Ko Lak Island in Thailand. Khao Lak in Thailand. Educational tourism with photos

) »»» What to choose, Phuket or Khao Lak?

If you are deciding whether to go to Phuket or Khao Lak, the first thing to keep in mind is that the cost of living in Phuket and Khao Lak is approximately the same, and a trip to these tourist centers will cost you approximately and the same money.

Features of Phuket and Khao Lak

If we leave aside accurate budget calculations, there are, perhaps, only two fundamental differences between Phuket and Khao Lak.

The first of them concerns the lifestyle, and the second concerns the visual range that appears before your eyes in Phuket and Khao Lak.

Khao Sok National Park, one of the largest national parks Thailand with an area of 739 sq. km., is located on the isthmus separating the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

The distance from Khao Sok to the nearest point of the Andaman coast, the city of Takua Pa, is approximately 50 km, to the nearest point of the Gulf of Thailand, the city of Surat Thani - approximately 120 km. The distance from Khao Sok to Khao Lak and Phuket is 80 and 140 km, respectively. The most famous and most extraordinary attraction national park Khao Sok is Mountain Lake Cheo Lan, a place of amazing and.....

Si Phang-Nga National Park, sometimes referred to as Sri Phang-Nga, is located on Route 4 (Phuket - Bangkok), halfway between the cities of Takua Pa and Khuraburi. The distance from Si Phang-Nga National Park to the nearest major tourist centers, Khao Lak and Phuket, is 50 km. and 110 km., respectively.

Unlike the more widely known Khao Sok, national park Si Phang-Nga is not one of those places where you should stay for a few days. By and large, to explore all the sights of the national park, the Tam Nang waterfall and the creeks located next to the waterfall, favored by countless schools of fish, .....

Khao Lak National Park (Khao Lak - Lam Ru) - closest to the one of the same name tourist center national park. It is a mountain range that dominates the surrounding area and forms the unique landscapes of Khao Lak.

The national park has a rather complex shape and consists of two parts: the mountains located near the coast, which give the name to the entire surrounding area, and the Lam Ru mountains located inland. Despite the fact that the mountains of the national park are visible from anywhere in Khao Lak, tourists see only a small part of the national park, the size of which is very impressive. Suffice it to say that.....

Khao Lampi - Hat Thai Mueang National Park is located next to the main transport artery of southern Thailand, highway No. 4 (Phuket - Bangkok), at a distance of 30 km. south of Khao Lak. The distance between Khao Lampi - Hat Thai Mueang National Park and the northern border of Phuket Island (Sarasin Bridge) is also 30 km. As its name clearly indicates, this national park consists of two parts, coastal (Hat Thai Mueang beach) and mountainous inland (Khao Lampi hills).

It should be noted that Khao Lampi - Hat Thai Mueang National Park is not one of the most prominent national parks in Thailand, and.....

Updated 11/19/2019 Views 6394 Comments 11

Not long ago I visited the resort of Khao Lak, which for some reason is still not popular among our compatriots. I’m sure many people still don’t even know where Khao Lak is on the map of Thailand, let alone have been there. In order to eliminate this injustice, I wrote this post; the town is nice and perfect for a relaxing holiday.

About Khao Lak Resort

Short description

Khao Lak is a quiet and uncrowded resort even during peak season. Since there is little entertainment there, the contingent is mainly pensioners. Therefore, if you need night life and constant activity, then Khao Lak is most likely not suitable for you. There is only nature, waterfalls, a national park and that’s it. But for those who are looking for relaxation or come with children, I think they should like it here.

First of all, there are gorgeous beaches throughout the resort, and most importantly, they are not crowded. You can find smaller places (where it’s good with a small child), or deeper ones. And you can walk along the entire length of the beach, which is what many vacationers do, there are kilometers to walk. I already wrote mine, I won’t repeat myself.

There are 7 beaches/areas in total, but it makes sense to stay in only 4: Bang Niang, Nang Thong, Khao Lak, Khuk Khak. Arranged in descending order of infrastructure, and in the latter there is none at all, only the one that will be in your hotel. But in Bang Niang there is a 7/11, and plenty of cafes, and hotels for every taste, and in Nang Tong there is even a McDonald's :) Here's a selection for you.

