Cheow Lan Lake is the reason many visitors spend a day away from the sea. It sits inside Khao Sok National Park in neighbouring Surat Thani province, a large reservoir created when a dam was built across the river in the 1980s. It flooded a valley of rainforest and left limestone karst towers standing out of green water, so the scenery looks like Ha Long Bay transplanted into the jungle. The day trip from Krabi is a long one: pickup is early, the drive takes roughly three hours each way, and most of the time is spent on the lake itself. A longtail boat carries you between the cliffs to a floating raft house, where lunch is normally served over the water, and you can swim off the platform in lake water that is calm and pleasantly cool. Tours of this kind also tend to include a jungle walk and a visit to a cave, often called Diamond Cave on the day trips from Krabi, where a short guided scramble leads to stalactites and flowstone formations, and some add kayaking. The tour we link is a full-day lake trip from Krabi, with hotel pickup and lunch. National park entry is usually paid in addition, so check the inclusions before you book. If you want longer, overnight stays on the raft houses are available, which gives you dawn and dusk on the lake when day visitors have gone.
What you will see
The lake is the highlight, and the boat ride between the karst walls is the best part of the day. Wildlife is the extra. Hornbills, macaques, monitor lizards and troops of langurs live around the shoreline, and gibbons are sometimes heard calling from the forest at dawn, though most day visitors see a few birds and monkeys at most.
The forest is old, dense and humid, so the jungle walk is more about size and atmosphere than animals. Expect steps, roots and mud in places, and a reasonable pace, with a guide leading.
Getting the timing right
The dry season from November to March gives the clearest weather and the calmest lake, though it is also the busiest period. In the green season the lake is fuller and the forest greener, and it can be very atmospheric after rain, but trails can be slippery and some activities may be cancelled when storms roll in.
Departures are early so that you reach the lake before the heat and the other groups, and the return drive is long, so you will arrive back at your hotel in the evening. Sit near a window for the drive and bring something to do.
Practical tips
Wear quick-drying clothes and sturdy sandals or trainers, and bring swimwear, a towel, insect repellent, sunscreen and a dry bag for your phone. Carry cash for the park fee and any optional extras. The trip suits families with children who can handle a long day in a vehicle, and it works well as a rainy-season alternative to the island tours.
If you want a longer stay, an overnight on the lake or a night in the national park lets you add a night safari or a sunrise boat ride. Pair it with a quiet beach day afterwards, because the journey is tiring even though the activities themselves are gentle.
What to expect
The experience
A full-day guided tour from Krabi with hotel pickup, a three-hour drive each way, a longtail ride on the lake, lunch at a floating raft house, a jungle walk and a cave visit.
Best time
November to March for the calmest weather; the green season is lush and atmospheric but wetter and more changeable.
How long
About twelve hours door to door, with around six hours spent driving.
Tips
Wear quick-drying clothes and sturdy shoes, bring swimwear and repellent, and carry cash for park entry and optional extras.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want jungle and lake scenery as a change from the beaches, and a rainy-season alternative to island trips.
- Families
- Good for children who can sit through the long drive and walk a short jungle trail; the lake swim is a hit.
- Couples
- Quiet water, limestone towers and a floating lunch make a memorable day; consider an overnight raft house for more time.
- Pair with
- A beach day, a cooking class or a gentle spa afternoon to recover from the long journey.
- Time needed
- A full day from early morning to early evening.
Good questions
How long is the drive from Krabi to Cheow Lan Lake?+
It is roughly three hours each way from the Krabi area, so most of the tour is a full day. Pickup is early to make the most of the time on the lake.
Is the national park fee included?+
Often it is not, and is collected in cash at the park. Check the inclusions on the tour and carry some baht.
Can I swim in the lake?+
Yes, swimming from the raft house platform is part of the day on most trips. Life jackets are usually available.
Will I see wildlife?+
Birds and monkeys are the most likely sightings, and gibbons are sometimes heard at dawn. Larger animals are very rarely seen on day trips.
Is it worth staying overnight?+
If you can spare the time, an overnight at the lake gives you dawn and dusk without the day crowds. Day trips are a good taster if you have only a day to spare.
