Attractions of Khao Lak

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Andaman Region

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Khao Lak: places to go and things to do north of Phuket

Khao Lak has become famous among people seeking a quieter alternative to Phuket. And quiet is just what Khao Lak is all about. Very quiet.

There are few activities available for visitors here, save the basics – swimming, sunbathing on the beach, relaxing in small beach bars at sunset and enjoying beachside restaurants. On the main highway that parallels the beach, some 200 metres to the back, more and more shops are mushrooming to cater to the growing tourist trade. There are some mini-marts, car rental outlets and tailor shops.

Actual trips or activities that one can sign up for are restricted to little more than elephant trekking, visiting waterfalls or Khao Sok National Park. The latter is a two or three hour drive away, but is quite special and worthwhile for those interested in seeing primary rainforest in good condition. There is a page with information and photographs on Khao Sok in this site.

Those with an adventurous streak should rent their own car or motorcycle and drive. Here are some of the places one could visit:

Tap Lamu: this is a fishing port and Thai naval base. Also, tourist boats depart from here for the Similan Islands. There is one typical Thai restaurant beside the main jetty where one can watch the passing traffic while eating or drinking.

Takuapa: this is a typical, small Thai town, with many of the old-time wooden Chinese shophouses remaining intact alongside the more modern but less attractive concrete ones. It is not a beautiful town, but it should prove interesting for those new to Thailand. It is a short drive of about 20 kilometres north of Khao Lak.

Phang Nga town: there is a delightful, circular drive from Khao Lak to Phang Nga town and back that requires a half day or more, and preferably a map. One drives less than 10 kilometres south of Khao Lak on Route 4 to the first major intersection. Here we find Route 4 splits, and the arrows point in both directions. Both branches of this run to Phang Nga town, forming a circle. You can drive down one branch, and return on the other. The turn to the left is a smaller, prettier road that winds through valleys and mountains. The one directly south is the old, main highway and is bigger and faster. We suggest taking the winding mountain route to Phang Nga, spending whatever time you wish in that area before returning on the faster route.

There are quite a few places around Phang Nga town worth visiting, including the famous bay of towering sea mountains, something one should not miss. Follow the road signs to Phang Bay Resort at a road junction about three kilometres west of the town. Longtail boats are available at the pier adjoining the hotel, and from here one can take in the bay of spectacular mountains in the quiet of a private boat. A couple of hours out amongst the mountains should cost about 1,000 Baht. We suggest by-passing the tourist trap at James Bond Island (to which all boats will immediately take you if not told otherwise) and head past it, further out into the bay.

See our other pages on Phang Nga for more information.

The Similan Islands: this famous chain of nine small islands is directly offshore from Khao Lak, but far enough out to sea that they cannot be seen. The underwater world here is of exceptional beauty, and the Similans is now a world-renown diving destination. In the high season there are so many dive boats here and so few anchorages that boats fight for space to spend the night. There are only a few very small beaches here, and thus not many things to do here if you are not diving. The snorkelling is good, but it is a long, long way to come for that. In view of the pressure of too many people on such small areas, and the limited activities available, we are reluctant to advise visitors to go to this marine National Park other than on dive trips.

Ranong and Kaw Thaung, Myanmar: These are the Thai and Burmese frontier towns facing each other across the Ranong river, almost 200 kilometres north of Khao Lak. One can cross from Thailand into Kaw Thaung for the day without a Burmese visa and without losing your Thai visa. One takes a longtail boat from the old fishing port jetty to a small island just off the Burmese town, a few kilometres across the estuary. The boatmen take you to the Burmese immigration post where they will hold your passport till you return.

Alternatively, there is a large resort hotel with a casino, called Andaman Club, on an island adjacent to Kaw Thaung. This is Thai-owned and used mainly by wealthy Thais. But again a foreigner can cross without a visa for Myanmar. Andaman Club has its own, separate jetty with immigration post 11 kilometres north of Ranong town. Everyone in town knows how to find the large,modern Andaman Club jetty.

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