Khao Sok rafting: Bamboo river, limestone lake & temple

Bamboo rafting lets you drift past monkeys and exotic birds on calm water.

A full-day tour of Khao Sok National Park combining bamboo rafting on the river, a long-tail boat cruise across Cheow Lan Lake, and a visit to Wat Manee Sri Mahathat temple. You start by paddling a bamboo raft through rainforest, then switch to a motorized boat to explore the lake's limestone cliffs and caves, swim or kayak in the emerald water, eat Thai lunch at a floating raft house, and finish at the temple's serene grounds. The tour includes park entry, transport, an English-speaking guide, and a memorial bamboo coffee cup and hat from the rafting section.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake

• Bamboo rafting on Khao Sok River
• Boat cruise on Cheow Lan Lake
• Enjoy Thai lunch at floating raft house
• Swim, kayak, or relax by water
• Visit Wat Manee Sri Mahathat temple

The experience

Khao Sok National Park sits in southern Thailand as a stretch of ancient rainforest broken by limestone karsts and the emerald expanse of Cheow Lan Lake. The day starts with a pickup in a Toyota Commuter van or Coaster, then moves straight into the water: you board a bamboo raft and paddle down the Khao Sok River, drifting past towering trees, limestone cliffs, and the wildlife that lives in them. Monkeys, gibbons, hornbills and other birds. The current is calm enough that the pace is set by your paddle, not by a motor, and the guide points out what moves in the canopy and the water.

Once you leave the river, a long-tail boat takes over and carries you across Cheow Lan Lake, where the limestone walls rise straight from the water and the lake itself stays so still it mirrors them. You have time to swim or kayak in the water, explore caves if the water level allows, and simply sit with the scale of it. Lunch is a Thai set menu served at a floating raft house on the lake: the kind of meal built from popular local dishes, not a tourist approximation. Bottled water comes throughout the day.

The final stop is Wat Manee Sri Mahathat, a temple in Phang Nga known for its intricate architecture, Buddha statues, and the quiet that surrounds it. The temple grounds are landscaped with greenery and designed for reflection. You'll see the crafted stupas and murals that depict Buddhist teachings, then return to your hotel. The whole day runs about nine and a half hours from pickup to drop-off, and the national park fee is already built into the price. You also receive a memorial bamboo coffee cup and hat as a keepsake from the rafting section.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off in a Toyota Commuter van or Coaster.
• bamboo rafting on the Khao Sok River with a memorial coffee cup and hat.
• long-tail boat cruise across Cheow Lan Lake.
• swimming and kayaking time at the lake.
• Thai set menu lunch at a floating raft house.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• entry to Khao Sok National Park.
• visit to Wat Manee Sri Mahathat temple.
• English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Khao Sok from Khao Lak hotelsGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:00Khao Sok, departing from Khao Lak hotels: Designed for guests staying in Khao Lak hotels, with a joining transfer to our main tour vehicle from Phuket. Pickup is included

Wonders of Khao Sok, departing from KrabiGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:00Wonders of Khao Sok, departing from Krabi: Designed for guests staying in Krabi hotels, with a joining transfer to our main tour vehicle from Phuket. Pickup is included

Discovery of the Wonders of Khao Sok with Guaranteed DepartureGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and ThursdayDepartures at 06:00, 06:30, 07:00 and 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Odeon Tours Thailand

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to paddle a raft yourself rather than sit in a motorized boat the whole day. The bamboo section gives you the pace and the quiet, while the long-tail boat handles the distance across the lake. The guaranteed departure means the tour runs even with just one booking, so you don't wait for a group to fill.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Khao Sok River like when you're on a bamboo raft?

The Khao Sok River flows calm and slow through rainforest, letting you paddle at your own pace while spotting monkeys, gibbons, hornbills and other birds in the canopy and along the banks. Towering limestone cliffs frame the water, and the guide points out wildlife as you drift.

Can you swim and kayak at Cheow Lan Lake, or is it just a boat ride?

Cheow Lan Lake includes time to swim and kayak in the emerald water. You can also explore caves if the water level permits, and the long-tail boat gives you access to the limestone cliffs and the lake's quieter sections.

What kind of lunch do you get on this tour?

Lunch is a Thai set menu served at a floating raft house on the lake, built from popular local dishes rather than adapted for tourists. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

Does the tour include the national park entry fee?

Yes, the Khao Sok National Park fee is included in the tour price, so there are no separate park charges to pay on the day.

What do you take home from the bamboo rafting section?

You receive a memorial bamboo coffee cup and hat as a keepsake from the rafting part of the tour.