Khao Lak is located about 106 km north of Phuket town on the Andaman coast and it is, without exaggeration, one of the most beautiful tourist areas Thailand. Located in the province of Phang Nga, the resort stretches along the Andaman Sea in a continuous strip of 20 km. On one side, forested hills and mountains national park, on the other - 20 km beautiful beaches. It is popular for its serene surroundings and serves as a base for trips to nearby islands. Phuket International Airport is the starting point of the visit.
general description
There are 7 national parks within the 90 km zone around Khao Lak. The coastal strip of deserted golden beaches is one of the longest and most picturesque in Thailand. From Khao Lak you can experience the diverse nature of the national parks, from mangrove forests to karst landscapes with their unusual limestone landscapes. From here you can visit the world famous Similan and Surin Islands, enjoy the colorful coral reefs and the richness of the underwater world. Khao Lak is also the starting point for hiking trails in one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. A great way to see nature is to ride through the jungle on elephants. All this is possible during a day trip from Khao Lak.
Khao Lak differs significantly from neighboring tourist regions, specifically Phuket. Its attractions are small, secluded coastal resorts, deserted beaches, a family atmosphere, and a ban on buildings higher than the height of a coconut tree.
Compared to places like Patong, Khao Lak can be boring, especially during the low season (April-November). If exotic nightlife and related attractions are main reason your visit to Thailand, Khao Lak is not the place for you. It is designed primarily for calm family vacation, nature lovers, as well as those who seek to find something unusual for themselves.
When the disastrous tsunami of 2004 struck its devastating blow across South Asia, Khao Lak was the hardest hit area in Thailand with over 4,000 dead and over 3,000 missing. Since then, it has made an impressive recovery in its economy and is again welcoming tourists.
2004 tsunami
Khao Lak was one of the coastal areas of Thailand most affected by the tsunami at the end of 2004. The earthquake that triggered the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004 was estimated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) to be equivalent to the power of 23,000 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Tsunamis are one of the deadliest natural phenomena. A few hours after the earthquake, the killer waves spread in all directions from the earthquake zone at the speed of a jet airliner and hit the coastlines of 11 countries indian ocean. Giant waves, whose height in some places reached 15 m, irretrievably carried people into the sea, killed them in houses, beaches, streets, causing enormous damage to real estate along the coast. During the day, more than 150,000 people died or went missing (300,000 according to some sources) and millions were left homeless, making it probably the most devastating tsunami in history.
Within two hours or even less, on the morning of December 26, 2004, Khao Lak, with a population of about 5,000, became almost a ghost town as a result of the impact of the elements, becoming the most affected area of Thailand by the tsunami. About 4,000 people died, about half of them tourists. The victims were vacationers in Khao Lak, Bhumi Jensen, the grandson of King Rama IX of Thailand, as well as the famous Finnish musician and TV presenter Aki Sirkesalo with his family.
Orientation
The entire Khao Lak area stretches on both sides of the Phetkasem Road (or Highway 4). With a length of 1274 km, it is the longest highway in the country, from Bangkok to the border with Malaysia, and one of the four major highways in Thailand. The center of Khao Lak is located 106 km from Phuket Town and 76 km north of Phuket. international airport Phuket.
After hours, songthaew drivers work part-time as taxi drivers. They are waiting for their customers central regions settlements of Khao Lak. Their fares are much cheaper than in a regular taxi.
Many hotels offer free transportation to their customers throughout the day. Please contact your hotel reception for information. Also, some restaurants will offer free travel within a reasonable distance if you are a regular customer.
Beaches
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| Khao Lak Map |
The main attraction of Khao Lak are kilometers of beautiful, clean, long and almost deserted beaches. One beach imperceptibly passes into the next and so stretches for about 20 kilometers. The boundaries between them are usually marked by streams flowing from the mainland into the sea. All of them are small, but at high tide the water level rises, and it is not so easy to wade on foot. Unlike the west coast of Phuket, some of Khao Lak's beaches are available for swimming all year round thanks to a range of offshore reefs. The most popular beaches are Nang Thong and Bang Niang. The main tourist-oriented infrastructure is concentrated here.
Nang Thong beach. Nang Thong Beach is the second beach in Khao Lak if you travel north from Phuket. This is the busiest beach, in fact, local tourism originated on this beach with the construction of the first small bungalows. The most beautiful and often photographed southern part of the beach is often called Sunset Beach, but this name is not generally accepted and is not indicated on many maps with this name. The beach is located opposite the village of Ban La On - the most popular tourist center of Khao Lak with the largest number of shops, restaurants and tour operators.
Bang Niang beach. After Nang Thong beach comes Bang Niang. Both beaches are separated by a small but rather deep river. It is unlikely that you will be able to wade it, but for a small fee, the locals will transport you on their boat. After the catastrophic tsunami of 2004, Bang Niang Beach turned into the most fashionable beach in Khao Lak. Simple bamboo huts have been replaced by stylish resorts and exclusive private villas. These two beaches (Nang Thong and Bang Niang) are the most popular in Khao Lak, with the largest number of resort hotels and other tourist infrastructure.
Khuk Khak beach. Further north is Khuk Khak beach itself. If you pay attention to the map, you will notice the absence of signs indicating the presence of hotels and resorts. The lack of a large number of tourists even during the tourist season is due to the lack of hotels and resorts. The beaches of Bang Niang and Khuk Khak are separated by a small stream, at low tide you can wade it, otherwise you need to rent a bike, motorcycle or use a taxi.
Cape Laem Pakarang. Cape Pakarang is the westernmost point of the Thai mainland. Pakarang means coral in Thai. Due to the presence of corals and geographically interesting shape, Pakarang Point is an ideal place for hiking and snorkelling. When the sea recedes at low tide, small stones, fragments of coral and shells are revealed. For this reason, only a small part of the headland adjacent to Khuk Khak beach is suitable for beach holiday. But the place itself is very beautiful, a beautiful panorama of the beaches of the south and north of Khao Lak opens from the cape, dozens of species of beautiful tropical birds live in the adjacent green area.
