Two Days / One Night at Cheow Lan Lake

Introduction

An overnight trip to the Cheow Larn lake is one of the classic trips on offer in the region and many people, after finishing a 2 week holiday arranged by us, tell us in their feedback form that this overnight trip was one of the best things, or the best thing, they did on their trip.

Unfortunately other people don't have such a good time, fo the following reason:

• There are several floating rafthouses on the lake, which vary in quality from basic but comfortable to very poor - the worst of them have leaking roofs, grubby sheets and thin, lumpy mattresses.

• For groups of less than 6 people, we can't choose which rafthouse you go to, you join up with other visitors booking with other agencies and go to whatever rafthouse other people are going to that day.

• For groups of 6 people or larger, we can choose which rafthouse you go to - as we know which the best ones are, you can be sure of a comfortable place to sleep.

For groups of less than 6 pax, you have to be willing to take your chances (you may end up with a leaking roof and uncomfortable mattress) or not book this trip. For hardier travellers we still reccommend you go, as you will feel that the many charms and thrills this trip offers are worth one night's discomfort. Those after quaranteed comfort, however, should not book.

Itinerary

Day One

	We depart from Khao Lak at 8am or from Khao Sok at 9am. Adventurers picked up in Khao Lak and who have all their luggage with them will deposit their large bags, under lock and key, at Khao Sok Green Valley Resort.
One hour by car brings us to Cheow Lan Lake. We spend one hour exploring the lake by longtail boat, getting a chance to see some of the 100 dramatically-shaped limestone islands which were formed when the lake was made in 1982. We get close to the 200m high limestone cliffs, at spots where the water is deep, so that more adventurous visitors can climb up and then jump in.
	We arrive at the floating raft-house for lunch, a swim and maybe a snooze. After lunch, we optionally trek to the viewpoint, then back down the mountain, returning to the rafthouse for dinner. After dinner we take a water-borne night safari on the longtail boat, looking for nocturnal animals such as civet cats and slow loris.

Day Two

	After breakfast we depart on a four hour trek to the Namtaloo cave, which for many is the highlight of the tour and which was used as a hideout by communist ex-student guerrillas between 1975-1982. The jungle trek to the Namtaloo cave takes us deep into the rainforest, across streams and through bamboo thickets. The Namtaloo cave is easily the most exciting in southern Thailand and is very highly recommended. It takes about two hours to reach the cave entrance, where we stop, rest and have lunch.
The cave, whose limestone walls and roofs are decorated by stalagmites, stalactites and weirdly- and wonderfully-eroded limestone, is home to many cave dwellers - cave crickets, cave toads, hunter spiders, scorpions, spiders and many varieties of bats. The trek through the cave takes up to one hour. After we pass a waterfall inside the cave, we reach deeper water. Most visitors entrust their cameras and valuables to the guide, who climbs across this section.
	After returning to the floating bungalows, we spend the afternoon relaxing and canoeing, then return to Khao Sok Visitor Centre or to Khao Lak.

Note - for groups of 6 or more in high season, we can guarantee that you will go to the Namtaloo cave, if weather permits. For smaller bookings, however, we cannot guarantee this - the chance that you will get to go (weather permitting) is very high, but sometimes you will have to join with another group who have a child too small to take to the Namtaloo cave, so you won't be able to go either. Usually there are quite a few groups going to the lake on any given day and we can almost always join you up with a group that doesn't have a small child in it, but this is not guaranteed.

The chance of not being able to go to the cave because of bad weather is greater than the chance of not being able to go because you have to join up with another group which includes a small child. Advice: hope for the best and book.

Prices

Children less than 12 years old - price THB 2,500.

Pickup and drop off at Khao Sok included. Pickup and drop off at Khao Lak THB 2,500 each way extra, per taxi.

Included

• All food and water
• Accommodation and transport
• An experienced guide who speaks good English

Excluded

• National Park fees (currently THB 300 per person)

What to bring

• 2 changes of clothing. Shorts and T-shirts or singlets are ideal for the treks. You might want a long sleeve top and long trousers for the night
• Sandals with straps or trainers are ideal for the cave trek because of the water, walking boots can be worn but they will get wet. Camera, torch, flashlight, mosquito repellant. Small amount of money for soft drinks or beer

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