Khao Lak is not a single town but a run of beaches and villages in Takua Pa and Thai Mueang districts of Phang Nga Province, about 60 km north of Phuket by Wikipedia's reckoning. Its beaches span roughly 25 km, from Kha Luk and Nang Thong in the south through Bang Niang and Khuk Khak to Bang Sak in the north, and all of them are public. Tourism is the main income, and Wikipedia records occupancy of 70 to 90 per cent in the November to March high season.
The area is also defined by 26 December 2004, when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck. Khao Lak was the worst-affected stretch of the Thai coast, and the memorials at Police Boat 813 and Ban Nam Khem are part of any honest visit. Rebuilt hotels, an early-warning system and a quieter pace followed, and the resort strip now feels calmer than Phuket's, with no jet-ski noise according to Wikivoyage's description.
The reasons to come are scenery and space: long beaches, the rainforest and waterfalls of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, the Similan Islands by boat in the dry season, and Khao Sok's lake and forest inland. A week suits a slow holiday, with beach mornings, one or two excursions and a rest after lunch.
Practical points matter here. There is no railway station nearby, public transport is thin, and the main road is fast, so a hired car or hotel taxi is the sensible way to move. The wet season from May to October brings very heavy rain and rough seas, and the Similan park closes. Indian vegetarian and Jain food is the real challenge: we could not verify a dedicated Indian or vegetarian restaurant here, so plan with your hotel.
Before you plan
Khao Lak at a glance
- Best months
- November to MarchNovember to March; December to February is the driest. May to October is the very wet monsoon season, and the Similan Islands park is closed for part of it.
- Ideal trip length
- 4 to 6 days for a relaxed beach stay…4 to 6 days for a relaxed beach stay with one island or park excursion; 3 days covers the basics
- Airport
- Phuket International AirportPhuket International Airport (HKT), about 32 km north of Phuket town; Khao Lak is roughly 60 to 100 km further north depending on the beach, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by road (check)
- Railway station
- None in Khao LakNone in Khao Lak. The nearest mainline station named by Wikivoyage is Surat Thani, about 4 hours away by bus; most visitors fly into Phuket instead.
- Getting around
- Hotel taxisHotel taxis, pre-booked cars and songthaews on Highway 4. Walking between beaches is unpleasant on the busy road; agree taxi fares in advance.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 per person…Roughly ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 per person per day excluding hotel for food, taxis and tours; boat trips and car hire raise it sharply
- Senior comfort
- Good on the flat beach strip with a…Good on the flat beach strip with a hired car; boat trips, waterfalls and park trails involve steps, wading and uneven ground
- Language
- ThaiThai; English is widely used in hotels, tour desks and larger restaurants
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Khao Lak: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Khao Lak itinerary
One good day
1 day in Khao Lak
Walk Bang Niang Beach at first light, then drive a few minutes inland to Police Boat 813 for a quiet half-hour. Return to your hotel for a long lunch and rest through the heat. In the late afternoon head to Nang Thong or Laem Pakarang for sunset over the sea, and keep dinner simple at a hotel or beach restaurant that can prepare vegetarian dishes.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Khao Lak
Start with Bang Niang Beach, then visit Police Boat 813 and the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial in the same morning. Rest at midday, then spend the late afternoon on the sand at Nang Thong.
Three unhurried days
3 days in Khao Lak
Walk the beach in the morning, eat a late breakfast, and rest at midday. Visit Police Boat 813 and Bang Niang's lane in the late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →
