Longtail Boats at Chiew Lan Lake Pier in Khao Sok National Park

Traditional longtail boats rest at a wooden pier on Chiew Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park. Experience private boat tours, floating bungalows, and unforgettable Khao Sok adventures in Thailand.

Rain falls gently over the wooden pier as traditional longtail boats wait quietly on the calm waters of Chiew Lan Lake inside Khao Sok National Park. The dramatic limestone mountains rise in the background beneath a vast tropical sky, creating a scene that perfectly captures the raw atmosphere of Khao Sok Thailand. This is where every journey across the lake begins — a simple dock that leads into one of the most spectacular freshwater landscapes in Southeast Asia.

Located within the boundaries of Khao Sok National Park, Cheow Lan Lake stretches across flooded jungle valleys formed after the creation of Ratchaprapha Dam. The boats moored at the pier are essential to exploring the hidden corners of Chiew Lan Lake, carrying visitors through winding channels, beneath towering karst cliffs, and toward floating bungalows nestled deep in the rainforest.

A classic Khao Sok boat tour starts just like this: stepping from the dock into a longtail boat, feeling the cool breeze across the lake, and watching mist move slowly across the mountains. Whether part of a Khao Sok 2 days 1 night package or a customized Khao Sok private tour, the boat ride across Chiew Lan Lake remains the defining highlight of any visit to Khao Sok National Park.

During the green season, rain showers enhance the atmosphere, deepening the colors of the jungle and adding a cinematic quality to the lake’s surface. For many travelers, these moody skies and dramatic mountain silhouettes are what make Khao Sok Thailand so different from coastal beach destinations. Instead of ocean horizons, visitors are surrounded by freshwater wilderness and ancient rainforest.

From this quiet pier, adventures unfold — wildlife safaris along the shoreline, cave explorations, kayaking across still waters, and overnight stays in floating raft houses. Every experience on Chiew Lan Lake begins with the simple image of a longtail boat waiting at the dock, ready to navigate the heart of Khao Sok National Park.