Pak Weep and Bang Sak beaches. Cape Pakarang is followed by Pak Weep and Bang Sak beaches. These are the most northerly, quietest and least developed of all Khao Lak beaches, with clearer waters and quieter waves allowing year-round swimming. The beaches are separated from each other by small, but rather deep streams for wading. Along the Bang Sak beach promenade, there are many typical Thai cafes and restaurants that are crowded with locals on weekends.
Khao Lak beach. The above group of beaches is located north of Khao Lak National Park. The beach south of the national park (separated by a protruding mountain headland) is sometimes referred to as south beach, but more commonly Khao Lak beach. But such a name should not confuse you. When talking about the beaches of Khao Lak, we mean the above northern beaches. With a length of about 2 km, this beach covered with granite boulders is the smallest of all.
Interesting places
Lampi waterfall(Lampi). Lampi Falls is located about 30 km south from Khao Lak towards Phuket on Highway 4. When you see the blue waterfall sign, turn off the road, after 2 km the road ends and a short path continues to the waterfall. The waterfall is located in a beautiful green area, you will see much more locals here than foreign tourists. You can swim at the foot of the waterfall. This beautiful waterfall the best view is in the early morning, when the sun rising over the mountains illuminates it with its first rays.
Police Boat 813. Police boat 813 lies in an open field almost 2 km from the shore - a silent witness to the catastrophic force of the 2004 tsunami. Almost 10 years later, it remains the most famous reminder of the disaster of the time. Boat 813, along with the police crew, was in the harbor when the surging tsunami wave threw it almost 2 km from the coast. The entire crew of the boat was killed. The boat was left in the place where the tsunami wave threw it and now serves as a reminder of that tragic event. Boat 813 is located very close to main street near Bang Niang village. Nearby is an information booth about the 2004 tsunami in Thai and English, work is underway to turn this place into a Museum.
City of Takua Pa(Takua Pa or Takuapa) North on Highway 4. Takua means lead in Thai. But strangely, in the 1920s and 1930s, the city was a mining center for tin - not lead. In the old quarter of Takua Pa you will find buildings of Sino-Portuguese architecture of that period, you can wander around the shops (better in the early morning). It is located about 30 minutes north of the center of Khao Lak. The traditional Takua Pa market and river square is located in the new part of the city, not far from the bus station. The area has some good shops and restaurants along the river.
Thai boxing. Fights are held every Friday night at the Thai boxing stadium in Bang Niang. Competitions start around 21:00, try to arrive 20 minutes earlier. Tickets can be purchased directly at the entrance doors of the stadium. http://www.khaolak-muaythai.com/eng.html
Khao Sok National Park. Khao Sok National Park (www.khaosok.com) is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand. It is an hour north of Khao Lak on Highway 4. Walking is the main form of transportation, as the park has only 2 km of paved roads, and hiking trails span several tens of kilometers. Tours include jungle trekking, elephant trekking, downriver tubing, kayaking, ziplining, caves and waterfalls. Possible options: hiking through the night forest, night swimming on the lake and night rafting on the river in a canoe or rubber raft. Many tours include drinks, meals, and lodging. The nine hiking trails range in length from 2 km to 7 km each. The park information center displays small displays of local flora and fauna.
Having visited national park Khao Sok, first of all, try to see the rafflesia. These plants are notable for their huge unusual flowers, some of which reach a diameter of more than one meter and a mass of more than ten kilograms. This is the largest flower on Earth. The Rafflesia Trail is located near the National Park Information Center on Highway 401 at the 111 km sign. But finding a flower on your own is not always possible. Take a local guide, or if you spot a group of tourists with a guide, follow them until they get to the flower. A guide is not particularly needed, but if you go without one, the chances of finding a flower are small, despite all its huge size.
Along the only paved road in the national park are all guest houses. They all offer similar living conditions (mostly bungalows). Prices range from very cheap to luxurious options. Most of them have restaurants, bars, internet and travel agencies. Even during the peak season, it is not difficult to find a place to live. Below are links to sites offering accommodation in Khao Sok National Park:
It is advisable to stay in the park and book a tour lasting 3-4 days. Choose a tour that includes at least one night on the lake in a houseboat, he will leave unforgettable experience. Below are links to sites offering tours in Khao Sok National Park:
Another famous attraction of Khao Sok National Park is Cheow Lan Lake. The lake of extraordinary beauty was formed as a result of the construction of the Rachaphrapha dam on the Phra Saeng River in 1982. Despite its artificial origin, the lake was formed very beautiful thanks to the many bays that were mountain valleys, and now the whole lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Access to the Rachaphrapha dam is open to everyone. A mountain with a recreation area, cafes and restaurants adjoins the dam. The panorama of the lake from this mountain is amazingly beautiful. Bungalows are built on the shore of the lake. All of them belong to Khao Sok National Park. You can stay overnight in these bungalows (for overnight stay, you must pre-book a room in Khao Sok National Park or book a trip through a travel agency) and book trips on this beautiful lake on rafts. Combination tours with jungle trekking and cave visits are available. Cheow Lan Lake and Rachaphrapha Dam is located 2 hours north of Khao Lak off Highway 401.
Khao Lak National Park - Lam Ru. The area immediately south of Hat Khao Lak is included in the vast (125 km2) Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park. The name of the park gave the generalized name to the entire resort region - Khao Lak. The landscape of the park consists of a combination of sea cliffs, 1000 m high hills, beaches, estuaries, valleys and mangrove forests. wild nature includes hornbills, drongos, tapirs, gibbons, monkeys, and Asiatic black bears.
The Park Information Center is located just off Highway 4. It has a nice open-air restaurant on a shady hillside with beautiful view the sea and the surrounding mountains. From the restaurant, you can walk along a fairly easy 3 km round trip trail that heads along the cape and ends at a deserted beach.