Where is Khao Lak

Khao Lak is located on the mainland (not on the island) north of Phuket on the Adaman coast. And it’s easier to get there from Phuket. That is, you can fly to Phuket airport and from there drive to the resort. Moreover, the journey to Khao Lak from Phuket airport is about the same as to southern point Phuket, because there are often traffic jams in Phuket.

Look at the map at the very bottom of the post to make it clearer.

How to get to Khao Lak

There are several ways to get there. The easiest and fastest way when it comes to flying from Russia. If you fly to Bangkok, the journey will take much longer.

By car

The easiest way to get there is by car. Type into the navigator ( Google Maps or other program) Khao Lak and follow its instructions. If you get from Phuket, then immediately after leaving the bridge over the bay you need to keep left along 402 and then continue to drive along the Adaman coast on highway 4. Then continue along the main road, without turning off, until you reach Khao Lak. The distance from Phuket airport to Khao Lak (Bang Niang) is about 80 km, and the drive takes no more than 1 hour 30 minutes, or you can get there in 1 hour if you don’t stop anywhere and drive quickly.

It takes much longer to get from Bangkok, as if you were traveling. After you pass Chumphon, you will need to turn right onto Route 4006 and follow it to the Adaman Coast to Route 4. Or drive through both Chumphon and Surat Thani, and immediately after Surat Thani turn right onto Route 401 and follow it past until Adaman coast and highway 4.

You need to rent through brokers and through them it is 2 times cheaper than directly. This is a life hack. I have booked through both of them multiple times and everything has been great. All cars will be only from trusted international rental companies, with insurance, contracts, no problems or scams.

By taxi

It's also easy to get there by taxi, but it costs more than the bus. You can take a taxi either immediately at the airport or simply on the island by contacting any street travel agency and ordering it. The price will be about 1800-2500 baht, depending on the car (a minibus is more expensive) and the impudence of the taxi drivers. In this regard, it is best to order from travel agencies; they have more or less fixed prices; they won’t name you out of the blue. Well, if from the airport, then all the prices are posted there at the counter. You can probably bargain and find someone who will take you cheaper, but I don’t know how realistic this is. I would be better off ordering online in advance, but more on that below.

Transfer online

Alternatively, order a transfer online through or. The price is the same as a regular taxi, but generally there is a minimum of body movements, you will be met with a sign and taken by the hand. And it’s convenient that you can book online in advance while sitting at home. I recommend!

I have already taken a transfer from this company and was completely satisfied with it. They met us with a sign, put us in a car and took us to the hotel. Here .

By bus

From Phuket airport you need to take a minibus to the bus station (cost 100 baht), where you can buy a ticket for the Phuket - Khao Lak bus (cost 100 baht). You need buses going to Surat Thani, Ranong, Chumphon, Takua Pa. Alternatively, from the airport, take a tuk-tuk to the highway where buses go and catch them there (this is faster than going to the bus station). But personally, I don’t like this method because from a distance it is completely unclear which bus is coming, and you may not have time to brake it. Yes, and when he passes by, the sign is not always clear, maybe in Thai.

IN reverse side To get from Khao Lak to Phuket, get on the highway and catch a bus towards Phuket. Everything is much simpler here, because all the buses will go there. If you need the airport, then tell the bus driver and he will stop near the turn, from where a tuk-tuk will take you to the airport itself.

Khao Lak on the map of Thailand

I specifically placed a map with beaches here, and not just one point indicating the city, because all these beaches belong to Khao Lak. You can immediately estimate geographical location and approximate dimensions of the resort. But! Let me remind you that it consists of several small villages and it is best to live in Bang Niang or Nang Thong. Moreover, the area called Khao Lak is not the most successful, but in principle the beach there is good, so you can stay there.

The map is loading, please wait...

Life hack #1 - how to buy good insurance

Choosing insurance now is incredibly difficult, so to help all travelers. To do this, I constantly monitor forums, study insurance contracts and use insurance myself.

