Adventures in Thailand: Cheow Lan Lake
We ended up loving the Jungle Treehouse and Khao Sok so much, that we decided to stay an extra night! We would’ve stayed another night in Happy Treehouse, but unfortunately all of their accommodation was booked out. Luckily, they did have availability in their overnight to Cheow Lan Lake. We had planned on spending one more night in Bangkok, but we both felt like we’d done what we wanted there and we’d really come to love the jungle atmosphere and cleaner air. So we booked the trip to the lake and were on our way!
It was a couple hour journey to get there between the car ride and the boat out to the huts we would be staying in. We made a quick stop at a small shopping area on the way, as well as this pit stop with an incredible view of the lake and the dam that created it.
These are the huts that we stayed in. They were literally just one large bit of padding on a bamboo floor with two thin pillows and one bamboo window. No frills here!
There was, however, a decent-sized communal area. Here, they served us our 3 meals a day, they had a small bar (and by this I mean a cooler from which they’d hand you beers), and further out was a communal bathroom. All floating on the water!
I was starting to feel better at this point, so felt adventurous enough to dig into the full fish that they served. Most people weren’t brave enough, but this was honestly the best fish I’ve ever had in my life. Jess and I couldn’t get enough! This was the view from our hut:
After our first meal when we arrived, we were shown how to float with the lifejackets they provided (a requirement for anyone on the lake to wear). Basically, we had to wear them like big diapers! It felt so funny, and looked even funnier, but I will admit it made for a very chill floating experience in the warm waters of the lake.
After a bit of swim time, they gathered us back on the long-tail boat and took us to a different island for a hike. They were wild chickens and monkeys, and at the top of a limestone cliff was this stunning view of the lake.
I didn’t get them in a photo (although I’m not sure how well it wouldn’t shown anyway), but we saw these really amazing Great Hornbills flying below us. I’ve never really been above birds which are flying above the trees like that. It was a surreal experience.
That night, after dinner, we dangled our feet in the warm water and admired the endless stars. We had a few drinks with another guest, from Spain, and one of our guides, who taught us so much about Thai culture. We played snakes and ladders (my first experience, somehow!), and enjoyed learning about each other.
Early the next morning we woke to a beautiful sunrise and headed out on the boat for a morning safari, in search of animals who wanted to pop out for a hello. We didn’t luck out, but we were able to see some toucans which was pretty cool.
Then, we headed to a cave where we were able to see some poisonous spiders and lots of bats. I love bats!
They had packed us a fried rice lunch, which we enjoyed in a small lagoon away from other boats. I am thrilled we made the decision to stay another night out here!
Our last night of the trip was the opposite of tranquil. We opted for a night train back to Bangkok. It was, if nothing else, very much an adventure! We had originally planned on a night bus, but opted for a train in the end as it was easier to arrange. I’d seen a lot of things online about buying tickets in advance or you wouldn’t get a seat, but we didn’t find that that was the case! We popped into the train station 30 minutes before our desired train left and got beds across from each other very easily. We weren’t, however, able to get bottom bunks, but it was okay. The top ones have less room but they were definitely memorable!
I’d also heard that the busses and trains can be really cold because they pump in the AC. They did provide us with blankets, but I didn’t find that it was overwhelmingly old. Also, we’d had dinner before we got on the train, but we found out that they actually do go around and offer food, which they pick up at the stops along the way. When we first got on, there were sets of 4 seats facing one another. After a few stops, they started coming around and converting the seating areas to bunk beds. They take these down again close-ish to the last stop in the morning.
The one thing that held up to what I’d heard online is that the trains are always late! We were an hour or an hour and a half late getting in, which wasn’t problematic to our plans, but is good to keep in mind when taking the night busses/trains.
Totally worth it for the price! My advice? Bring a portable charger (no plugs), ear plugs (people watch videos without headphones), and a sleep mask (they don’t turn the lights off).
What was your favourite part of the trip? It’s hard to choose for me! If I had to decide on a top 3, I think I’d say:
Thailand was so massive, we could definitely go back to see more! I think I’d really like to see Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore next in terms of Asia. We’ll just have to see where I end up going!