Chong Fah Waterfall is a popular attraction in the park. It is located 10 km from the coast opposite Bang Niang Beach. Getting to the waterfall is easy - there is a waterfall sign on Highway 4, at this point you need to turn off and drive to the car park. A trail leads to the waterfall.
Activities in the park, in addition to visiting the waterfalls, include hiking through the rainforest, which is sure to make a strong impression on visiting vacationers. The forests of Khao Lak are not at all like the jungles of other Thai regions. Gigantic trees 50 m high, bamboo 20 m high, creepers stretching upwards for tens of meters grow here. Relaxing on the beaches of Khao Lak and not visiting the forest of the national park of the same name would be a big mistake.
What to do, what to do, tours by local tour operators
The highlight of your stay in Khao Lak is the elephant ride. Asia Safari Camp serves as a starting point combined tour elephant rides and bamboo rafting. After a ride on elephants, a small halt, lunch and then rafting down the river on a bamboo raft. The construction of the raft is quite simple: a series of long bamboo poles are tied together with two cross sections for seating and the raft is ready. The boatman pushes off with a long pole, and the raft slowly floats downstream. The journey by water takes about 20 minutes. In addition to www.khaolaklanddiscovery.com, this tour can be booked on the website of Khao Lak Travel Center www.khaolaktravelcenter.com
Diving
Khao Lak is the most convenient starting point for trips to the Similan Islands, where there are days of the best corals in Thailand with a rich underwater world. This archipelago of nine islands is a Thai national park and is considered one of the best dive sites in Asia. The park is open from December to May, closed to visitors the rest of the year. The trip to the island usually takes 1-2 hours by speedboat. Several companies offer tours for 1, 2, 3 and even 5 days. There are also several good places near the coast, local companies offering wide choose next rounds.
Sea Dragon Dive Center. This is one of the few companies offering tours all year round. The company specializes in multi-day tours with an overnight stay on board a boat, trips to the Similan Islands, Ko Bon (Ko Bon), Richelieu Rock (Richelieu Rock), local reefs and wrecks, training and PADI certification. Since the popular Similan Islands are located 60 km from the mainland (about three hours by boat), the company offers accommodation and overnight on board the boat. In this case, you will have the opportunity to stay on the islands when there is not a large influx of tourists. More geared towards divers, this company offers interesting trips for snorkellers who can choose specialized tour with accommodation on board with a discount of about 40%. Site www.seadragondivecenter.com
Similan Dive Center. Offers tours all year round. Day and multi-day trips with accommodation on board near the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock. The company is run by a local Khao Lak resident with 20 years experience in the diving industry. Website www.similandivecenter.com
Wicked Diving. Diving and snorkeling tours of 3 and 5 days to the Similan and Surin Islands with accommodation options on board, swimming with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles and reef sharks. The company also offers training and PADI certification courses. Website www.wickeddiving.com
Similan Diving Safaris. A feature of this company is four days of accommodation on board with high level comfort. The company has many years of experience in specialized trips to the Similan and Surin Islands, Bon and Tachai Islands and the world famous Richelieu Rock. If you don't have time to make multi-day trips, there is the option of day trips for diving or snorkelling in the Similan Islands and Koh Bon. Site www.similan-diving-safaris.com
IQ Diving. The company offers scuba diving, snorkeling tours on the coast of Khao Lak, visits to the Similan Islands, diving in shipwrecks. Small and large groups, some tours are family oriented. Website www.iq-dive.com
Kon-Tiki Khao Lak Diving & Snorkeling Center. Established in 1996, the company offers training and PADI certification, overnight tours on board the boat. In addition to the coast of Khao Lak, offers scuba diving tours in Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket. Website www.kontiki-thailand.com.
Manta Point Dive Center. Working in Khao Lak in 1999. One-day and multi-day (overnight on board) trips to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock. Snorkeling in the Similan Islands, training and PADI certification. Site www.mantapoint.com
Oktavia Dive Center. This company offers divers and snorkellers a number of trips to the Similan Islands. Website www.oktaviadivecenter.com
Swimming and snorkeling
Similan Dive Center. This is one of the best diving and snorkeling companies in Khao Lak. Snorkelling tours depart daily to the Similan Islands and Koh Tachai. Trips to the Similan Islands with an overnight stay for two or three days. Website www.similandivecenter.com
Similan Tour offers well-organized snorkeling on board only for 3 days and 2 nights, departing on Tuesdays and Fridays. The company is managed by Swedish management. The Swedes have built their own bungalows (Poseidon Bungalows) and offer them for rent to their clients. They are located on the southernmost beach of Khao Lak. This company has been offering tours to the Similan Islands for over 20 years. Website www.similantour.com
Khao Lak Land Discovery. Snorkeling and snorkeling tours (one day and overnight) in the Similan and Surin Islands. Germans, Swedes and British work as guides. Site www.khaolaklanddiscovery.com
Andaman Snorkel Discovery. The company offers snorkeling tours for 3 days and 3 nights in the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai and the Surin Islands. The combination of trips to these islands can be considered unique for diving enthusiasts. Website www.andamansnorkeldiscovery.com
Fantastic Similan Travel. The popular company offers snorkeling tours in the Similan Islands. Tours of this company received good feedback on the forums. www.fantasticsimilan.com
Surfing
OneTwoSurf(located on Bang Niang Beach). Equipment rental and surf lessons with a certified instructor. Tour packages include best places in the Khao Lak area, provides accommodation, meets its clients at the Phuket airport from May to November. Site www.onetwosurf.com
Pakarang Surf Shop gives surfing lessons, rental of surfboards, kayaks, rental of bungalows. Website www.pakarangsurfshop.com
climate and best time visits
The climate of the Khao Lak region is influenced by the southwest and northeast monsoons. The southwest monsoons begin to blow in April. Streams of warm moist air from the Indian Ocean move into the interior of the mainland, bringing with them significant precipitation. Peak in October, this is the wettest month in Khao Lak. The following months, under the influence of the prevailing northeasterly winds from China, make the weather much drier, with March being the hottest month.
