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Khao Sok is really two visits: the land side around the village and the lake side, reached by boat from the dam. Most itineraries are built around that split, and the night on the lake is the part people plan first.
Below you will find a one-day plan, the two-day and three-day versions, and the night on the lake step by step. Prices are shown only for the overnight tours, as read on 29 September 2026: they change, so check the live price on the partner's page.
Khao Sok itineraries at a glance
| One day | A day trip to the lake by boat, or the land side around the village: the two entrances are not covered by one visit |
|---|---|
| Two days, one night | The classic: dam, boat, night on a raft house, back the next morning |
| Three days | A village night with the forest and a guided night safari, then one night on the lake |
| Getting there | Minivan from Surat Thani in 1 h 45 to 2 h 30, from Krabi 2 h 30 to 3 h 30, from Phuket 4 to 5 h in a shared minivan (see how to get there) |
| Lake costs | A separate fee zone: an entrance fee at the pier plus about 40 THB per person pier charge, and the park's long-tail boat from 1,800 THB. Check what your package includes. |
| Best season | The dry season, January to March or April, is the easiest for trails; see the seasonal guide |
One day in Khao Sok: the day trip
A Khao Sok day trip usually means a boat trip on Cheow Lan Lake with lunch, starting from the dam. It shows the karst peaks and the floating houses, but you go back the same day and miss the evening and the morning on the water.
The other way to spend one day is the land side: forest trails from the park headquarters and a guide for anything long. Because the two entrances are 65 to 67 km apart, one day gives you one side or the other, not both. Day trips and their formats are compared on the tours page.
Two days, one night: the classic itinerary
This is the itinerary most people mean when they search for a Khao Sok 2 day 1 night tour with floating bungalows. Day 1: travel to the dam in the morning, take the boat to your raft, spend the afternoon and evening on the water. Day 2: the early lake in the morning, breakfast, then the boat back to the pier and your onward journey.
It is short, but it is enough to see the lake in the light that day trips miss. The next section goes through the night in order, and the floating bungalows guide compares the rafts.
Three days: forest and lake
With three days you can add the land side. Day 1: arrive in the village, walk the trail near the park headquarters and, with a guide, join a night safari: guides are required for night safaris and long walks. Day 2: move to the lake side, a separate outing of roughly 65 to 67 km by road, board at the dam and sleep on a raft. Day 3: the morning on the lake, then the boat back and your onward journey.
If you would rather have one ready-made package, there are also three-day tours that combine the jungle and the lake; the table below lists one. See where to stay for the village side of the plan.
The night on the lake, step by step
Exact times depend on the raft and the package. The times quoted are those published by the two operators named, and the rest is an order of events rather than a schedule.
| Step | What happens | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Meeting and transfer | You meet at the pick-up point or come by minivan to the dam area | Praiwan Raft House lists boarding between 11:30 and 12:30. The lake entrance fee is paid at the pier if it is not in your package. |
| 2. Boat to the raft | A long-tail boat takes you across the reservoir, past limestone peaks | The lake cannot be visited without a boat. The park's long-tail rate starts at 1,800 THB for a private boat. |
| 3. Check-in and lunch | You settle in and eat at the raft's restaurant | Meals are usually part of the package: Praiwan's one-night formula includes three meals |
| 4. Afternoon activities | Swimming, kayaking, a jungle walk or a cave visit, depending on the raft | Coral Cave and Khao Sam Kloe are named in Praiwan's programme; 500 Rai names the Pa Ka Rang, Pra Kai Petch and Nam Ta Lu caves. Some caves close in the rainy season. |
| 5. Evening safari | An evening safari if your raft offers one, then dinner | 500 Rai runs a wildlife safari from 17:00 to 18:30. Wildlife is hard to see: no sighting is guaranteed. |
| 6. Night on the raft | A mattress or a bungalow on the water, depending on the raft | Praiwan has electricity from 18:00 to 07:00; 500 Rai has no Wi-Fi or mobile network |
| 7. Morning mist and sunrise | Early sightseeing on the water before breakfast, when mist can lie over the lake | 500 Rai's early cruise runs from 07:00 to 08:00. Mist and sunrise depend on the weather. |
| 8. Breakfast and return | Breakfast, a last swim or kayak, then the boat back to the pier | Confirm the return time with your operator if you have a bus or flight |
One night or two on the lake?
