Key hubs
Khao Lak airport and railway station
- Airport
- Phuket 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 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 taxis, pre-booked cars and songthaews on Highway 4. Walking between beaches is unpleasant on the busy road; agree taxi fares in advance.
How to reach Khao Lak by air
Phuket International Airport (HKT) is the usual gateway, about 32 km north of Phuket town. Wikipedia lists direct flights from Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai; check current schedules. Khao Lak is roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by road from the airport, depending on the beach.
How to reach Khao Lak by train
Khao Lak has no railway station. Wikivoyage names Surat Thani as the nearest mainline station, about 4 hours away by bus, so most visitors fly to Phuket and drive.
How to reach Khao Lak by road
Highway 4 runs along the coast. Taxis from Phuket airport cost roughly 1,100 to 1,600 baht per Wikivoyage, and daytime buses and vans also run; check current options.
Getting around Khao Lak
Hotel taxis, pre-booked cars and songthaews run along Highway 4. Walking between beaches is unpleasant, and boats to the Similan Islands leave from Thap Lamu pier. Agree fares in advance.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Khao Lak
- Choose a hotel on the flat beach strip and use a hired car or hotel taxi; the main road is fast and walking between beaches is unpleasant.
- Carry travel insurance with medical cover and keep prescriptions in their original packaging. Wikivoyage mentions a clinic at Bang Niang for minor ailments; for serious care you may need to travel to Phuket, so ask your hotel about the nearest suitable hospital.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.