The one day trip Cheow Lan Lake Tour covers the lake’s most iconic stops: cave exploration, the “Guilin of Thailand” viewpoint, waterfall visit, swimming, kayaking, and lunch included. English-speaking local guide included.
Discover the ‘Guilin of Thailand’ With A Cheow Lan Lake Tour
Experience the “Guilin of Thailand” with our signature Khao Sok hostel package tour full day adventure. Located within the lush Khao Sok National Park, Cheow Lan Lake is a breathtaking emerald reservoir surrounded by 160-million-year-old rainforest and towering limestone karsts.
Hostel guests and travelers visiting the region find this one day trip Cheow Lan Lake tour the most efficient way to see the park’s highlights in a single, action-packed day. This seamless Khao Sok one day trip provides an immersive nature experience for those with limited time.
Price: 1,499 THB per person | Lunch included | Local guide included
Tour at a Glance
Duration | 1 day (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) |
Price | 1,499 THB per person |
Meals included | 1 meal: lunch at the floating bungalows |
Physical level | Easy to moderate – short jungle walk, optional swimming and kayaking |
Best season | November to April for clear skies; May to October for stronger waterfalls and lush forest |
Guide | English-speaking local guide throughout |
Meeting point | Khao Sok Jungle Hostel or Khao Sok Inn Hostel |
Best For | Solo travelers, couples, and families looking for a comprehensive Khao Sok one day trip. |
What is Cheow Lan Lake?
Cheow Lan Lake sits entirely within Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province. Today, it spans roughly 165 square kilometres, forming one of the most distinctive landscapes in southern Thailand.
What makes Cheow Lan Lake visually striking is what was already there before the water arrived. Hundreds of limestone karst formations rise directly out of the lake’s surface, creating a dramatic panorama of jagged cliff faces and emerald green water. The combination of the lake’s calm surface reflecting the cliffs above it has earned the area the nickname “Guilin of Thailand,” after the famous karst region in southern China.
The lake is also ecologically significant. It sits inside one of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated to be over 160 million years old. The surrounding forest is home to hornbills, crab-eating macaques, gibbons, kingfishers, monitor lizards, and a wide variety of reptiles and birds. The cave systems in the limestone formations add another layer to the visit, with stalactites, stalagmites, and bat colonies that have been living in the rock for thousands of years.
For travelers doing a Khao Sok one day trip, Cheow Lan Lake is consistently the highlight of the entire visit.
Price: 1,499 THB per person
Itinerary
Day 1
08:00 a.m. Meeting Point at Khao Sok Jungle Hostel or Khao Sok Inn Hostel. Please arrive at the meeting point by yourself. You can enjoy complimentary tea or coffee upon arrival
08:30 a.m. Transfer to Cheow Lan Lake by minivan
09:30 a.m. Stop at a local market near 7-Eleven and an ATM
10:30 a.m. Long-tail boat transfer to Cheow Lan Lake
11:30 a.m. Stop for photos at the famous “Guilin of Thailand,” one of the most iconic viewpoints in the area. Admire the dramatic limestone cliffs beautifully reflected on the calm surface of the lake
12:00 p.m. Explore Pra Kai Petch, a unique limestone cave featuring impressive stalactites and stalagmites. When illuminated, the rocks sparkle and reflect light beautifully. You may also see colonies of bats living inside the cave
01:00 p.m. Enjoy lunch at a raft house surrounded by scenic lake views. After lunch, guests can relax, swim in the lake, or enjoy kayaking in this peaceful natural setting
03:00 p.m. Visit Bang Hoi Waterfall, a natural waterfall located within the lake area. Water flows gently down the limestone mountain in small cascading levels. Guests can enjoy a short jungle walk and explore slightly higher sections of the waterfall
04:00 p.m. Long-tail boat transfer back to the pier
06:00 p.m. Arrive at Khao Sok and transfer back to your hotel
Note: Waterfalls are seasonal. Water levels may be low during the dry season.
What’s Included
1 Meal: lunch
Round-Trip car transfer
Round-Trip long-tail boat transfer
English-speaking local guide
Insurance
Excluded
Cheow Lan lake pier fee: 40 THB/person
National park fee: 300 THB/person
Packing Checklist
Clothing
Swimwear
Flip-flops or sandals
Comfortable walking shoes (for jungle trekking)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Toiletries
Personal medication
Waterproof phone pouch or dry bag
Cash
Tips: Avoid large suitcases. Use a small backpack
National Park Fees
The Khao Sok Hostel Package Tour Full Day price of 1,499 THB does not include the national park entry fee or the pier fee, as these are paid directly to the Thai National Park Authority and cannot be bundled into tour pricing. Here is exactly what to budget for on top of the tour price:
- National park entrance fee: 300 THB per person, paid at the pier on the day
- Pier fee: 40 THB per person, paid at the pier on the day
- Total additional fees per person: 340 THB
Book Your One Day Trip Cheow Lan Lake Tour
Lock in your Khao Sok hostel package tour full day for just 1,499 THB. We’ve designed this all-inclusive day to cover everything: transport, a local guide, a floating lunch, and plenty of lake time. Because this is the top-rated Khao Sok one day trip, we recommend booking in advance, especially during peak travel months. By booking directly through our site, you get the best available rate and personalized service from our hostel team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What time does the Cheow Lan Lake full-day tour start and finish?
A: The meeting point is at Khao Sok Jungle Hostel or Khao Sok Inn Hostel at 8:00 a.m. The minivan departs at 8:30 a.m. The tour returns to Khao Sok at approximately 6:00 p.m. Plan your accommodation check-out and onward travel around these times.
Q: Is the Khao Sok one-day trip suitable for children?
A: Yes. The tour is suitable for children who are comfortable on boats and can manage a short jungle walk to the waterfall. The physical level is easy to moderate overall. The cave visit involves some ducking and uneven ground, which younger children may find tricky. If you are traveling with young children, contact us before booking so we can advise based on their age and ability.
Q: Do I need to be able to swim to join the lake tour?
A: No. Swimming is optional and takes place in a calm, supervised area at the floating bungalows. Non-swimmers can sit out the swimming portion and still fully participate in every other part of the tour including the boat ride, cave visit, viewpoint, and waterfall walk. Life jackets are available on the boat.
Q: What should I bring on a Cheow Lan Lake day trip?
A: Swimwear, a change of clothes, comfortable walking shoes, flip-flops, sunscreen, insect repellent, a waterproof phone pouch or dry bag, cash for park fees (300 THB) and the pier fee (40 THB), and a small backpack. Leave large suitcases at the hostel – luggage storage is available free of charge for guests.
Q: Can I combine the Cheow Lan Lake full-day tour with other Khao Sok activities?
A: Because the lake tour is a full-day experience with a packed schedule, it isn’t possible to fit other major activities into the same day. However, many guests choose to book activities like jungle trekking, river tubing, or the Elephant Bath Experience for the day before or after their lake trip. If you want a seamless experience that includes multiple activities, we recommend our 3-Day, 2-Night package, which conveniently bundles the lake tour, a night safari, and your hostel stay into one easy booking.
Q: What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?
A: Tours run in light to moderate rain, which is normal in Khao Sok. The lake and cave visits are manageable in wet conditions, and the forest is arguably at its most dramatic after rain. In the event of severe weather or conditions that make the tour unsafe, we will contact you in advance to reschedule. If you have concerns about weather on your specific date, get in touch with us at info.khaosokjunglehostel@gmail.com.