Private Tour | 2-days/1-night private tour on 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.
The lake deserves more than one night of stay, but if you only can stay one night, you will still be able to enjoy a few activities with this tour. If you truly want to enjoy more of the lake, then a 3D/2N tour is recommended.
With the 2-days/1-night tour at Cheow Lan Lake you will be able to see scenic rock formations, hike to a viewpoint, visit a cave, hike in the jungle, kayak, swim and drive around for wildlife watching. The tour includes a stay at a floating resort of your choice, a private guide and a private boat with driver. No others will share the guide or the boat with you during the tour.
Floating resorts on Cheow Lan Lake
500 Rai Floating Resort (high-end)
500 Rai Floating Resort is one of the best floating resort on Cheow Lan Lake, with 15 houses/units of various sizes. It is located at the far end of the lake, between Phupha Waree and Krai Son raft houses, with one of the best views at the lake. It is the only option at the lake providing electricity 24 hours/day (deluxe option with only 12 h/day a/c powered, others 24 h/day).
Following are the room types;
| Deluxe (4 pax) | 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 pax) | 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 pax) | 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 |
360° Issara Floating Resort (high-end)
360° is the a brand new high-end resort opened in January 2025, currently with 12 deluxe rooms with a temporarily restaurant area available. In early February 2025 the restaurant area and another 12 rooms will be ready.
360° Issara is located at Khlong Long tributary of Cheow Lan Lake, around 40 minutes boat ride from Cheow Lan Pier, somewhere between Sai Chon and Laguna Cheow Lan. When at full capacity, the floating resort will have total 10 deluxe rooms for couples, 10 deluxe rooms with a king-sized and a single bed and finally 4 villa rooms with a king-sized bed and a sofa bed (for 2 adults and 1 child).
While the deluxe rooms will be a/c powered from 6pm until 6am, the villa rooms will be powered 24 hours/day.
The 360° Issara Floating Resort offers three seasonal pricing tiers: the lowest rates are available from May to June, higher rates apply from July to October, and the highest rates are in effect from November to April.
Panvaree The Greenery (high-end)
The resort is located at the entrance of Khlong Long tributary. Compared to other optiong on the lake, Panvaree The Greenery has fewer cabins/houses which makes it a relatively quiet place even when the place is fully booked, ideal for people avoiding crowds. Quality wise it is no doubt one of the best and most popular floating resort on the lake. Electricity is provided from 5pm until 9am.
Following are the room types;
| Superior room (2 pax) | For couples or 2 adults + small child (child to share same bed as parents but quoted half price). Rooms can be with either a double bed or twin beds, unfortunately can't be chosen, either one can be booked depending on availability and other circumstances. |
| Family section (4 pax) | For families up to 4 pax, 2 storeys, 2 rooms, 1 bathroom, 1 king size bed in each room. |
The price for the rooms varies depending on week-day, week-end day or holidays.
Panvaree Resort (high-end)
Located right next to Panvaree The Greenery, Panvaree Resort has similar quality and price level with different type of bed settings, it too has less cabin/houses. The rooms gets a bit cheaper at Panvaree Resort for groups of 3 people or more.
Following are the room types;
|
Garret house king (4 pax) |
Semi-detached to a garret house queen, with a king size bed and a loft area with 2 single mattresses on the floor. |
| Garret house queen (4 pax) | Semi-detached to a garret house king, with twin beds and a loft area with 2 single mattresses on the floor. Max 4 people |
| Private garret (4 pax) | Solitary unit (not semi-detached), with twin beds and a loft area with 2 single mattresses on the floor. Max 4 people |
The price for the rooms varies depending on week-day, week-end day or holidays.
Laguna Cheow Lan
Laguna Cheow Lan is located at Khlong Long tributary, on the middle of Cheow Lan Lake. Each room have a king size and a single bed, private bathroom, a/c, balcony and can accommodate up to 3 people. The beds are on the floor. Electricity is provided from 6pm until 6am.
5 of the rooms called "see view rooms" are charged at a higher rate, they are the rooms with best views, facing the mountains on the opposite coast.
Phupha Waree Raft House
Phupha Waree Raft House is set back in a private alcove just inside Klong Pey, compared to most basic floating resorts on the lake it is considered a bit better option. The rooms are equipped with 2 joined 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. Electricity is provided from 6pm until 6-7am.
Sai Chon Raft House
Sai Chon Raft House is a cheaper alternative. While being a very basic raft house, it is still a better option when compared to most other basic options on the lake mostly because the rooms have ensuite private bathroom. The raft house is located on Khlong Long tributary of the lake, not too far from the pier. The quality is somewhere between bamboo and average options. While the smaller rooms have 1 king size bed, the larger rooms have 2 king size beds. The rooms are equipped with fan only, electricity is provided from around 6pm until 6-7am.
Unlike the other raft houses, kayaking is not free at Sai Chon Raft House, rental will cost 200 Baht per kayak. The kayak fee is optional, not included in our listed prices for Sai Chon Raft House.
Itinerary
There is no strict itinerary with our lake tours, the following itinerary is just an example. Depending on the location of your raft house, weather conditions, your preferences the itinerary may be much different. 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
- 10am – Pick-up from Cheow Lan Lake Pier and board a long-tail boat.
- Cruise past stunning limestone karsts, known as the "Three Rocks" or Khao Sam Kloe, before exploring Diamond Cave.
- Check in at the resort and enjoy a traditional Thai lunch featuring rich southern curries and fresh local vegetables.
- Optional guided hike: Visit scenic Kri Sorn Viewpoint or the nearby Bang Hoi Waterfall.
- Enjoy an afternoon wildlife safari by boat.
- Return to the resort for a refreshing swim, relaxation, and breathtaking views.
- End the day with a delightful dinner featuring fresh fish, Thai soup, and seasonal vegetables.
Day 2
- Rise before breakfast for the morning mist safari, the best time to gibbons, macaques and dusky leaf monkeys
- Alternatively explore the surrounding area by kayak
- Return to resort for breakfast
- Depending on the resort and it's location the tour ends around 9:30 to 10 am at the pier
Where & When?
The tour starts at Cheow Lan Lake Pier (Rajjaprabha Dam), 65 km from park headquarters. We can arrange transfer from/to Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, Ao Nang, Surat Thani and Khao Sok village straight to tour start in the morning or transfer to the mentioned towns after the tour.
The nearest airports are Surat Thani (~1h), Krabi (~2h) and Phuket Airport (~2.5h), you are recommended to arrive to the area a day before the tour start. This tour is not recommended to start the same day when arriving from the islands or the airports.
This tour is available throughout the year.
When to book?
High seasons periods for the lake are November to mid April and mid July to end of August. Bookings for these months should be done well in advance, earliest possible. Even if some of the 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.
Panvaree The Greenery superior rooms should be booked at least 6-12 months in advance for the busier months of the year, family rooms too may get booked far in advance.
Laguna Cheow Lan should be booked at least 3-6 months in advance for the high seasons months.
Phupha Waree can be booked a couple of months ahead, for the high seasons months they may get fully booked for most dates 1-4 months before.
Sai Chon tends to have more availability compared to the other raft houses we offer, sometimes days/weeks before. But for the certain peak dates, they too will eventually get fully booked many months before.
Tour details in short:
- Duration: 2 days/1 night
- Type: Private tour
- Price: * see the pricing table *
- Group size: 2 or more people
- Grade: Easy
- Transport: Long-tail boat
- Start: 10am (day 1)
- End: around 9:30 to 10am (day 2)
What to bring:
- Rain clothing, specially on the rainy seasons (no rain protection on longtail boats)
- Waterproof bag/cover for all your electronics in case of rain
- 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.