In simple terms, Khao Lak has two seasons:
Rainy season (April to October).
dry season (November to March).
Khao Lak receives a lot of precipitation per year (3558 mm). Even in the dry season, it sometimes rains, especially at the beginning and end, sometimes heavy rainfall but mostly short-lived. On the other hand, the area is quite sunny and always warm during the rainy season, with high humidity.
From a tourist point of view, the dry season is the ideal time to visit Khao Lak. Christmas and New Year especially popular and most expensive in terms of accommodation prices. December, January and February are perhaps the most peak months for visits. During the rainy season, the cost of accommodation drops by 50%, many restaurants, bars and shops close, but some of them remain open as Khao Lak tries to attract tourists throughout all year round. Tours to the neighboring Similan and Surin Islands are also canceled between May and October inclusive due to weather conditions.
How to get thereAirplane. The nearest airport from Khao Lak is in Phuket (approximately 80 km away). Alternatively, you can choose Krabi. Both airports accept international and domestic flights.
The cost of a taxi from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak depends on the landing time: the later you arrive, the more expensive the taxi will cost. Local taxi drivers offer exorbitant prices, so we strongly recommend that you make a reservation on the official Khao Lak taxi website (www.khaolaktaxi.com) or arrange in advance with the hotel where you are going to stay to meet you at the airport. Otherwise, you will have to pay an indecently high cost of the trip, the duration of which is only 1 hour.
To save money, from the airport you first need to get to Highway 4 (about five kilometers from the airport), which regularly runs buses towards the cities of Takua Pa (Takua Pa), Ranong (Ranong) or Surat Thani (Surat Thani). Buses run only during the daytime, they all pass Khao Lak and stop anywhere along the road you ask.
Train. This is a less convenient travel option compared to the bus. nearest railroad station located in Surat Thani. From there you can take a bus to Khao Lak. By the way, the train is by far the cheapest way to get to Khao Lak. There are three classes of wagons - 1st, 2nd, 3rd. The first class is the most comfortable, has two beds and a sink, the 2nd class consists of bunk beds like our reserved seat. 3rd class carriages have slightly padded seats. You don't have to worry about food, hawkers at the stations offer many options for cheap food and drinks. The total trip (train and bus) will take about 12-14. For getting additional information about trains visit the official website railway Thailand (www.railway.co.th)
Bus Khao Lak is on the main road between Phuket and Bangkok. The distance to Bangkok is approximately 750 km along highway 4. All buses go through Khao Lak in transit, that is, there are no buses whose final stop would be in this resort region. There are many buses from Bangkok, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani and Takua Pa through Khao Lak on Highway 4. Most of them will stop at your request anywhere, VIP buses stop only at BKS bus terminals. BKS is the state bus company. Its small terminal is located near the market in the center locality Khuk Khak.
Sensimar Khaolak Beachfront Resort , description in Russian on booking.com at this link
Khaolak Laguna Resort, description in Russian on booking.com at this link
Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort, description in Russian on booking.com at this link
Mukdara Beach Villa and Spa Resort, description in Russian on booking.com by
From this article you will learn how to get to Khao Lak from Russia, from Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, Koh Samui and other places in Thailand, as well as how to get out of it.
How to get to Khao Lak from Russia
How to get to Khao Lak from Phuket airport and back
1. The easiest way to get to Khao Lak from Phuket Airport is by taxi or transfer. A taxi from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak will cost 1500 - 2000 baht per car, depending on your bargaining skills and the location of the chosen hotel. Or you can pre-order a transfer from the hotel, using this link or on the Russian-language website kiwitaxi.ru
2. On a rented vehicle.
3. On public transport. Take a bus for 100 baht from Phuket Airport to the Phuket bus station, and then buy a bus ticket to Khao Lak (100 baht per person, travel time about 2 hours). Or take a tuk-tuk from the airport to the highway (approximate coordinates: 8.111941, 98.335145) and catch a bus to Khao Lak there. We need buses to Surat Thani, Ranong, Chumphon, Takua Pa.
Khao Lak - Phuket
In the opposite direction, getting from Khao Lak to Phuket is also not difficult: you need to go to the highway and catch a bus in the direction of Phuket. If you need to get to Phuket airport from Khao Lak, then ask the driver to stop on the highway at the turn to the airport. Tuk-tukers are usually on duty there, which for 50-100 baht per person will be thrown to the entrance to the airport.
If you need to get to one of the beaches of Phuket, then get off at the bus station and look for a tuk-tuk (songteo) to the desired beach.
A taxi or transfer from Khao Lak, for example, to Patong Beach, will cost 1800 - 2200 baht. By public transport ~ 150 baht per person.
Buses run every 20-30 minutes during daylight hours (~ from 7:00 to 18:00).
This is what the buses passing by Khao Lak look like. This is the bus from Ranong to Phuket. How to get to Khao Lak from Bangkok
By plane
The best way to get to Khao Lak from Bangkok is by plane. The flight time is just over an hour, if you buy tickets in advance, you can find tickets for 800 - 1200 baht per person. Then from Phuket airport get to Khao Lak using one of the methods described above. Buy flight tickets Bangkok – Phuket >>
In the opposite direction from Khao Lak to Bangkok, bus tickets can be bought at any tour office in Khao Lak or at the hotel. VIP bus at 17:30 and 18:00, regular buses at 12:00, 15:30 and 16:30. Stop on the track.
How to get to Khao Lak from Phi Phi
1. Buy an organized transfer Phi Phi - Khao Lak (boat + minivan). Departure at 9 am, arrival in Khao Lak at 14:00 - 15:00. The cost is 750 baht per person. Can be bought online.
2. Get from Phi Phi to Phuket on your own by ferry to the Rassada Pier. Departure from Phi Phi at 9:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:30. Travel time is one and a half - two hours, the cost is 250-300 baht. From the pier, get to the nearest bus station in Phuket (it’s close, it’s literally 5-10 minutes away) for 80-100 baht per tuk-tuk, and then by bus to Khao Lak for 100 baht per person. Total way from Phi Phi to Khao Lak will cost 400-450 baht.
