Cheow Lan is a man-made reservoir in Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani province. It appeared in 1982, when the 94-metre Ratchaprapha Dam was completed on the Khlong Saeng river. The water flooded about 165 square kilometres of the valley, along with two villages and a stretch of old forest, and the karst peaks were left sticking out of the water as islands. That's why the lake is called Thailand's Guilin.
From Phuket to the pier is roughly a 3–3.5-hour drive each way. That is the main factor when choosing a tour.
One day or two
A day trip takes about 9 hours from departure to return, and most of it is spent on the road. You get a few hours on the lake itself: a longtail boat ride, a swim, lunch at a floating restaurant. That's how the tour "CHEOW LAN — THAILAND'S EMERALD LAKE" for 2,600 ฿ works.
A two-day tour with a night in a raft house changes the balance. You get an evening on the water after the day boats have gone, and a morning safari at around half past five, when mist hangs over the lake. Those two moments are exactly why people come to Cheow Lan.
If you have the day in your schedule, take two. If not, the day trip works too — just keep your expectations realistic: it'll be a long day in a car with a beautiful middle.
What a raft house is
A floating bungalow right on the surface of the lake, moored to the shore. There's no other way to stay on the lake itself: the nearest hotels on land are in Khao Sok village, about 65 km from the pier.
Raft houses vary in comfort. Budget ones have a fan and a shared bathroom. Standard and above have their own bathroom and sometimes air conditioning. In many of them electricity runs to a schedule, usually in the evening, and not through the night.
There's practically no internet on the lake. For some people that's a plus, for others an unpleasant surprise, so we mention it in advance.
What the tour includes
- Transfer from your hotel in Phuket and back
- A longtail boat ride on the lake
- Lunch, plus dinner and breakfast on the two-day tour
- A night in a raft house
- A morning safari on the lake
- Canoes or SUP boards, depending on the tour
Some routes add caves, a waterfall or hot springs on the way. The exact set of stops and whether the national park fee is included are on the page of each tour in the land excursions section.
About the wildlife
Honestly: there are no guarantees. Khao Sok is a real forest, not a safari park. What people actually see most often is hornbills, macaques and langurs near the water at dawn. Elephants, gibbons and especially big cats are a matter of luck, not an item on the itinerary.
Your chances are better on the morning safari and in the dry season, when animals come down to the water. If you want to be sure of seeing elephants up close, that's a separate story, covered in our article about elephants in Phuket.
What it costs
The one-day group tour is 2,600 ฿ per person for 9 hours. Two-day options with a night in a raft house and private trips are priced separately; check current prices with a manager through the form on the contacts page. A comparison with other destinations is in the combined price list for 2026.
What to bring
- Mosquito repellent — there are plenty on the water in the evening
- A sweater: it's cool on the lake before dawn
- Swimwear and a towel
- A power bank — electricity runs to a schedule
- Cash — there are no ATMs on the lake
- Closed shoes for the trekking sections
When to go
The dry season from December to April has the most stable weather and calm water. In the rainy months the lake is fuller and greener, but tours may be adjusted for the weather.
The water level varies with the season, and it determines how high the cliffs rise above the water. Photos with tall sheer walls are usually taken in the dry season.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cheow Lan Lake?
In Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani province. It's on the mainland north-east of Phuket, a 3–3.5-hour drive each way from the island.
How did the lake come about?
It was formed by the Ratchaprapha Dam, completed in 1982 on the Khlong Saeng river. About 165 square kilometres of the valley and two villages went under water.
Which is better: one day or two?
Two, if you have a free day in your schedule. The evening and the sunrise on the water are what people come here for, and on the one-day tour most of the time goes on the road.
Where do people stay on the lake?
In raft houses — floating bungalows on the water. There are no hotels on land at the lake itself; the nearest are in Khao Sok village, about 65 km from the pier.
Is there internet and electricity on the lake?
There's almost no signal. In most raft houses electricity runs to a schedule, usually in the evening, and not through the night.
Can I bring children?
Yes, but the day is long and the drive takes several hours each way. With small children the two-day format is easier than the one-day one.
Book a trip to Cheow Lan
- CHEOW LAN — THAILAND'S EMERALD LAKE — 2,600 ฿, 9 hours
- KHAO LAK SAFARI: jungle, elephants and bamboo rafts — 1,650 ฿, 8 hours
- KRABI SECRETS: the Emerald Pool, the Tiger Temple and hot springs — 2,500 ฿, 9 hours
- All land excursions in Phuket
