PHUTAWAN RAFT HOUSE
A DISTINCTIVE FLOATING STAY ON CHEOW LAN LAKE
Phutawan Raft House offers a different kind of stay on Cheow Lan Lake. Rather than focusing on luxury, it keeps the experience simple and close to the surroundings, with floating rooms facing the lake and limestone mountains rising around the raft house.
Established in 2006, Phutawan began as a small collection of floating rooms and was originally known as Khlong Mui Raft House. Over the years it has grown into one of the lake’s more recognizable raft houses, particularly for its unusual Capsule Rooms and glass-fronted wooden houses.
The rooms are simple and fan-cooled, with shared bathroom facilities located separately from the bedrooms. What makes the stay memorable is what lies just outside your door: open water, mountain views and direct access to the lake for swimming and kayaking.
For travelers who come to Cheow Lan Lake for the scenery and experience rather than hotel-style comforts, Phutawan has plenty of character. Spend the day exploring by longtail boat, walk through the rainforest to Pakarang Cave, paddle quietly around the raft house, then return for an evening surrounded by the lake and mountains.
Experience Life on Cheow Lan Lake
Phutawan Raft House invites travelers to experience the natural beauty of Cheow Lan Lake through authentic floating accommodation, breathtaking limestone scenery, and peaceful moments surrounded by nature. From sunrise over emerald waters to unforgettable longtail boat adventures, every stay offers a true connection to Khao Sok National Park.
WHY STAY AT PHUTAWAN?
DISTINCTIVE FLOATING ROOMS
Choose between the recognizable Capsule Rooms and glass-fronted wooden houses. Both are designed to make the lake and surrounding mountain scenery part of the stay rather than something you see only when you step outside.
SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS
The name “Phutawan” reflects its setting among mountains, with the evening sun disappearing behind the peaks in front of the raft house. It is a particularly attractive setting for travelers who want to wake up and fall asleep surrounded by Cheow Lan Lake scenery.
SWIM & KAYAK FROM THE RAFT HOUSE
There is no need to wait for the next excursion to enjoy the lake. Guests can swim directly from the raft house or take a kayak out during free time, subject to weather and lake conditions. Life jackets and kayaks are provided by the property.
SIMPLE, AUTHENTIC LAKE LIVING
Phutawan is not intended to feel like a conventional hotel. Rooms are fan-cooled, bathrooms are shared and electricity operates on limited hours. For the right traveler, that simplicity is part of the experience — a few days where the lake, forest and mountains matter more than resort facilities.
ROOMS AT PHUTAWAN RAFT HOUSE
TWO DISTINCTIVE WAYS TO STAY ON THE LAKE
Phutawan keeps its accommodation simple, but the rooms have something many raft houses on Cheow Lan Lake do not — a design of their own. Choose the distinctive Capsule House or the more traditional Glass-Wooden House, both floating directly on the lake with the surrounding mountains just outside.
All rooms are fan-cooled and use shared bathroom facilities. This is an authentic raft-house stay rather than a conventional resort experience, and we recommend it most to travelers who value location, scenery and time on the lake over hotel-style facilities.
CAPSULE HOUSE
Phutawan's Most Distinctive Room
The Capsule House is the room that gives Phutawan much of its character. Its unusual curved design makes it immediately recognizable, while the glass frontage keeps the lake and mountain scenery visible from inside.
Step outside onto the small terrace and you are directly over the water — a place to sit quietly in the morning, watch the mountains change with the light, or simply enjoy the feeling of sleeping on Cheow Lan Lake.
The room itself is intentionally simple. There is a fan rather than air conditioning, and bathroom facilities are shared. Choose this room for its design and setting rather than luxury.
BEST FOR
Couples • Photographers • Nature Lovers • First-Time Lake Stays
GLASS-WOODEN HOUSE
A Classic Floating Stay with a View
For travelers who prefer a more traditional raft-house feel, the Glass-Wooden House combines simple wooden accommodation with a glass frontage overlooking Cheow Lan Lake.
The room opens toward the water and surrounding mountains, with a small terrace where you can sit outside between lake excursions. It is a straightforward place to sleep, slow down and enjoy the setting without unnecessary extras.
Like the Capsule House, this is a fan-cooled room with shared bathroom facilities. The emphasis is firmly on the location — waking beside the water, swimming or kayaking from the raft house and returning after a day exploring the lake.
BEST FOR
Couples • Friends • Nature Lovers • Simple Lake Stays
IMPORTANT TO KNOW BEFORE BOOKING
Phutawan is a traditional floating raft house, not a luxury resort. All rooms are fan-cooled and do not have private bathrooms. Shared bathroom facilities are located separately, and generator electricity normally operates from approximately 18:00 to 06:00.
What you gain in return is a wonderfully simple stay on the water — surrounded by mountains, with swimming, kayaking and Cheow Lan Lake right outside your room.
THE PHUTAWAN EXPERIENCE
Simple days on the water, surrounded by the mountains of Cheow Lan Lake.
Life at Phutawan is uncomplicated. Wake to the lake outside your room, spend the day exploring by longtail boat or kayak, and return to the raft house with time to swim, slow down and enjoy the changing light over the mountains. The official resort information confirms swimming, kayaking, boat excursions and Pakarang Cave as core experiences here.
WAKE UP ON THE WATER
Morning at Phutawan is one of the best parts of the stay. Step outside your room and the lake is immediately in front of you, with limestone mountains surrounding the raft house.
