Samet Nangshe & Cheow Lan Lake: 1-Day Tour from Phuket

Two limestone landscapes in one morning, then a lake cruise and swim in the afternoon.

A full-day tour from Phuket to Khao Sok National Park that pairs the Samet Nangshe viewpoint with a longtail boat ride across Cheow Lan Lake, including hotel pickup, lunch at a raft house, and a guide in English or Thai. The itinerary stacks two scenic stops before midday, then pivots to water time (swimming and kayaking optional) before the drive back to your hotel by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Samet Nangshe and Cheow Lan Lake

• Hotel pickup and scenic drive
• Visit Samet Nangshe Viewpoint
• Explore Wat Bangthong temple
• Long-tail boat ride on Cheow Lan Lake
• Lunch and leisure at raft house
• Visit Cheow Lan Viewpoint
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with a 6 a.m. pickup from your hotel and a drive into Khao Sok. By 7:30 a.m. you're at Samet Nangshe, the viewpoint known locally as the Avatar Mountains for its dramatic limestone peaks rising out of jungle. Two hours later, the route takes you to Wat Bangthong, a temple dedicated to King Rama X, before the landscape shifts to water. The longtail boat ride across Cheow Lan Lake is the centerpiece: the boat cuts through emerald water framed by sheer rock faces, and there's a photo stop at Gui Lin Rock, the lake's signature formation.

Lunch happens at a raft house restaurant on the lake itself, and the afternoon is yours to structure. Some travelers swim in the lake. Others rent a kayak and paddle into the quieter coves. There's no schedule pressure after 1 p.m. You eat when you're ready and stay in the water as long as you want. By 3 p.m. the group gathers at the Cheow Lan Viewpoint for a final look before the drive back to Phuket, arriving between 6 and 7 p.m.

The tour includes the national park fee, all transport in an air-conditioned minibus, the longtail boat, lunch, drinking water and snacks, and a guide who speaks English or Thai. Group insurance is built in. Hotel pickup and return are part of the booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned minibus.
• national park entry fee.
• longtail boat ride across Cheow Lan Lake.
• Thai lunch at a raft house restaurant.
• drinking water and snacks throughout the day.
• English or Thai-speaking guide.
• group insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and FridayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Thailand Tours

Is this one for you?A 10- to 12-hour commitment means you leave early and return by evening, which rules out a second activity that day but leaves the morning before 6 a.m. and the night after 7 p.m. free. The afternoon lake time is unscheduled, so you can swim, kayak or rest depending on your energy and the weather.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 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 24h before the start.

What is Samet Nangshe and why is it called the Avatar Mountains?

Samet Nangshe is a viewpoint in Khao Sok National Park known for its dramatic limestone peaks that rise steeply from the jungle, resembling the floating mountains from the film Avatar. It's the first stop on the tour, reached by 7:30 a.m.

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

Swimming and kayaking are both optional during the afternoon at Cheow Lan Lake. After lunch at the raft house, you have free time to enter the water or rent a kayak. Neither is mandatory, and you can rest on the raft house deck instead.

What time does the tour end and when will I be back at my hotel?

The tour returns you to your hotel between 6 and 7 p.m., giving you the evening free. Pickup starts at 6 a.m., so the full day runs roughly 12 hours from your hotel door to your hotel door.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point, or is pickup from my hotel included?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour price. The driver collects you from your hotel between 6 and 6:30 a.m. and returns you there at the end of the day. No separate transport is needed.