| Price per person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pax | Sai Chon | Phupha Waree | Laguna |
| 2 | 7,700 THB | 8,700 THB | 9,700 THB |
| 3 | 5,800 THB | 6,400 THB | 7,400 THB |
| 4 | 4,850 THB | 5,450 THB | 6,900 THB |
| 5 | 4,300 THB | 5,100 THB | 6,100 THB |
| 6 | 3,450 THB | 4,550 THB | 5,600 THB |
| 7 | 3,650 THB | 4,300 THB | 5,600 THB |
| 8 | 4,100 THB | 4,800 THB | 5,900 THB |
| Price per person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pax | 360° Issara | Panvaree Resort | Panvaree T. G. |
| 2 | 8,800 to 11,400 THB | 11,700 to 13,000 THB | 11,300 to 12,800 THB |
| 3 | 7,100 to 8,200 THB | 9,200 to 10,350 THB | 10,700 to 13,100 THB |
| 4 | 6,200 to 8,650 THB | 7,300 to 8,250 THB | 8,400 to 10,100 THB |
| 5 | 5,700 to 7,300 THB | 8,000 to 9,300 THB | 9,150 to 11,600 THB |
| 6 | 5,350 to 6,400 THB | 7,400 to 8,500 THB | 7,500 to 9,200 THB |
| 7 | 5,100 to 6,950 THB | 6,500 to 7,500 THB | 7,800 to 9,900 THB |
| 8 | 4,900 to 7,000 THB | 6,700 to 7,600 THB | 7,700 to 9,400 THB |
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| Pax | 500 Rai |
| 2 | 18,600 to 34,500 THB |
| 3 | 15,100 to 24,000 THB |
| 4 | 13,400 to 18,700 THB |
| 5 | 12,400 to 16,900 THB |
| 6 | 13,100 to 15,700 THB |
| 7 | 12,400 to 14,800 THB |
| 8 | 11,900 to 14,100 THB |
Displayed prices are per person
Tour rates include:
- Lodging
- Private guide
- Tour around the lake
- Private long-tail boat from the moment of tour start until the tour ends
- Lunch and dinner on day-1, breakfast on day-2
- Drinking water
- Kayaking (not included at Sai Chon Raft House)
- Insurance for incidents during the tour (covering eventual hospital costs)
Tour rates doesn't include:
- Entrance fees to the park
- Transfer to the lake from the nearby hotels/towns
- Parking fee (if you have your own vehicle)
- Kayaking at Sai Chon Raft House (the fee is included at the all other resorts we offer)
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: Sireesha Aluri | posted Wed 19 Feb, 2025 | Phupha Waree
This was the favorite part of my entire South Thailand trip. The place is serene and wonderful. It is so great to have your own rafthouse (Phuphaa Waree) and be able to see the beautiful landscape from your bed. The bathroom needed some work as the sink was leaking but it was quickly fixed. Don't expect luxury, expect peaceful getaway and you won't be disappointed. Our guide Junn was fun and made the trip all the more better!
By: Sabrina & Tyler | posted Tue 18 Feb, 2025 | Phupha Waree
We had a fantastic time during our 2D/1N tour. Au, our guide, was excellent! She was knowledgeable about the jungle, the animals, and the history behind the Khao Sok National Park. She treated us with local snacks, fresh fruit, water, and laughter. She knew all the best spots for photos, too! We enjoyed our accommodations and the food- simply magical. The staff and our driver were all so pleasant! Highly recommend!
The communication was excellent for pick up, drop off, and meeting spots. Everything went so smoothly.
By: Husson Freddy | posted Sun 16 Feb, 2025 | Phupha Waree
Top experience with Thai national park, top private guide and perfect arrangement/honest communication with Thai national park at a quality price. Highly recommended
By: Sonja | posted Wed 12 Feb, 2025 | Phupha Waree
First of all, compliments on the excellent communication with the Thai National Parks organization. We received fast, clear, and honest information about the tour in advance.
Our guide, Nid, met us at the specified time and place. He was a very friendly and knowledgeable man who also spoke excellent English. Throughout these two days, he guided us wonderfully and shared a lot of interesting information. The boatman was also a very amiable man—we truly felt lucky with our team.
We were also pleased that our request for a room at the end of the pier was granted by the hotel. As we had been warned beforehand, the room was in need of renovation, and the mattress was not very comfortable. However, the location more than made up for it.
Lunch and dinner were excellent, served in generous portions with fresh fruit. The tour across the lake was fantastic, and the afternoon tour with the setting sun was like a dream. In the early morning, we took an extra boat trip, which was another special experience.
Highly recommended!
By: Gabriele Sirito | posted Mon 10 Feb, 2025 | Phupha Waree
Amazing guide, amazing resort, amazing cook and most of all amazing place.
For us this was a bit of a splurge but I have no regrets, if anything I think I should have booked the three days and two nights option.
Wholeheartedly recommended!
By: Carmen Mattijssen | posted Thu 6 Feb, 2025 | Sai Chon
It was a nice tour, I had the idea that our guide knew about the park and the flora and fauna that live there. However, the guide did not speak good English which was a shame, we could not always understand him and he often did not make eye contact which made it even more difficult. Because of this I think a lot of information was lost.
By: Denise Clark | posted Mon 20 Jan, 2025 | Sai Chon
We loved our private tour and stay on the lake. Our guide took us to some quiet bays to look for wildlife and bird. Definitely worth the extra cost.
By: Leah Lacy | posted Mon 13 Jan, 2025 | Phupha Waree
We loved our trip to Khao Sok, our guide Su was excellent too.
By: Marianne Selent | posted Thu 2 Jan, 2025 | Laguna
Thanks for the thrilling tours!