From Khao Lak to Phi Phi
After Khao Lak we went to Phi Phi. At first they wanted to buy an organized transfer from our hotel (minivan + boat) to Phi Phi for 790 baht, but then they found out that this journey would take too much time, as much as from 7:45 to 15:00, because. tourists are driven through Krabi, and not through Phuket, and decided to get on their own by public bus.
At 7:50 we left our hotel in Khao Lak (an excellent inexpensive hotel, I recommend it to everyone! Details about the hotel in Khao Lak), in a couple of minutes we reached the highway, where at 8 in the morning we boarded a passing bus to Phuket. We drove for quite a long time, more than two hours. I was already beginning to worry that we would miss the eleven-hour ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi. At 10:40 we arrived at the old Phuket bus station, very quickly jumped into a tuk-tuk (80 baht for two) and after 10 minutes we were at the Rassada pier. We managed to get on the ferry, but we had to buy tickets "expensively" - 600 baht per person 🙁 Moreover, if you buy tickets not at the pier, but in tour offices, they will cost 300-350 baht. But we didn’t have time to look for a tour agency at all ... The ferry left 20 minutes late, we were at Phi Phi at 13:20.
In total, the path of the Khao Lak Hotel - Phi Phi took 5.5 hours and cost 740 baht per person.
Ferry schedule Phuket - Phi Phi from Rassada Pier: 8:30, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00.
From Krabi (Ao Nang) to Khao Lak
Direct tourist minibus leaves from Ao Nang (Krabi province) to Khao Lak once a day, at 11:30. Travel time is 2-3 hours, ticket prices vary from 350 to 500 baht. Buy tickets online >>
From Aon Nang to Khao Lak one direct flight per day 
Schedule and cost of buses from Krabi As far as I know direct public bus in Khao Lak from the bus station in Krabi town no. You will have to travel with transfers. The way is long, the travel time is unpredictable, so it's easier to buy a ticket for a tourist minibus.
How to get to Khao Lak from Khao Sok
1. Buy tickets for a tourist minibus Khao Sok - Khao Lak for 200 baht per person, which will pick you up directly from your hotel in Khao Sok. Schedule Khao Sok - Khao Lak: 6:30, 8:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00. We bought tickets the day before departure.750 baht
From Surat Thani to Khao Lak can be reached by bus to Phuket. Or with a transfer: by bus to Takua Pa, and then by bus towards Phuket.
Koh Samui - Khao Lak from Lompray 
Koh Samui - Khao Lak by Pantip That's all I wanted to tell you about how to get to Khao Lak. I would also like to note the moment that in Khao Lak itself (in any case, on Bang Niang beach) group transfers(tourist minibuses) are not very common. There are few tour offices selling transfers, prices are high, there are few flights, it’s not like in Phi Phi that a transfer to anywhere in Thailand (and not even Thailand 🙂) can be bought at every step, and because of the high price competition low. I got the impression that basically everyone leaves Khao Lak by taxi or a passing bus 🙂 Here is the schedule of transfers from Khao Lak:
Schedule of transfers from Khao Lak 
Schedule of transfers from Khao Lak Updated 07.11.2019 Views 45276 Comments 95
Khao Lak was the discovery of the year for me, despite the fact that I have already been to Thailand in many places. It sounds a little loud, but I did not expect that I would like it so much. Usually I don’t go on vacation, but if the question arose where I would go for a week for a relaxing holiday, then I would go there, although there are no “bounty” beaches and some special architecture ...
But it’s soulful and less crowded compared to Phuket and even Koh Samui, which are more like cities than lost tropical resorts. In Khao Lak, there is the balance of the tourist infrastructure of the resort that I need and at the same time a small number of people.
About Khao Lak
I have been planning to visit Khao Lak for a long time, I was wondering why it is not so popular, although it is located very close to the international airport. It was necessary to fill in the gap on the blog and write your review and mini-guide. And since I also wanted to go on an excursion to and in, it turned out to combine business with pleasure.
Now there is already information about Khao Lak on the net, including sites in Russian, not like 5 years ago, but bloggers still don’t really like it. It is understandable, Khao Lak is more of a resort where you can have a good vacation, and not a place for wintering. There are no hospitals, no supermarkets, and housing for long-term rent can be counted on the fingers.
On the other hand, not winterers, but ordinary tourists they also usually go on vacation to the nearest Phuket, and not to Khao Lak, although it is not much longer to get from Phuket airport than to the same Nai Harn. Why? Apparently too quiet and calm, the place is not for those who love entertainment and nightlife.
As an option, visit Khao Lak from excursions from Phuket, it is quite inexpensive. True, in excursions the goal is not to see the beaches and the city, but to see the temples and the jungle in the area. Plus traditional elephant riding and rafting. Just keep in mind if you want something like this.
And I will list briefly what attracted me to the resort itself.
- Quiet and relaxing holiday
- Minimum parties, as the contingent is mainly European-pensioner
- There are few people on the beaches, since the town is small, and the beaches are long
- The resort looks quite nice, many cafes are nicely decorated, and the buildings have cheerful colors.
Transport accessibility: mainland so no ferry needed and not far from Phuket ()
Pretty nice alley - Bang Niang Road exit to the sea 
In general, it is very important for me that there are few people on the beach, so as not to feel like a herring in a jar, but at the same time I don’t want to relax completely on a desert island.
I know that not everyone will understand me, and perhaps such a desire for solitude is generally inherent only to residents of megacities. Although it may be my own pure understanding of relaxation, in which it is impossible to enjoy the natural beauties from the crowd.
And I will emphasize again. Perhaps it just seemed so to me, but Khao Lak in some places (mainly Bang Niang) really looks a little different, somehow more civilized and European than many other resorts. And this despite the fact that he is not very popular. For example, the beaches of Kata and Kata Noi in Phuket also look European, but there are many more people there.