Before the day becomes busy, the water is often at its quietest and the atmosphere feels completely different from staying on land. On our overnight journey, the morning can also include an early lake safari before returning for breakfast.
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EXPLORE BEYOND THE RESORT
Phutawan is more than a place to sleep. From here, head out across Cheow Lan Lake by longtail boat to discover limestone cliffs, hidden waterways and some of the lake's best-known natural attractions.
A classic journey combines Khao Sam Kler (Three Brothers) with Pakarang Cave, where the experience continues beyond the boat with a rainforest walk and traditional bamboo raft journey before entering the cave. This route is also part of Phutawan's published overnight program.
SWIM & KAYAK FROM THE RAFT
Some of the best moments at Phutawan happen between excursions.
Swim directly in the emerald water or take a kayak and paddle around the raft house at your own pace. With mountains on every side, you don't have to travel far to enjoy the landscape — sometimes it is better simply to stay close to the raft house and enjoy where you are. Kayaks and life jackets are among the facilities provided by Phutawan.
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SLOW DOWN BETWEEN TRIPS
As the day winds down, return to Phutawan for dinner and a quieter side of Cheow Lan Lake.
The name “Phutawan” itself is connected to this setting: according to the resort, it was chosen because mountains surround the area and the evening sun sets behind the mountains in front of the raft house.
There is little need for entertainment here. Dinner, the lake after dark and a night sleeping over the water are part of the experience.
CHOOSE YOUR PHUTAWAN EXPERIENCE
Private Cheow Lan Lake journeys with your own longtail boat and English-speaking local guide.
2 DAYS 1 NIGHT
PHUTAWAN LAKE ESCAPE
A good introduction to Cheow Lan Lake for travelers who want one night on the water without rushing through the main experiences. Stay in Phutawan’s distinctive Capsule Room, travel across the lake by private longtail boat and explore Pakarang Cave with a rainforest walk and traditional bamboo raft crossing.
Between trips, there is time to swim, kayak or simply sit outside your room and enjoy the mountain setting. With your own boat and guide, the journey is more personal than Phutawan’s standard join-in package and gives you greater flexibility while exploring the lake.
1 NIGHT
Phutawan Raft House
PRIVATE TOUR
Longtail boat & local guide
CAPSULE ROOM
Distinctive Floating Stay
CORAL CAVE
Rainforest Walk • Bamboo Raft • Cave
Private transfers from Khao Sok, Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi and other destinations can be arranged at additional cost.
STARTING FROM
10,900 THB per person
Capsule House
Based on double occupancy
Glass
Wooden
House
STARTING FROM
11,900 THB per person
Based on double occupancy
INCLUDES
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Private longtail boat
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1 night at Phutawan
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3 meals
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Pakarang Cave
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Morning & evening lake safari
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Khao Sam Kler (Three Brothers)
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Kayaking
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Local English-speaking guide
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National Park entrance fee
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Municipal pier fee
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Drinking water & seasonal fruit
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Travel insurance
Not included:
National Park entrance fee, pier fee, transfers to/from Ratchaprapha Pier and personal expenses.
2 Days 1 Night — Itinerary
DAY 2 — MORNING ON THE LAKE
06:30 — MORNING LAKE SAFARI
Head out by private longtail boat while the lake is still quiet. Your guide will explore the forest edges and nearby waterways, watching and listening for signs of wildlife. Wildlife sightings are entirely natural and cannot be guaranteed.
BREAKFAST AT PHUTAWAN
Return to the raft house for breakfast and enjoy your final morning on the water.
09:00 — CHECK-OUT
Check out from Phutawan and board your private longtail boat for the return journey.
SCENIC JOURNEY TO RATCHAPRAPHA PIER
Cruise back through the limestone landscape toward Ratchaprapha Pier, bringing your overnight Cheow Lan Lake journey to an end.
DAY 1 — INTO CHEOW LAN LAKE
ARRIVAL AT RATCHAPRAPHA PIER
Meet your local English-speaking guide at the pier and board your private longtail boat. From here, the road disappears and the journey continues entirely by water.
KHAO SAM KLER — THREE BROTHERS
Cruise through the limestone landscape toward Khao Sam Kler, the Three Brothers rock formation and one of Cheow Lan Lake’s best-known landmarks.
ARRIVE AT PHUTAWAN
Check in at Phutawan Raft House and settle into your floating room. Take some time to enjoy the mountain views before lunch.
PAKARANG CAVE & BAMBOO RAFT
Travel by private boat to the Pakarang Cave area. Continue on foot through the rainforest before crossing the inland lake by traditional bamboo raft to reach the cave. This combination of boat, forest and bamboo raft is one of the classic Cheow Lan Lake experiences.
RETURN TO PHUTAWAN
Head back to the raft house for some unplanned time on the lake. Swim directly from the raft, take a kayak out, or sit outside your room and enjoy the surrounding mountains. Swimming and kayaking are established activities at Phutawan.
DINNER & EVENING ON THE LAKE
Enjoy dinner at Phutawan and spend the rest of the evening at your own pace. With the day-trip boats gone, this is a quieter side of Cheow Lan Lake.
Please Note
Activities and timings may be adjusted according to weather, water levels, National Park regulations and local conditions. Wildlife sightings occur in a natural environment and cannot be guaranteed.
