Khao Sok, Surat Thani

Tours

Cheow Lan Lake Day Tour

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This was no ordinary boat trip. Cheow Lan Lake delivered one of the most breathtaking and otherworldly days of our journey through Thailand.

The experience began at the pier, where we paid our national park entry and pier fees before boarding a private longtail boat. No tour groups. No schedule. Just the two of us, a guide, and a vast expanse of water stretching into the rainforest.

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As the boat glided across the lake, time seemed to slow. The surface was glassy and still, flanked by mist-shrouded limestone cliffs that rose like sentinels from the water. The silence was profound, punctuated only by the gentle hum of the engine and the distant call of birds.

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Our first stop was the Three Sisters: a trio of towering rock formations standing dramatically in the centre of the lake. Even in photographs they appear surreal, but nothing compares to seeing them emerge from the morning mist in person. Their scale, their symmetry, their solitude, it was spellbinding.

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Next, we moored at a floating raft house, one of the iconic bungalow clusters suspended above the water. We chose not to swim due to the enforced life jacket policy, but the stillness was its own reward. We sat on the timber deck with cold Cokes and a packet of crisps, watching the jungle reflect on the water’s surface in quiet reverence. It was unplanned, unhurried, and perfect in its simplicity.

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Earlier, we had been offered a cave trek. We declined, preferring to skip any encounters with snakes, spiders, or waist-deep water. No regrets.

Instead, our captain took us to a remote cove for a spontaneous swim. Here, the water was warmer, the surroundings quieter, and best of all, no life jackets were required. Slipping into the lake felt like entering liquid glass, so smooth and silent it barely seemed real.

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Then came the finale.

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As dusk approached, our boat idled near a cliffside where the forest canopy thickened. We waited. Suddenly, the sky burst into motion as thousands of bats emerged from the treetops, spiralling into the twilight in a frenetic, hypnotic cloud. Even our guide and captain reached for their phones, grinning as though they were witnessing it for the first time.

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Locals refer to them as “chicken bats,” named for the rhythmic flapping sound that echoes across the water when they take flight. These are fruit bats, essential pollinators and seed-spreaders that sustain the rainforest’s delicate balance. Watching them rise into the sky felt both primal and cinematic.

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On the return journey, we made one final stop at a mountain viewpoint. The sun had dropped low, casting golden light over hazy ridgelines and distant jungle peaks. It was a view that left us quiet. Not just from awe, but from the recognition that we had experienced something rare.

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Something unforgettable.