Every year the popularity of Thailand among the Russian population increases several times. Paradise islands, most picturesque nature, snow-white beaches with the turquoise sea turn the country into a resort of world significance. In addition to crowded places, there are still quiet and secluded resorts in Thailand. And one of these places can be called Khao Lak, which is located in the southern part of the Kingdom.

Khao Lak is one of the few Thai resorts that impresses with its tranquility and comfort. Even at the height of the season there are few people here. Maybe it is precisely because of this that the beaches and the sea itself are distinguished by their cleanliness. Khao Lak was originally called a small settlement on the coast Andaman Sea. But the rapid development of the tourism sector has united several settlements under this name. If you look at the map now, you can see that geographically it covers the area from the sea itself to the mountain strip. Khao Lak is surrounded by three national parks, where even today you can find unique vegetation and rare fauna.

Very close to Khao Lak is the island of Phuket. The distance between the resort and Phuket Town is about 100 kilometers. Unlike the noisy island, peace and quiet reign on Khao Lak. This is a great place for family vacation, especially with small children. There are numerous health centers, spas, and yoga clubs here. A visit to Khao Lak can combine unforgettable vacation together with medical procedures.

If you look at the pricing policy, it is slightly higher here than at other popular resorts. This feature can be explained by the remoteness of Khao Lak, the low flow of people, as well as the numerous upscale hotels.

When is the best time to go?

Like most resorts in Thailand, Khao Lak has a clear distinction between seasons. weather conditions. Best time for a holiday on Khao Lak from late November to April. From approximately May to November, the resort area is subject to the western monsoon, which brings rainy weather. But even so, the air temperature practically never drops below 22 degrees. Most of the heavy rains occur at night, and in the morning the sun appears again. Trouble can be caused by strong winds that raise waves, and swimming in the sea has to be postponed. In addition, excursions to the world famous ones are closed.

If you still decide to visit Khao Lak in summer time, then it is better to choose a hotel with good developed infrastructure. Such hotels have excellent swimming pools, which can be visited on stormy days.

Infrastructure

Despite the fact that Khao Lak is not particularly popular resort Among vacationers, infrastructure development here has high rates. Of course, there are no huge shopping and entertainment centers within the city, but everything you need can be purchased in one of the many shops in Khao Lak. The most popular supermarket among the local population and holidaymakers is Nang Thong. You can buy everything you need here, from personal hygiene products to all kinds of food and alcoholic beverages.

If you need something non-essential, you can visit the 7/11 stores, which are located throughout the resort. They sell food, basic household items, as well as hot lunches that will be heated for you right at the checkout.

Along the main street and in the beach area there are many shops where you can find inexpensive clothes and shoes.

In order to purchase any souvenirs, it is worth visiting one of the local markets. In the city of Baan La One, there is a market every day, in the area of the central square. In addition to souvenirs, you can find various paintings, figurines, jewelry, etc. there. Also, while visiting the market, you will have the opportunity to try national Thai cuisine, including all kinds of exotic food.

The market with fresh fruits and vegetables operates in morning time within Khuk Khak beach.

There are many restaurants and bars throughout Khao Lak. Lovers of romantic evenings can sit in one of the beach establishments. During dinner you can admire the most beautiful evening sunsets.

More reputable restaurants are located along the central road, and also a little away from coastline.

It is also worth noting that almost all cafes and restaurants in Khao Lak offer not only Thai cuisine, but also many European ones. average price lunch is 200-300 baht.

Attractions and entertainment

There are not many attractions within Khao Lak itself. Many of the resort's beaches are the starting point for the Similan Islands, Bon and, which are among the top ten most beautiful places planets. The islands are open for visiting only from October to May, so if you are planning a trip to them during your vacation, you should choose a convenient time in advance.

One more most interesting place for visiting is .

From Khao Lak it is very convenient to get to Khao Sok National Park, which is known for its rich flora and fauna. Within the resort itself you can visit Lam Ru Park, deserted beaches, as well as numerous waterfalls, including Lampi, Sai Rung, Tong Pling and others. Also in the jungle resort, you can ride elephants. And the azure sea is suitable for diving.