Areas and beaches of Khao Lak
About the beaches of Khao Lak
It must be understood that there is no separate city called Khao Lak, this is the name of several villages / beaches combined into one resort. Moreover, most of the resort's territory is fields with palm trees, and the main attraction is Khao Lak National Park, that is, nature, waterfalls and the beaches themselves. Civilization is concentrated in just a few places.
In total, there are 7 districts / beaches in Khao Lak, of which, in my opinion, only 3 will be of interest to most, just where there is enough infrastructure necessary for vacationers. And another beach (Khuk Khak) is interesting from the point of view of sometimes coming to swim, as it is not far from the main areas, but not to live there. Therefore, we will only talk about 4 beaches and areas:
— Khuk Khuk Beach
The remaining 3 beaches (Pakarang Beach, Pak Weep Beach, Bang Sak Beach) are completely for everyone, there is little civilization there, and the beaches are worse, the dominance of Thais on weekends (they come for picking). I was also on, which is located on the territory of the national park between Khao Lak beach and Bang Niang beach, but it is not particularly interesting.
My favorite areas were Bang Nian and Nang Thong. And given that they flow one into another without a clear boundary, it is possible to live both there and there. Looking ahead, I will say that these two beaches themselves are very similar, but I would personally choose Bang Niang. Moreover, it is believed by many that Nang Thong is the first in terms of development in the resort, but it seemed to me that Bang Niang is such.
If we talk about the main areas of Khao Lak (where there is civilization), then I liked Khao Lak beach the least, despite its name of the same name with the entire resort.
Firstly, it somehow looks less neat because of the asphalt and gravel roads. Secondly, visually there is less beautiful than on the same Bang Niang. Thirdly, there is not even 7-11 there, and in fact only one small street and a couple of lanes, the area is very small. That is, the choice of cafes, hotels, shops is minimal, there is nowhere to go.
In fact, there is no choice, only one normal minimarket, and even then it’s not 7-11 after all. That is, for me it’s neither here nor there, and it’s not completely wilderness to be alone and civilization is not enough, if not alone. But maybe someone will like just such a combination.
But the beaches here are great. That part of the beach, which is opposite civilization, is fenced off from this line of casuarina, creating a shadow in the morning. First-line hotels overlook their pools with sun loungers right on the shore, for example, the chic The Anda Mani Khao Lak By Epikurean Hotels & lifestyle 
with a very high rating.
If you drive from Phuket, then, quickly passing the Khao Lak beach and passing the pass, you will go down the mountain to the village of Bang La On. To be honest, I don't know if it's necessary to know this name, because the beach is called Nang Thong. And the bus driver or taxi driver, if you tell them that you need to Khao Lak, they will bring you here. This place considered the center Khao resort Lak and the most developed, there is even a McDonald's.
The main civilization is located right on the highway, there are plenty of hotels, and there are 7-11, and a bank, and in general when you drive in the dark in the evening, everything around glows, it seems that whole city around. This entire area is strongly elongated along the highway, and, accordingly, along the coast. The distance from the highway to the beach is less than, for example, on Bang Niang. Along the entire coast there are first-line hotels, La Flora Resort & Spa Khao Lak is very praised 
, although this resort is far from the epicenter of infrastructure and almost borders on Bang Niang.
The southernmost part of the area is sometimes called Sunset Beach, either because it is good to see off sunsets there, or because there is Khaolak Sunset Resort located. But you will not find such a beach on the maps, and there is no border between the beaches at all.
Be sure (and I insist) to check for discounts or special offers on an excellent service. It will quickly and easily show you discounts in all existing booking systems. In the same Asia, for example, there are a lot of offers on Agoda.com, which are much more interesting than exactly the same hotels on Booking.com.
Nang Thong beach is good all over, I liked it. There are a lot of walking pensioners, two lighthouses, one on the shore, the second in the sea, quite often there are large stones in the water. .
It is believed by many that the most infrastructurally developed beach is Nang Thong. But it seems to me that this information is outdated, Bang Niang is in no way inferior to him, except that there is no McDonald's. But there is a whole, even 2.
At the same time, Bang Niang is more compact, since it is much less stretched along the coast compared to Nang Thong. That is, approximately the same number of cafes and hotels are located on a smaller area, and you do not need to wind kilometers to get somewhere. And in the same way, Bang Niang is not crowded even in peak season. All photos were taken by me at the end of January, and there are more on the beaches.
In general, if I chose where to stay in Khao Lak, then the hotel would be booked on this beach. Actually, I did just that when I came to Khao Lak. In any case, it's not a problem to get to Nang Tong, beach line so it doesn’t stop at all, you can go and go, which is what many pensioners do here in the morning and in the late afternoon.
The whole civilization is concentrated on the highway and near the Bang Niang Road. It goes to the beach and conditionally divides it into northern and southern parts. South part about 
Khuk Khuk beach
Khuk Khak is the same beach where it would make sense to come sometimes, living in Bang Niang or Nang Thong, for the sake of almost complete solitude and relaxation. You begin to notice the lack of civilization immediately when you turn from the main road into the fields. You go, you go, and around you are only palm trees, jungles and rare houses of local residents. Nothing else.
And just leaving for coastline, you come across several hotels and at least some infrastructure, which, in fact, is represented by these hotels themselves. Moreover, there are literally several hotels for several kilometers of the beach, you can count on the fingers.
National Park Khao Lak (Khao Lak National Park) - the highlight of Thailand, primarily attracting the attention of chic virgin nature, harmoniously combining rainforests, steep cliffs, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
The national park is located on the mainland of Thailand, near the coast of the Andaman Sea in the province of Phang Nga. Khao Lak Park is huge, its area is more than 150 square meters and it consists of two parks. In addition to the beautiful pristine nature, the park also organizes tourist and recreational activities. Here you can just relax, take a walk along the paths in the jungle, rafting down the rivers on rafting or bamboo rafts, try jeep or elephant safaris, and also feel like Tarzan and fly through the jungle on roller mechanisms along the cables stretched between the trees.
