Khao Sok

Between the islands and Koh Samui we spent one night somewhere completely different: a floating resort on Cheow Lan Lake, in the middle of Khao Sok National Park. Emerald water, limestone mountains covered in jungle and nothing else around. We were there from 14 to 15 December 2023.

Where to Sleep?

We stayed at Panvaree The Greenery, a floating resort on the lake. The resort organises the boat there and back, the meals and the boat trips at sunset and sunrise.

Getting there from Railay

• 7.30am: private long-tail boat from Railay East pier to Ao Nang, about 30 minutes.
• 8am: private taxi from Ao Nang to Ratchaprapha Pier, at the dam on Cheow Lan Lake.
• 11am: arrival at the pier. The meeting point is Baipad restaurant, where there is a Panvaree The Greenery check-in sign.
• 11.30am: the boat leaves the pier for about an hour across the lake.

Day 1

We arrived around 12.30pm, checked in and went straight to lunch at the restaurant. The afternoon is for the lake: swimming, exploring by kayak or simply doing nothing at all.

At 5pm there is a boat trip to watch the sunset over the mountains, and dinner at 6.30pm.

Day 2

At 6.30am a boat takes you out to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Then breakfast at 7.30am, a little more time to relax, check-out at 9.30am and the long-tail boat back to the pier, arriving around 10.30am.

From the pier we took a van and a ferry to Koh Samui, our last stop.

Tip: Pack light for this one, with swimwear and something warm for the early morning boat.