TH · Phang Nga · 8.69°N 98.25°E

khao lak

Long quiet beaches north of Phuket and the launch pad for Similan trips.

Best time
November to April is dry with calm seas. From May to October the monsoon brings rain and big surf, and some resorts close.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Phuket (about 1.5 hours), then about 1–1.5 hours by road north.
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TH · Phang Ngakhao lak8.69°N 98.25°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Long quiet beaches north of Phuket and the launch pad for Similan trips.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKhao LakTH, Phang Nga
KLkhao lak
≈ 725 km from KL, as the crow flies
The coastal area here is typically referred to as "Khao Lak". Empty beach in Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park, Andaman Sea, Phang Nga Province, Thailand.

Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A stretch of long, quiet beaches on the coast north of Phuket, backed by forested hills. It's calmer than Phuket and the main base for trips to the Similan and Surin islands. The area was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami, and there are memorials along the coast.

Makan

  1. Southern Thai curriesSpicy, rich curries such as gaeng som and gaeng tai pla.Map ↗
  2. SeafoodGrilled fish and prawns at the beachfront restaurants.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The beachesLong sandy beaches such as Nang Thong, Bang Niang and Khuk Khak, good for sunset walks.Map ↗
  2. Similan Islands tripDay trips and liveaboards leave from the pier at Thap Lamu, just south of the beaches.Map ↗
  3. Police Boat 813A patrol boat swept far inland by the 2004 tsunami, now kept as a memorial.Map ↗
  4. Khao Lak–Lam Ru National ParkForest trails and a small beach on the headland at the south end of Khao Lak.Map ↗
  5. Takua Pa Old TownAn old tin-mining town with Sino-Portuguese shophouses, about 30 minutes north.Map ↗

Good to know

  • In the monsoon season, watch for red flags. Rip currents here are strong.
  • Tsunami evacuation signs are posted along the coast. It's worth knowing the route from where you stay.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.