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Andaman Coast
Khao Lak
A long, uncrowded stretch of golden beaches backed by jungle hills, and the gateway to the Similan and Surin Islands.
📅 2–4 nightsBeachDivingQuietNature
A long, uncrowded stretch of golden beaches backed by jungle hills, and the gateway to the Similan and Surin Islands.
Why Khao Lak? A long, uncrowded stretch of golden beaches backed by jungle hills, and the gateway to the Similan and Surin Islands.
Khao Lak is a string of long, golden beaches on the mainland coast of Phang Nga province, north of Phuket, backed by forested hills and waterfalls. It has no big nightlife strip and no high-rise sprawl - just low-key resorts, beachfront restaurants and wide sands where you can walk for kilometres. It suits families, couples and divers, and it is the main launch point for trips to the Similan and Surin Islands.
Plan on two to four nights: time for a few lazy beach days, one early start for a Similan boat trip and an outing into the jungle of Khao Lak-Lam Ru or Khao Sok.
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The nearest airport is Phuket International Airport, roughly 80 km south; a taxi or pre-booked transfer takes about 1-1.5 hours. Buses between Phuket and Ranong or Takua Pa also stop on the main road through Khao Lak, and from Bangkok there are overnight buses from the Southern Bus Terminal. Similan and Surin boats leave from Thap Lamu Pier, just south of town. Locally, most people rent a scooter or car along the long, flat highway, or use local taxis and hotel shuttles between the beaches.
The coast is a chain of beaches rather than one town. Nang Thong is the most convenient, with shops, restaurants and mid-range hotels close together, and a short walk from the jungle-backed coves of the national park. Bang Niang has a relaxed family feel and the popular evening market, while Khuk Khak and Pakarang Cape further north are home to large, spacious resorts and quieter sand. South of the centre, the small coves near the national park are prettier but more secluded. Stay central if you want to walk to dinner, further north for space and peace.
Khao Lak is Thailand's main base for the Similan Islands, reached by speedboat from Thap Lamu in about 1-1.5 hours, with white beaches, granite boulders and clear water for snorkelling and diving. Further north, the Surin Islands offer shallow reefs and the Moken village on Koh Surin Nuea. Serious divers join multi-day liveaboards to sites such as Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock, known for manta rays and whale sharks. Both parks are open only from mid-October to mid-May. Book a day or two ahead in peak season, as daily visitor numbers are capped and national park fees are added on top of tour prices.
Inland, the hills are covered in rainforest. Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park has a coastal trail to a small beach, while Ton Chong Fa and Lampi waterfalls make easy half-day outings, at their fullest in the green season. Khao Lak was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami, and the Police Boat 813 memorial, stranded almost two kilometres inland, is a sobering stop. Many visitors also add a night or a day trip to Khao Sok National Park and its lake.
Evenings revolve around beachfront seafood, simple Thai restaurants on the main road and the Bang Niang Market, with street food and stalls several nights a week. For a taste of local life, the Takua Pa Old Town walking street on Sundays is worth the drive north. The best time to visit is November to April, with calm seas and sunshine. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain and big waves, red flags on the beaches, the island parks close and many resorts shut or offer low-season rates.
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All hotels in Khao Lak →2-4 nights for beach time, a Similan snorkelling or diving day and a trip into the national parks.
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