Khao Sok Cheow Lan

Khao Sok

Khao Sok National Park comprises 60,000 square kilometres (or about 140,000 acres) of spectacular limestone cliffs, rainforest, and bamboo jungle.
Located in the central mountainous spine of southern Thailand (view map), Khao Sok is home to a wide variety of animals, plants and birds. Elephants, tigers, tapirs, hornbills, Asiatic black bear and wild deer still exist in harmony with nature in this pristine natural wilderness.

Cheow Lan (Rachabrappha) Lake

The park abounds in streams and waterfalls. In addition, since 1982, the park has been home to the 28 kilometre long Cheow Lan (also spelt as Chieow Laan) lake, which at the time, formed behind the newly constructed Cheow Lan Dam.

When the dam was built, there was a major effort to save the animals whose habitats were flooded. This was achieved by evacuating them by boat and truck to other parts of the park.

Today, the edge of the reservoir provides one of the best places to spot wild animals such as hornbills, gibbons, barking deer, wild elephant and boar. The lake and dam are known by two names – Chieow Laan and Rachabrappha. Staying at one of the floating rafthouses at the lake is an experience not to be missed.