Beaches

You will almost never see very many people on the beaches of Khao Lak. This is not a place where you have to show up at 7am to get a seat. Absolutely all the beaches of the resort stretch in a wide strip along the sea and have a smooth transition between each other. If you look at a map, even there it will not be possible to see a clear boundary between them.

The main feature of the resort is that it is very rarely exposed to tropical winds. High reefs create an excellent natural barrier to strong waves. This is what makes it available 12 months a year.

The following beaches are the most popular among vacationers:

1)Khao Lak. This beach is located in the southern part of the resort within the Central Administration of Similan National Park. There are no umbrellas or sun loungers on the beach, but large trees grow right on the seashore, in the shade of which you can hide. A wide variety of souvenirs made from sea shells are sold on the beaches.

2)Nang Tong is one of the most visited beaches in Khao Lak. Within its borders are concentrated upscale hotels and restaurants with excellent cuisine. This is a great place for snorkeling, as not far from the coast there is a beautiful coral reef, where you can see not only a variety of fish, but also turtles. The southern part of Nang Thong offers the opportunity to take some wonderful photos against the backdrop of the evening sunset.

3)Bang Niang– a beach with well-developed infrastructure. One of the few in Thailand that has sun loungers, umbrellas, and various water activities. Not far from the shore there are many massage parlors and various cafes.

4)Pakwip– five-star hotels are concentrated within the beach. Plus, the flow of vacationers here is minimal, which creates additional peace and quiet. The beach is suitable for families with small children or for those who want to escape from the noisy city streets.

Hotels

When planning a train trip to Khao Lak, you should keep in mind that it is not one of the cheapest resorts in the country. There is no accommodation here that costs several hundred baht per night. Most hotels located along the coast have 4 or 5 star status. Accordingly, the pricing policy per day of accommodation will start from 3,000 baht. Among these hotels, I can recommend the following excellent options: Briza Beach Resort, Ramada Khao Lak Resort and JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa.

More cheap option Accommodation can be found along the central road, where prices will start from 1,500 baht. Among budget hotels good options are Nautical Home Khaolak, Ruk Cozy, Khaolak Golden Place and Motive Cottage Resort.

Transport

Public transport in Khao Lak includes buses and songthaews. They run along the central highway and can take you not only to the neighboring beach, but also to any other province. Taxis are a convenient means of transportation, especially when you need to cover short distances. There are stands throughout the resort where you can see the average cost of a trip.

If you are vacationing in Khao Lak for a long time, then for convenience you can rent a bike or car. Prices for bikes range from 200 to 350 baht per day. Monthly rent can cost 3500-4000 baht. Car rental prices start from 1000 baht per day.

How to get there?

From Phuket Island

There are 5 main options by which you can get to Khao Lak from Phuket. The easiest way to do this is from the airport, but it is also possible to leave from the capital of the island - Phuket Town.

The most convenient way is to order. Then you will receive a convenient round trip transfer and planned excursion program around the resort. Price 1300 baht.
Another transportation option is a taxi, which is located at Phuket Airport itself. After you leave the terminal, you should go to the taxi stand. They also have a price list for different directions. A taxi ride to Khao Lak can cost around 1,500 baht. Remember that the initial price of a taxi is often inflated, so do not forget to bargain. This way the price can be reduced by several hundred baht.
Use transfer services. It can be pre-ordered on the website. The driver will meet you near the terminal exit, help with your luggage and take you to your designated hotel.
Rent a car. This can be done directly at the airport or order a car on the website. When booking a car on the website, you will immediately see all available options in different companies rental, you can compare prices and choose the most suitable option.
Shuttle bus. All buses leave from the bus station in Phuket Town. Therefore, initially you should take a taxi or tuk-tuk to the station, and only then buy a bus ticket. This is the cheapest travel option, since the cost of one ticket is around 100 baht. The journey takes about 2 hours. Bus tickets can be purchased on the website.

From Bangkok

To get from Bangkok to Khao Lak, you can use one of the following options:

The airplane is one of the fastest and convenient ways movement. The flight takes about one hour. The plane takes off from Bangkok airport and lands in Phuket. If tickets are purchased in advance, their cost can be about 1000 baht. A company like Nok Air offers a comprehensive package that includes not only the flight, but also a transfer to Khao Lak from Phuket. You can book a ticket on the Aviasales website.
Train - this takes you to Surat Thani province and then to shuttle bus going to Khao Lak.
Bus - leaves from southern bus station in the capital of Thailand, as well as from Mochit station. When purchasing a ticket, do not forget to indicate that you are traveling to Khao Lak. The fare will range from 620 to 1200 baht, everything will depend on the class of the bus. Keep in mind that the trip will be long. You can purchase a ticket at the ticket office at the bus station or on the website.

Khao Lak on the map

On this map you can see exact location Khao resort Varnish in Thailand.

We got acquainted with another resort in Thailand - Khao Lak. This is a wonderful place to relax, which impresses with its cleanliness and beauty. It is very easy to get to, and the time spent in these heavenly places will not leave any vacationer indifferent.

Khao Lak- a resort in Thailand on the shores of the Andaman Sea. This resort is not yet very popular among our tourists; mostly Europeans choose Khao Lak for their holidays (for some reason there are a lot of Scandinavians in Khao Lak). In this article I will tell you everything I know about Khao Lak: description of the resort, features, beaches, Khao Lak hotels, transport, weather. Perhaps after reading this article you will choose not the neighboring noisy Phuket, but the quiet, calm, Europeanized Khao Lak :)

Quiet, uncrowded resort of Khao Lak in Thailand

Khao Lak: general information

The resort of Khao Lak stretches for many kilometers along the coast and highway No. 4, which connects with the south of Thailand and goes to. Figuratively speaking, Khao Lak starts from the pier from which speed boats depart for Similan and stretches to the town of Takua Pa, and this is not much, but more than 30 km along the highway! But: when talking about Khao Lak, they most often mean the area from Khao Lak National Park to Cape Pakarang and a little further to the north.

Khao Lak is marked schematically on the map with a red square. Blue square - central beaches Khao Laka

The first village you encounter on the way from Phuket is called Ban Khao Lak, but the center of the Khao Lak resort is further north, behind the mountain. There is the village of Bang La On with Nang Thong beach, and further away the villages of Bang Niang and Khuk Khak with beaches of the same name. The most developed tourism infrastructure on the first two beaches.

Map of Khao Lak beaches

As I already said, a highway passes through Khao Lak, on the sides of which there is all the infrastructure: hotels, restaurants, shops. On Nang Thong beach, all the infrastructure is stretched along the road and the beach, and from the highway to the sea it is literally 500 meters. Inexpensive hotels are located either directly on the highway or across the road from the sea, closer to the mountains. But on the neighboring Bang Niang beach, basically all the hotels and restaurants are located on the streets that lead from the road to the sea. The distance from the highway to the sea in this place is about 1 km.

Route along the coast. Next to the highway is the entire infrastructure of the Khao Lak resort

The main street of Bang Niang, which leads from the highway to the beach

Bang Niang. On the way to the sea

The central street leads to the sea

In 2004, Khao Lak was very badly damaged by a tsunami; now there are signs everywhere around the resort telling where to run and what to do in the event of a tsunami; they say that the disaster warning system is working well.

In case of evacuation, run to the mountains

By the way, just a few days before our arrival in Khao Lak, an earthquake occurred somewhere in the sea near Indonesia, panic began in Thai groups on social networks, everyone predicted a tsunami. Luckily nothing happened. During our trip, we met a couple who were vacationing in Khao Lak at the time of the tsunami talk. They said that one evening they were having dinner in a cafe and the tsunami warning system went off, everyone sat on their bikes and went to the mountains. We waited there for a while, realized that nothing was happening, and returned to the hotel.

On Bang Niang beach, near the highway, almost opposite the 7 Eleven store, there is now a monument to the victims of the tsunami and a police boat, which was washed ashore during the tsunami. Nearby there is a stand with information about the 2004 tsunami and a museum where they play documentaries on English language about this terrible event.