One night is enough to see the lake at both ends of the day and is what most itineraries and overnight tours sell. Two nights give you a slower rhythm and time for more activities: Praiwan's two-night formula, for example, includes six meals.
A good compromise for a longer trip is one night on the lake and the other nights in the village, where the forest trails and the guided walks are. Where to stay names the village options and the decision between lake and village.
What is included and what costs extra
- Usually included in a package: the night, the meals and the boat. Compare packages on what they include, not on the headline price.
- Often extra: the lake entrance fee at the pier, the pier charge of about 40 THB per person, and any private boat.
- To check: whether transport to the dam from your hotel or from Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani is included; the tour listing says.
- Guides: night safaris, long treks and caves require a guide. Guide rates of roughly 800 to 1,000 THB for half a day and 1,200 to 1,500 THB for a full day per person are an order of magnitude, not a fixed rate.
What to pack for a night on the lake
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel: swimming and kayaking are part of most packages.
- A small bag: you travel by boat, so pack light.
- Cash: the park entrance is paid in cash at the ticket counter.
- A torch or head torch: electricity is limited on some rafts.
- A power bank: there is no Wi-Fi or mobile network at some rafts, and power can be off overnight.
- Sun and insect protection: you spend the day outdoors.
Overnight tours compared
The from-prices below were read on the partner's site on 29 September 2026. They change, so treat them as a guide and check the live price, dates and inclusions on the product page before you book.
| Tour | Format | From price (29/09/2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight Cheow Lan Lake floating raft house | One night in a raft house, as a ready-made tour | from 137 USD |
| Overnight raft house and Coral Cave | One night with a visit to the Coral Cave | from 143 USD |
| Private tour, 2 days and 1 night | Cheow Lan Lake and a cave, at your own pace | from 417 USD |
| 3-day nature and jungle tour | Three days including Cheow Lan Lake | from 464 USD |
Prices were read on 29/09/2026 and they change
The tour prices on this page are the partner's from-prices on that date and will move with the season and the group size. Rules on visas, health and safety are not covered here: use the official Thai and home-country sources.
Tours with a night on the lake
See all toursOvernight on the lakeKhao Sok: Overnight Cheow Lan Lake Floating Raft House
- One night in a floating raft house on Cheow Lan Lake
- Booked as a ready-made overnight tour
Best for: Travellers who want a night on the water without arranging each part themselves.
Check price & availability →
Overnight + caveKhao Sok: Overnight Raft House Cheow Lan Lake & Coral Cave
- Overnight stay in a floating raft house on the lake
- Includes a visit to the Coral Cave, as named in the listing
Best for: Travellers who want a cave visit added to their night on the lake.
Check price & availability →
Private, 2 daysKhao Sok: Private Tour 2 Days/1 Night Cheow Lan Lake & Cave
- Private tour over 2 days and 1 night
- Cheow Lan Lake and a cave, as named in the listing
Best for: Small groups and families who prefer to travel on their own schedule.
Check price & availability →
3 daysKhao Sok National Park: 3-Day Nature & Jungle Tour at Cheow Lan Lake
- 3-day nature and jungle tour
- Includes Cheow Lan Lake, as named in the listing
Best for: Travellers who want the jungle and the lake in one ready-made package.
Check price & availability →Last verified 29 September 2026
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Two days and one night: travel to the dam, take the boat to a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, sleep on the water and return the next morning. It is the most booked format.
Two days and one night is enough to see the lake in the morning and evening light. Three days let you add the forest and a guided night safari on the land side.
Yes, as a boat trip on the lake or a visit to the land side. The two entrances are about 65 to 67 km apart by road, so one day does not cover both.
It depends on the raft and the package. For example, Praiwan Raft House lists boarding between 11:30 and 12:30. Confirm the meeting time and the return time with your operator.
Usually the night, the meals and the boat. The lake entrance fee and the pier charge of about 40 THB per person can be extra. Read the inclusions of the specific tour.
It varies. 500 Rai Floating Resort has no Wi-Fi and no mobile network; Praiwan Raft House has electricity from 18:00 to 07:00. Bring a torch and a power bank.
Nothing is guaranteed: wildlife is hard to see under the canopy. Treat the safari as a chance, not a promise.