Pray to Ai Khai, Then Sleep on a Raft at Cheow Lan
A Cross-Province Trip: Nakhon Si Thammarat to Surat Thani

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani sit right next to each other, and the drive from Sichon across to Ban Ta Khun doesn't take long, so it's easy to pair the two provinces' most popular spots into one trip. On the Nakhon side there's Ai Khai at Wat Chedi, the temple boy that lottery-and-luck believers across the country turn to for guidance. On the Surat side there's Cheow Lan Lake, where limestone peaks rise out of emerald-green water, earning it the nickname Thailand's Guilin. This plan suits people driving themselves, and it works out best if you go as a group or a family.

Trip overview: why pair these two places

The main route is Highway 401, which runs along the coast from Nakhon Si Thammarat through Sichon and Khanom into Surat Thani, all the way to Ban Ta Khun, the gateway to Cheow Lan Lake. It's the same single road that strings together Wat Ai Khai, the seaside cafes, and the dam, so you don't have to double back.

• Day 1 — Head into Nakhon Si Thammarat city, visit Phra That, eat southern food, spend a night in town
• Day 2 — Drive north to Sichon, pray to Ai Khai at Wat Chedi, stop at a seaside cafe, then cross into Surat and spend your first night on a raft at Cheow Lan
• Day 3 — Watch the morning mist over the lake, take a boat ride for photos, then drive back
• Rough distances — Nakhon Si Thammarat city to Sichon is about 65 km; Sichon to the Ratchaprapha Dam pier is about 110–130 km, around 2–2.5 hours of steady driving

Ai Khai at Wat Chedi: how to pray and how to make a wish

Wat Chedi is in Chalong subdistrict, Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, open for prayer roughly 6 a.m.–8 p.m. every day. This is the home of Ai Khai, a wooden figure of a temple boy whom people believe grants what you ask for, especially when it comes to trade, luck, and work. It's already busy on weekdays; weekends and long holidays get extremely packed, so leave extra time for parking and queuing.

• Popular offerings — Firecrackers, plaster rooster sets, red soda, and rooster figurines. Stalls selling offering kits line the front of the temple, so you can buy them on the spot
• How to make a wish — Light incense, state your name and address, then ask for what you want and say what you'll offer in return if it comes true. Most people pledge firecrackers or a rooster set
• Fulfilling the wish — If you get what you asked for, you have to come back and follow through on what you pledged. There's a spot inside the temple to set off firecrackers, and the sound goes off all day long
• Souvenirs out front — There's plenty of Nakhon food and gifts for sale, from snacks to fruit to amulets, so you can shop before you leave

Stops between Sichon and Khanom before crossing provinces

Once you leave Wat Chedi, there's no need to rush off. The Sichon–Khanom stretch is a coastal belt with several beachside cafes and good southern restaurants, so you can refuel before the long drive to the dam. The prices below are approximate, and you should double-check each place's opening days, since some have a regular weekly closing day.

Crossing into Surat: what is Cheow Lan Lake?

Once you cross into Surat Thani, the destination is the Ratchaprapha Dam pier in Ban Ta Khun. This dam holds back the Khlong Saeng river, creating a large lake inside Khao Sok National Park. The old limestone peaks became hundreds of islands rising out of the water, shaped like China's Guilin. The spot people photograph most is Khao Sam Kloe, the three-peaked mountain that's the signature image of the place. The real charm is taking a longtail boat in to sleep on a raft house in the middle of the water, then waking up early, opening your door, and finding mist drifting over the lake.

• Location — Ratchaprapha Dam pier, Ban Ta Khun, Surat Thani, about 90 km from Surat city, then turning off Highway 401 for another 12–14 km
• Khao Sok park entry fee — Around 100 THB for Thai adults, around 50 THB for children (foreigners pay more)
• Best season — The deep-green water and morning mist are most beautiful in late rainy to early cool season, around November to February
• Phone signal — In the middle of the lake the signal is weak to nonexistent, so charge your devices fully before getting on the raft

Most first-timers find it easier to buy a tour package for an overnight stay than to book it themselves, because chartering a longtail boat on your own is expensive. A typical 2-day, 1-night tour starts at around 3,000–3,800 THB per person and includes transfers from the pier, the tour boat, raft accommodation, several meals, life jackets, and insurance. Local operators people use often include Phromthong Yai Tour, Cheow Lan Holiday, and Guilin Lake, and most are contacted by Facebook or by phone in advance.

The 3-day, 2-night plan: pray to Ai Khai, then sleep on a raft

Activities on the lake: what can you do once you're there?

Before you go: a checklist

• Cash — Both the offering kits at the temple and the activity fees at the dam run mostly on cash, and there are no ATMs in the middle of the lake
• Shoes that can get wet — There's wading and cave-walking at the dam, so strap-on sandals or old sneakers beat slippery flip-flops
• A dry bag — To protect your phone, camera, and power bank, since almost everything at the dam gets wet
• Fill up before Ban Ta Khun — Petrol stations are sparse near the dam, so fill the tank back in Sichon or in Surat city
• Plan around the signal — Tell people at home in advance that you'll be out of contact while you're at the dam
• A light jacket — Early mornings on the water are colder than you'd expect, especially in the cool season