A police ship that was washed ashore during the tsunami. All the people in it died

Next to the boat there is a small museum where they talk about terrible tsunami 2004

NOT a budget resort, prices here are on average higher than, for example, or, but comparable to prices in Krabi: and. More details here:

Khao Lak is quite well maintained and clean resort. European-style restaurants, cute bars, beautiful evening lighting, trimmed trees, flowers - it seems that you are somewhere in Europe. They say that Thai Hua Hin is like Europe in Thailand, but we haven’t been there, so I can’t say anything.

There are sidewalks in Khao Lak! This is such a joy, especially after Samui, where there are no sidewalks at all, well, maybe a little on and off.

Important! NOT youth resort, don’t look for discos and bars here with dancing until the morning, mostly elderly foreign couples or families with small children relax here. Of course there are bars, but not like these and they close quite early.

Khao Lak is a very clean and well maintained resort

Khao Lak even has sidewalks! This shady road leads to the beach

Cozy European restaurants

Restaurants near the sea with a gorgeous view

Khao Lak: weather and seasons

There are two seasons in Khao Lak:

rainy season from April-May to October
dry season from November to April

In principle, the rainy season in Khao Lak is unpleasant not so much because of the rain (it mostly falls at night), but because the sea is stormy and becomes dirty, ugly and dangerous for swimming :) The last time we vacationed in Khao Lak was in September and we never swam at sea due to big waves and rip currents. And excursions to the islands are canceled for the summer. Since Khao Lak is not a very crowded resort anyway, and in the summer there are few people here at all, some hotels, bars, restaurants and shops simply close for the summer.

Should you go on holiday to Khao Lak in May-June-July? If you choose a hotel on the seashore with good infrastructure, then you can safely go! If the sea is very stormy, then you can swim in the pool and walk along the seashore nice walks. Fortunately, the long beaches of Khao Lak allow you to walk for many kilometers in one direction or the other.

But at the beginning of March the weather in Khao Lak was very hot. I really love the heat, but even I didn’t want to leave the air-conditioned room of our hotel during the day :) But the sea in March in Khao Lak was perfectly smooth (completely calm!) and very warm. How I love it :)

Calm and warm sea in March

Sea in September. It seems that the waves are not very big, but you approach the sea and the force of the elements simply knocks you off your feet! Swimming is dangerous!

Khao Lak where it is and how to get there

Khao Lak is approximately 60 km from the entrance to popular island Phuket. From Phuket Airport to Khao Lak it is about 80 km or an hour and a half by car. Another airport is located in Krabi, and there is a railway station in Surat Thani. The most convenient way to get from Russia to Khao Lak is through Phuket, where there are direct flights during the season. More information about how to get to Khao Lak:

Transport in Khao Lak

Transport in Khao Lak is represented by songthaews, taxis and buses passing along the highway. You can take a songthaew for 100-150 baht between neighboring beaches, and a taxi, for example, will cost from 1000 baht. It is easy to go by bus to Phuket town (100 baht) or to the neighboring town of Takua Pa.

For freedom and ease of movement, it is best to rent a bike (from 200 baht) or a car ().

Taxi prices in Khao Lak from Bang Niang beach (where the tsunami monument is)

Prices in Khao Lak for renting bicycles and motorbikes

Khao Lak Hotels

Khao Lak is the territory of expensive comfortable hotels for have a nice holiday on the very shore of the sea. There is no cheap housing (up to 1000 baht) on the first line! If you, like me, prefer to spend your beach holiday in a hotel first coastline, then be prepared to pay an average of +/- 3000 baht per day.

Inexpensive hotels (up to 1,500 baht) are concentrated along the highway and on the street running perpendicular to the sea in Bang Niang. When we stopped in Khao Lak for just a few days and not for beach holiday, and for the sake of an excursion to the Similan Islands, I settled not near the sea, but in the center of the entire infrastructure of Bang Niang beach, in a cool inexpensive hotel Nautical Home, 850 m from the sea and 150 m from the highway. Later, we chose Khao Lak for a holiday with a child good hotels on the first line with its own beach: Manathai Khao Lak and.

One of the hotels on the beach

Our cool and inexpensive hotel Nautical Home ten minutes walk from the beach

The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani Resort is a great choice for families with children!