You can visit Khao Lak National Park both on your own and with a guided tour. We visited this beautiful nature reserve with a Khao Lak Safari tour while in Phuket.
The tour is designed for the whole day. One day, of course, is not enough for such a park, in such a short time it will not be possible to see even part of all the embellishments, but it is quite enough for acquaintance. In addition, this tour is very rich, partly informative, partly entertaining, and partly even relaxing. In one day you will see a lot of interesting things: mountains, jungles, turtles, the Temple-cave of the reclining Buddha, meet funny monkeys who eat right from your hands, learn how pineapples grow, ride bamboo rafts along a mountain river and try such entertainment so common in Thailand - Elephant riding. We can fully recommend this excursion to the park to everyone, from young to old. Believe me, it will be interesting!
Excursion to Khao Lak Safari includes:
Meeting (pick up from the hotel and bring to the hotel) on a comfortable minibus;
Visit to a turtle farm;
Rafting down the river on bamboo rafts;
Lunch at a local cafe;
Stop at a pineapple plantation;
Elephant ride and baby elephant show. Optionally and for an additional fee - swimming with an elephant calf;
Visiting the temple-cave of the reclining Buddha (Wat Suwan Kuha) and the mountain of monkeys;
Visiting the waterfall, if desired, swimming in the waterfall. In the dry season, the waterfall dries up, and we went on an excursion in the month of March, so we didn’t get to the waterfall.
The price of the tour also includes: insurance, drinking water, Russian-speaking guide.
Since this tour is visited daily by a large number of tourists, then, to disperse the flow, the tour route may change. Someone first visits the turtle farm, and then rides on elephants and goes to the temple, while others first visit the temple, and only after that they go for rafting and a turtle farm. But the essence of the tour does not change from this.
We recommend taking with you: sunscreen and hats; telephone, camera; money for additional expenses. Wear swimwear and comfortable shoes. Optional: sunglasses, towel, changeable shorts and t-shirt.
The cost of excursions from Phuket
From 2,800 - 3,000 baht - an adult ticket, from 1,800 baht - for a child.
Excursion - Safari in Khao Lak National Park (Khao Lak Safari)
At 07:30 am we were picked up from the hotel and we drove from Phuket to the mainland of Thailand. The road, with the collection of all participants of the excursion, took about an hour and a half.
The first stop was a visit turtle farms
The turtle farm is a mini-zoo where, in addition to turtles, you can see crocodiles and fish, as well as take a walk through the picturesque area.
The conditions in which the animals are kept leave much to be desired, small concrete paddocks in which these cute creatures lie. According to the guide, turtles are grown here until a certain age, and then released into the wild, this is done by decree of the former King of Thailand, to save the endangered population.
Bought coconut ice cream on the way out. This is the most delicious ice cream we have tasted in Thailand. We found him on this moment, only in two places: at the merchant near this farm and at .
Our second stop was river rafting on bamboo rafts
It was this part of the tour that we remember the most. This is not rafting, there is no extreme sports here, the Kaolak River was very calm and quiet. Our group of two people sat on rafts and the Thai boys, deftly managing the raft, floated you down the river. All river walk takes 30-40 minutes.
At first, we were even a little upset because of the slow rafting, but after a few minutes, such calmness and serenity appeared in our souls. We completely renounced reality, sailed, enjoying the views of the jungle and the silence, broken only by the sound of water and the rare calls of birds. It was truly wonderful and comfortable, in a sense, we even managed to catch nirvana.
During the rafting, from the shore, we were photographed, after which they offered to buy a photo in an ecological frame made from elephant poop)). Interesting photo We bought this for ourselves. The cost is 200 baht per photo.
At the end of the rafting, we were met in a small truck
and we went to lunch in a cafe. For lunch they gave soup, vegetables, fish, rice, meat and potatoes, french fries, Thai rolls, fruits and drinks with cookies. Pretty good and quite tasty, especially after a busy first half of the day spent outdoors.
The next stop was pineapple plantations. Here the guide showed us and told us how pineapples grow and how they are harvested. It turns out that harvesting pineapples is a very dangerous job. The bushes themselves are sharp and it is easy to get hurt on them, besides, there are snakes in the fields, including poisonous ones. Snakes often bite harvesters, resulting in a fatal outcome.
Fifth stop - elephant safari
First of all, a 15-minute show with an elephant calf unfolded before us. The little baby elephant twisted the hoop, played the harmonica, while briskly waving his leg, and then did a few tricks. The audience, especially children, were delighted, and the baby elephant walked among people, holding a hat in his trunk, where everyone threw money.
After the show, they offered to swim with the baby elephant. The cost is 300 baht per person. We didn’t go swimming with the elephant, but just watched and took a few photos, for history and for you, of course.
Bathing with an elephant calf was as follows: a small reservoir, natural, in the river, where they brought the calf, then they offered to join it to all those who paid 300 baht each. The participants of this action poured water on the baby elephant, rubbed its back, and finally took pictures with it. The whole process took 10-15 minutes. It looked, to put it mildly, not very good, the children were delighted.
Little elephants take part in the show and bathing, they, until a certain age, are not allowed to ride tourists. Due to their small size and low training. The first few years of training, the baby elephant must get used to his mahout, his voice and gestures, so they are trained for shows and swimming, and after that, when they grow up, the bones get stronger and gain experience, they are sent to ride tourists.
After swimming, we all went to the most anticipated part of the tour - elephant riding.
They rode on elephants for two people. Landing on elephants took place in a special house, from where it was convenient to climb into the basket on the back of the animal. If you are wearing flip flops, then you will have to leave your shoes here, and if your shoes are tight on your feet, then you can ride in shoes.
