Magazine. In their video, you’ll see exactly how they experienced it. Watch the video below and get inspired for your own unforgettable trip!
From basic to luxury: which bungalow suits you?
There’s a bungalow for every type of traveler. Choose a simple hut with a shared bathroom and cold water, or go for more luxury with air conditioning and a hot shower. This way, you decide how adventurous or comfortable your Cheow Lan Lake overnight stay will be.
Standard/Modern Bungalow – 2 people
If you join the group tour, you’ll be assigned a standard floating bungalow. This is a private bungalow equipped with a fan and access to a shared bathroom.
Family Room – 3 to 4 people
If you’re traveling with a group of 3–4 people, you can request a family room. These are floating bungalows with two double beds, a shared bathroom, and a fan. Subject to availability
Upgrade Your Room
If you prefer a private bathroom with a shower and toilet, you can upgrade your (family) bungalow for an extra 200 baht per person (subject to availability). If you wish, you can also book a private tour with a luxury floating bungalow at a different locations on the lake.
Note: All bungalows have only cold-water showers, except for some of the luxury floating houses, which are equipped with hot-water showers.
Warm water all year round
Remember, the lake remains pleasantly warm all year, with water temperatures around 28°C. From your bungalow, you can jump straight into the water for a swim!
What can you do around your floating bungalow?
Adventure lovers are in for a treat: set out on a jungle trek to waterfalls, explore mysterious caves, or take in the view from one of the local viewpoints. Prefer to relax? That’s also possible! Float on the lake or simply unwind on the terrace of your own cabin, or grab a kayak. This makes staying on Cheow Lan Lake extra special. Where your trek during the tour goes depends on the location of your bungalow as well as the weather. If you join a group tour, you cannot choose the activities yourself. But don’t worry, all the activities on the lake are unforgettable!
Spotting wildlife
Nature around the lake is stunning. With a bit of luck, you’ll see gibbons swinging through the trees, hear hornbills calling, or maybe even spot wild elephants along the shore. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle is an experience you won’t soon forget.
What animals can you see in Khao Sok?
Khao Sok is one of the world’s oldest rainforests and home to incredible biodiversity. Animals you may encounter include:
- Gibbons and macaques
- Hornbills Look up regularly hornbills often fly overhead!
- Monitor lizards
- Occasionally elephants, wild boars, or deer
- With a bit of luck (like we had), you might spot a tapir—even rarer than elephants!
Our personal tips
- Wake up early and kayak along the shores near your floating bungalow. As nature awakens, you might hear a gibbon or spot a hornbill flying overhead. Even if you don’t see any animals, it will still be an unforgettable moment. The peace, the birds, and the sun rising behind the stunning limestone cliffs—all of it is unbelievably beautiful!
- Are you a bird lover and do you have binoculars? Be sure to bring them! Khao Sok National Park in Thailand is home to around 300 to 400 different bird species. You can also join a special birdwatching tour in Khao Sok Park.
Good to know
- Tours are led by an experienced English-speaking guide.
- You can’t pay for the tours online. Payment is only at the start of the tour, so make sure you bring enough cash.
- Don’t expect phone signal or wifi at the lake, so just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.
- Usually, electricity is only available for a few hours each day, mostly from 6 pm to 10 pm. If there’s a free outlet, you can charge your camera, phone, or e-reader in the floating restaurant.
What to Bring to Khao Sok
Complete Packing list for Khao Sok Lake tour
During your Khao Sok Lake tour, you don’t need much—usually a small backpack is enough. You can leave your large suitcase or backpack at the tour office. Here’s our packing list:
Packing list for day tour
- Swimwear / towel / sarong
- Sunscreen
- Cap / sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent
- Comfortable walking shoes / sandals that can get dirty
- Poncho (it’s a rainforest!)
- Waterproof bag / plastic bag / garbage bag (to use as a rain cover for your backpack)
Extra for overnight tour
- Toiletries
- Medication / contact lenses / glasses
- Set of dry clothes
- Something to sleep in
- Some cash for a snack or drink at the raft house (there’s no ATM in the jungle)
- Flip-flops for shared bathrooms/toilets
- Flashlight
- Phone/camera and chargers
- A power bank is useful when there’s no power but you still want to take lots of photos and videos.
- Waterproof phone case so you can take photos while kayaking
Ready to book or have any questions?
If you want to know how to make your stay even better or have any questions about spending the night on Cheow Lan Lake, feel free to get in touch!
Email info@thailandmagazine.com with the subject “Khao Sok overnight tour.”
FAQ Khao Sok National Park: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit
Where can I leave my suitcase or large backpack when visiting Cheow Lan Lake?
If you book a day trip or overnight stay at Cheow Lan Lake, you don’t need to bring all your luggage. Hotels in Khao Sok know it’s hard to carry big suitcases on the long-tail boat. You can usually leave extra luggage safely at your hotel, either where you’re staying or have stayed before. This service is often free, but sometimes it costs about 100 baht per item. If you’re not staying at a hotel, ask your tour company where to store your luggage.
Is Khao Sok safe regarding wild animals?
Visiting Khao Sok is generally safe. Wild animals tend to avoid people, and attacks are extremely rare. Always stay on the trails, follow your guide’s instructions, and don’t leave food in nature. While there’s a good chance of seeing unique wildlife, always respect their habitat.