Special offers on Khao Lak hotels

Khao Lak hotels on the map

Beaches of Khao Lak

We were delighted with the beaches of Khao Lak: long, wide, almost deserted. The sand is yellow, coarse, clean. The entrance to the sea is smooth. True, there are strong low tides and sometimes storms. I won’t tell you much, I already wrote in great detail with photos and videos about the beaches of Khao Lak here:

Deserted beaches of Khao Lak. Khuk Khak beach in Khao Lak. People, ah!

The central part of Bang Niang beach

Khao Beach Varnish before sunset

Pak VIP beach in the north of Khao Lak

Swing for a photo shoot in the background turquoise sea on White Sand Beach

Khao Lak infrastructure: cafes, shops, markets, etc.

The main infrastructure of Khao Lak is concentrated on two beaches, Nang Thong and Bang Niang. There are numerous cafes, bars, shops, massage parlors, and excursion bureaus. Beach restaurants along the coastline also attract tourists. You can have lunch there, watch the sunset over a bottle of beer, or simply rent a sun lounger and umbrella.

Beach restaurants with sun loungers on the seashore

Cafes, restaurants, bars

There are many cozy restaurants serving European food in Khao Lak. We didn’t have time to go into them, but two evenings we had dinner in one of the Thai cafes. For dinner (one dish + one beer) we paid 280-320 baht. We didn’t see any Makashnits. For dinners on the seashore they paid ~700 baht.

This is what our dinner looks like (+ a bottle of beer didn’t fit into the frame) in a Thai cafe in Khao Lak for 280 baht

It is believed that Bang Niang is a more expensive, but at the same time more developed beach, all the main bars with live music on Khao Lak are located here. Beach bars sometimes host parties with music and dancing on the sand. But you still need to understand that you won’t find much fun in Khao Lak; it’s not even on Samui, not to mention Patong. But there is somewhere to sit in the evening in Khao Lak :)

Bars and restaurants on the road near Bang Niang beach

Restaurants in the village center

Beach bar party announcement

Shops and markets

Of the chain stores in Khao Lak, there are quite a few 7 elven with normal prices. They are located on the highway at Bang Niang and Nang Thong beaches. As well as small shops with food, water, souvenirs, beachwear, etc. and so on. Prices for souvenirs and beach items are NOT low. There are many stores where they can sew you a suit or other clothes in a couple of days :)

Shop 7 Eleven and next to another supermarket with everything you need

In small shops in Khao Lak you can buy beach items and some souvenirs

A bunch of shops and workshops for sewing suits and other clothes

On Bang Niang beach behind 7 elven opposite the turn to Tsunami Memorial every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from lunch until 10 pm there is a market where tourists come from all over Khao Lak. Here you can find some souvenirs, some beachwear, food, fruit, etc. at normal prices.

The market in Khao Lak on Bang Niang Beach is open three days a week. In the evenings there are many tourists here who want to try Thai food

Market in Khao Lak

There is a morning fruit market in Khuk Khak next to the small bus station, which is indicated on all maps of Khao Lak. This market is open every day from early morning until 11-12 noon.

But still, it’s better to go to Phuket for shopping. This will not be difficult to do: you need to take a bus to Phuket on the highway, 2-3 hours of travel and 100 baht and you are in the center of Phuket town. Then you can take a tuk-tuk or songthaew and get, for example, to the Festival Center (you can see what the Festival Center is using Samui as an example).

The closest Big C supermarket to Khao Lak is in Takua Pa, and Tesco is on the way to Phuket in Khok Kloi.

Attractions Khao Lak

Khao Lak is a convenient starting point for excursions around neighboring islands. Some tourists come to Khao Lak only to visit:

Surin
Tachai - on this moment, unfortunately, closed indefinitely

Important: in summer, during the rainy and stormy season (usually from mid-May to late October) these islands are closed to visitors!

Deserted beaches
Kao Lak National Park - Lam Ru
Sai Rung Waterfall
Ton Chong Fa Waterfall
Ton Pling Waterfall
Lampi Waterfall

You can also ride elephants or go diving in Khao Lak - any travel agency, of which there are a great many, will tell you more about all the tours and excursions in Khao Lak.