The skating itself lasted about 40 minutes. We were looking forward to it, we had heard and read a lot about such a memorable and amazing “attraction”. But, personally, riding on elephants did not make any impression on us, and on the contrary, we did not like it. We will not go again, and the animal is a pity and we did not feel courage with emotions.
The skiing route passed through the jungle, up and down the hills, and also partially across the river, so in addition to skiing, there was an opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the Thai jungle.
When you sit on the back of an elephant, the ground is far enough away, and the basket also sways, if the animal goes up or down the hills, you shake and dangle from side to side. It's not scary, it hurts your back a little, it's fun for some.
During the ride, the drovers offered, for a small fee of 100 baht, to take a few photos of us riding an elephant, while the elephants doused everyone with water, typing it into their trunks, arranged, so to speak, a refreshing shower.
At the farm, you could feed the elephants bananas while taking some memorable colorful photos. It is better to bring bananas for feeding with you, here the price tag is decent, a few bananas - from 100 baht.
Next stop Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Suwan Kuha) and Monkey Cave
On the territory of the Wat SuwanKuha Temple complex there are: a functioning monastery, a cave with a reclining Buddha, who entered nirvana and is between heaven and earth, as well as a cave-mountain of monkeys.
The entrance to the temple-cave is paid. The cost is 20 baht per person.
After going inside, you find yourself in the first hall, here we see the legendary reclining Buddha and other attributes of Buddhism.
Once this hall served as the main temple. At present, the temple has been moved to structures near the cave, and the cave itself has become a place for tourists to visit.
Going further and climbing the stairs, you find yourself in a completely different world, twilight and mystery reign here. This is the cave of the holy monkeys. The monkeys here are very cute and friendly, they surround tourists and snatch goodies right out of their hands. But still, it’s better not to take risks and not try to grab the monkeys or not climb to their muzzle, they can bite, then you won’t get any trouble, there’s no need for extra injections and spending. You can bring treats with you or buy bananas from local vendors for 50 baht for a few.
Near the cave there is a toilet and a small market.
With this our tour came to an end. We got on the bus and went home to our hotels. On the way, for 15 minutes we stopped at a tea shop, where, if desired, you can buy teas, herbal preparations and other preparations from medicinal herbs. Well, if there is no desire to buy anything, you can simply taste four types of tea, which we did.
A secluded resort in the province of Phang Nga in Thailand, Khao Lak - perfect place for family holidays. Located on the coast of the Adaman coast, the resort attracts tourists with endless white beaches, rocky bays and waterfalls, dense mango jungles and azure clear sea. noisy clubs and night life here gives way to relaxation in spa and yoga centers, heavenly beaches and the unique natural beauty of this place. Despite the fact that the resort is located away from the main entertainment centers, Khao Lak offers tourists a variety of views. active rest and a full range of services: hotels, shops, restaurants.
How to get to Khao Lak
Khao Lak is located about 80 kilometers from Phuket International Airport. Such Russian airlines both S7 and Aeroflot offer direct flights from Moscow to Phuket with a travel time of approximately 9 hours. You can fly from Bangkok to Phuket using the services of local airlines in just 1.5 hours.
In addition, the city of Khao Lak can be reached by bus from Phuket and from the province of Krabi. The city is also at all bus routes from Bangkok to the south. From Phuket by bus can be reached in 2 hours, paying about 100 THB. From Bangkok, the bus leaves from the southern terminal and takes about 11 hours. Prices on the page are for March 2019.
Search for flights to Phuket (nearest airport to Khao Lak)
Maps of Khao Lak
Khao Lak Hotels
Resort hotels are diverse. All of them fit harmoniously into natural beauty places without disturbing the eco-structure of these places. Most of the resort hotels were completely rebuilt after the tsunami and offer tourists a high and modern level of service.
Comfortable hotel Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach Resort& Spa 5 * is located on Baan Sak Beach in the national park, an hour's drive from Phuket International Airport. All rooms of the hotel are decorated in traditional Thai style and include the necessary amenities. In addition, the hotel offers luxurious swimming pools, its own sand beach, three kilometers long, restaurants and cafes where you can taste Thai cuisine.
Beaches
The main attraction of this delightful place are its beaches. Pebbly and sandy, they will amaze with their virgin beauty. Those who value solitude will enjoy the uncrowded, clean beaches.
The infrastructure of the city is quite developed. Here you can find pleasant cafes and luxurious restaurants, massage and yoga centers, diving schools. The streets are full of colorful souvenir shops and almost every evening there are traditional entertainment events for tourists.
Diving in Khao Lak
Khao Lak is, above all, an ideal place for diving and aquatic species sports. Off the west coast at a depth of 30-40 meters you will find fabulous underwater gardens with bouquets of underwater corals and rare soft corals in nature, similar to a peacock's tail. East Coast, where the terrain is more mountainous, suitable for snorkeling. You don't have to swim far to see rare fish and, if you're lucky, a leopard shark.
Entertainment and attractions Khao Lak
Khao Lak is popular place for eco tourism. The main goal of the Thai government is to protect this unique territory and preserve its pristine beauty. On the territory of the young resort there are three national reserves which are open from 8:00 to 16:30. Khao Sok NP is especially popular. To enter the national park, you need to buy a ticket, the cost of which is 300 THB.
Among the attractions of Khao Lak are the Similan Islands, whose wild and untouched nature is among the ten most beautiful in the world.
In addition to diving, Khao Lak offers tourists other types of outdoor activities: jeep tours, canoeing, mountain bike rental, kayaking, hiking tours and, of course, elephant riding.
Holidays in Khao Lak
Weather
Khao Lak city is in the zone of two climatic zones. In the hot, dry season (March - May), the temperature rises to 35 degrees, there is practically no precipitation.
When planning a vacation, remember that the rainy season in this region begins in June and ends in October. The temperature is high and is about 33 degrees.
From November to March, the weather conditions are the most optimal, the temperature during the day is 28 degrees. Despite the fact that it is still cool on the coast due to the sea breeze, the water warms up to +25...28 degrees.
