Phuket International Airport (HKT) → Cheow Lan Lake (Ratchaprapha Dam) transfer
Phuket Airport to the Ratchaprapha Dam pier on Cheow Lan Lake is 153 km by road, a drive of roughly 137–172 minutes. Expect around €85–110 for a car with up to three passengers and around €100–130 for a minivan; the exact fare appears before you confirm.
- From
- Phuket International Airport (HKT)
- To
- Cheow Lan Lake (Ratchaprapha Dam)
- Distance
- 153 km
- Typical drive
- 137–172 min
The car stops where the road stops: at the pier area beside the dam in Ban Ta Khun district, Surat Thani. From there longtail boats cross the reservoir to the floating raft houses between the limestone cliffs.
Where exactly does the ride end?
Your driver takes you to the pier next to the Ratchaprapha Dam, the main gateway to the lake. It is a boat landing rather than a hotel, so have your raft-house or tour contact ready when you arrive.
The boat crossing, the raft-house stay and the national park entry fee are not part of the transfer. They are booked and paid with your raft-house operator, tour company or the park itself. Lodges in Khlong Sok village, at the western park entrance, are a different destination about an hour's drive away.
What the drive looks like
- Leaving the island
- The first part runs north through Thalang and over the bridges to the mainland of Phang Nga province.
- Mainland countryside
- Most of the trip is inland through rubber and oil-palm plantations, small market towns and forested hills.
- Highway 401 and the dam road
- Near Ban Ta Khun a junction leaves Highway 401 for the dam. The last stretch is a quieter road that ends at the reservoir.
Luggage and a night on the water
Raft houses are reached by open boat and stairs, and rooms are small. A soft bag or backpack is far easier than large suitcases; ask your operator where bigger cases can be left.
November to April is the drier, busier period. From around May the rains return and the water rises through the season; boats still run, but expect showers.
Getting back for your flight
Arrange the return pickup at the pier for when your boat lands, not when it leaves the raft house. As the first boats only go after sunrise, morning flights rarely work after a night on the lake. For an international flight, be in the car at the pier at least six and a half hours before take-off.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Cheow Lan Lake from Phuket Airport?
The Ratchaprapha Dam pier is 153 km from the airport. The drive normally takes 137–172 minutes, depending on traffic around Phuket.
Does the transfer price include the boat to my raft house?
No. The private car ends at the dam pier. The longtail boat, the raft-house booking and the national park entry fee are separate and are arranged with your operator or the park.
How much is a private car to the Ratchaprapha Dam?
A car for up to three people usually costs around €85–110 and a minivan around €100–130. The exact price is shown before booking and does not change if the flight lands late.
Is the pier the same place as Khao Sok village?
No. Khlong Sok, where most jungle lodges are, sits at the western park entrance, while the dam pier is further east in Ban Ta Khun district. They are separate drop-off points, so book the one that matches your accommodation.
Can I fly in the afternoon and still reach the raft house?
It depends on your operator's last boat, which is often in the afternoon. With a late landing, many travellers sleep near Phuket or in Khao Sok village and do the lake crossing the next morning.