Are there mosquitoes or bugs in a floating Lake house? Here’s what to expect!
Now that you know you don’t have to be afraid of large wild animals, you’re probably still curious about the little creatures on the lake, like mosquitoes and other insects. Don’t worry: there are surprisingly few mosquitoes. With some mosquito spray or long pants, you’ll be well protected. A mosquito net isn’t necessary, but feel free to bring one if it makes you more comfortable (I didn’t believe it myself the first time either 😉 ). You’ll hardly encounter any spiders or other critters, since your house is floating on the water. So, don’t worry too much about insects in your floating house!
Is there mobile coverage on the lake?
There is no internet on Khao Sok Lake and mobile coverage is limited, especially at the floating bungalows in the middle of the lake. That’s why most larger resorts have a satellite phone. In case of emergency, they can always contact emergency services or the mainland, even without mobile reception.
Are there restaurants at Khao Sok Lake?
If you’re staying on Cheow Lan Lake, set meals are usually included with your floating bungalow. You can often buy snacks like chips, cookies, and soft drinks as well. At the pier where you board the boat, there is a local supermarket where you can do some shopping. Toilets are also available. Sometimes, you may stop at a small village before heading to the pier to buy some food.
Can you bring food to Cheow Lan Lake?
All meals are included on the day tour of Cheow Lan Lake, but you’re welcome to bring extra snacks and drinks if you wish.
Best Time to Visit Khao Sok National Park
The best time to visit Khao Sok National Park in Thailand is from November to April. During this dry season, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures, little rainfall, and clear skies. This makes it perfect for jungle hikes, canoeing, and exploring the famous Cheow Lan Lake. From May to October, it’s the rainy season: nature is extra lush and the waterfalls are at their most beautiful, but there is regular (sometimes heavy) rainfall.
Khao Sok in the Rainy Season: Our Experience
In the past, we could only visit Thailand—and Khao Sok National Park—during the rainy season. Fortunately, that never stopped us from going. Yes, it can rain heavily at times, but the landscape remains beautiful and there are always dry spells as well.
If you have to choose between July and August for visiting Khao Sok, July is often slightly drier than August. However, we can’t guarantee the weather, as conditions can vary each year.
In short: if you have a choice, the best time to visit Khao Sok is during the dry season. But don’t let the rainy season stop you from traveling to Thailand or exploring Khao Sok National Park. Even in the wet season, the area is stunning and absolutely worth a visit.
Booking a Floating Bungalow Yourself: How to Arrange a Unique Stay on the Water
You can book an overnight stay on the lake at various resorts. Some luxury floating houses are available on Booking.com or Agoda. Be sure to check for any extra charges, such as transportation, meals, and excursions, as these are often not included in the price.
Our experience
There are stunning resorts equipped with every comfort, even featuring a floating pool on the water! It might not be cheap, but it’s definitely a unique and beautiful experience. Want to be sure you’re making the right choice? Check out our review of these special places or book your stay directly!
review
Khao Sok
500Rai Floating Resort
Stay at 500Rai Floating Resort on Cheow Lan Lake for a unique, luxurious experience with stunning views, floating pool, and authentic Thai cuisine.
How do you get from Surat Thani, Krabi or Phuket to Khao Sok?
There are daily buses and minivans between Surat Thani, Krabi, Phuket, and Khao Sok National Park. You can easily book transport through your accommodation or local tour operators. If you book with us, you can let us know if you want to arrange transportation to or from anywhere in Thailand. or you can arrange it yourself via 12GO:
Uncovering Khao Sok: The Untold Tales Beneath the Lake
The landscape around Cheow Lan Lake is truly spectacular. Limestone cliffs rise steeply from the water—what you see is just the tip, as much of these formations is hidden below the surface. In some places, you’ll notice branches poking out above the water; these are the tops of trees that once grew in the valley and now stand submerged.
Cheow Lan Lake, also known as Khao Sok Lake, lies at the heart of Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand. This impressive lake was created in 1982, when the Thai government built the Ratchaprapha Dam on the Phra Saeng River. The aim was to generate electricity, prevent flooding, and provide water for agriculture. The construction of the dam flooded a large part of the national park, forming the lake as it is today. Cheow Lan Lake now covers about 165 square kilometers and reaches depths of up to 90 meters in some places.
Before the lake existed, a small village stood in this valley. When the reservoir filled, the entire village disappeared beneath the water. As compensation, the original inhabitants were given land on higher ground around the new lake. Many of these families found their way back to the water and built the first floating houses, becoming pioneers of tourism on the lake—today famous for its unique floating accommodations.
The electricity generated by the Ratchaprapha Dam does not only power Surat Thani province but also supplies energy to neighboring provinces throughout southern Thailand.
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- Cheow Lan Lake & Floating Bungalows – 2 Day 1 Night Tour
- Our personal experience and review
- From basic to luxury: which bungalow suits you?
- Our personal tips
- Good to know
- What to Bring to Khao Sok
- Ready to book or have any questions?
- FAQ Khao Sok National Park: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit
- Booking a Floating Bungalow Yourself: How to Arrange a Unique Stay on the Water
- Uncovering Khao Sok: The Untold Tales Beneath the Lake
- Where to Stay in Khao Sok? See our tips en reviews!
- Discover more tours in Khao Sok
Check availability:
Your Travel Guide 2025/ 2026!
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