Khao Lak review and conclusions

Khao Lak left a pleasant impression. We liked the fact that there are few tourists in Khao Lak, wide deserted beaches, good sea, clean streets, cozy cafes, excellent 5-star hotels on the very seashore, in which low season and in the off-season you can relax quite inexpensively. And the village of Bang Niang itself is so cute. From Khao Lak it is convenient to go on excursions around the islands. Khao Lak has magnificent sunsets: the sun sets directly into the sea. Khao Lak is a place where I want to return again and again, unlike, for example, Ao Nang.

Preparing for a romantic dinner on the beach at sunset

Evening illumination streets

Sunset in Khao Lak

If I were going on vacation to Thailand for 2 weeks and wanted to visit the south of the country, I would do this:

1 day. Arrival in Bangkok, overnight in Bangkok
Day 2. By train or plane to Surat Thani
Day 3. Transfer Surat Thani - Khao Sok
4 – 6 days. Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake
Day 7 – transfer to Khao Lak
7 – 12 days. Rest in Khao Lak + sail on a 2-3-day excursion to Similan and/or Surin
12-14 days. Departure from Phuket Airport to Bangkok, Bangkok

You can get from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak by taxi, rented car, or order a transfer from the hotel. Despite the fact that the distance from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak is only 80 km, a transfer on this route, like everything in Phuket, is expensive, starting from 1,200 baht (for the entire car). Drive public transport from Phuket airport to Khao Lak is also possible, it will cost significantly less, about 150 baht per person, but such a trip will take at least 3 hours, which is quite a lot compared to an hour-long taxi ride.

A taxi can be ordered directly at the airport building, at the appropriate counter. The cost of a trip along the route has recently increased, and at the beginning of 2015 it reached 1,800 baht, which is downright expensive.

It should be noted that it is not necessary to follow the lead of overly greedy taxi drivers, because... There is an alternative, namely the possibility of ordering a transfer from the hotel. Khao Lak hotels, as a rule, do not break prices and offer their future guests a transfer from the airport to Khao Lak for more modest money, usually 1,200 baht.

Return trip, from Khao Lak to the airport

A return trip from Khao Lak to Phuket airport costs 1,200 baht. The listed price, 1,200 baht, has not changed for 10 years, and you can expect that it will not change in the near future.

Note. The main hangout for taxi drivers in Khao Lak is a tourist town located opposite the beach (Nang Thong), on both sides of highway No. 4 (Bangkok - Phuket). There are also more than enough taxi drivers in the area of the neighboring beach (Bang Niang).

From Phuket Airport to Khao Lak by rental car

Renting a car for a trip to Khao Lak would be a very reasonable decision. The surrounding area of Khao Lak is quite beautiful and easy to drive around, and by renting a car, you will not only solve the problem of airport transfers, but also have a lot of fun exploring Khao Lak and its impressive surroundings.

Renting a car at Phuket airport is cheap, from 800 baht per day when renting for a period of 1 - 2 weeks, and it should be especially noted that Phuket airport is the most best place for renting a car within a radius of 100 km. from Khao Lak.

Note. It is advisable to take care of renting a car in advance by ordering it online. More details about renting a car in Thailand are written in the section, it is also written there about what constitutes traffic, both in Thailand in general and in the vicinity of Phuket in particular.

By public transport from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak. Cheap, but not fast.

Contrary to popular belief, there is public transport in Phuket, and you can use it to get, among other things, to Khao Lak. There are regular buses from Phuket airport to the cities, which are quite suitable for getting out of the airport and onto the highway leading to Khao Lak. All you need to do next is get off at one of the first stops (Muang Mai or Thalang) and wait there for buses going through Khao Lak (desired directions: Takua Pa, Ranong, Suratthani and Chumphon).

A trip by regular bus from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak will cost about 150 baht (~50 baht for travel from the airport to the highway leading to Khao Lak, and ~100 baht for travel to Khao Lak itself). Although local buses run quickly, the intervals between services are quite long, and given the waiting time, the trip by regular buses It will take at least 2.5 hours. More details are written separately, and by clicking on the link provided, you can find all the necessary information, including schedules, routes with a list of stops, fares and links to official websites of carriers.

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