Khao Lak National Park is the highlight of Thailand, primarily attracting attention with its gorgeous pristine nature, harmoniously combining tropical forests, steep cliffs, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
Located national park on the Thai mainland, near the coast of the Andaman Sea in Phang Nga province. 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 offers tourism and entertainment activities. Here you can simply relax, walk along the paths in the jungle, go rafting or bamboo rafting down the rivers, try out a jeep or elephant safari, or feel like Tarzan and fly through the jungle on roller mechanisms on cables stretched between the trees.
You can visit Khao Lak National Park either independently or with a guided tour. We visited this beautiful reserve with a Khao Lak Safari excursion while staying on the island of Phuket.
The excursion lasts the whole day. One day, naturally, is not enough for such a park; in such a short time you will not be able to see even part of all the embellishments, but it is enough to get acquainted. In addition, this excursion is very eventful, partly educational, 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 out of your hands, learn how pineapples grow, ride on bamboo rafts along a mountain river and try out such a popular entertainment in Thailand - elephant riding. We can fully recommend this excursion to the park to everyone, young and old. Believe me, it will be interesting!
Excursion to Khao Lak Safari includes:
Meeting (picked up from the hotel and brought to the hotel) on a comfortable minibus;
Visit to a turtle farm;
River rafting on bamboo rafts;
Lunch at a local cafe;
Stop at a pineapple plantation;
Elephant rides and baby elephant shows. Upon request and for an additional fee - swimming with a baby elephant;
Visit to the temple-cave of the reclining Buddha (Wat Suwan Kuha) and the mountain of monkeys;
Visiting the waterfall, swimming in the waterfall if desired. During the dry season, the waterfall dries up, and we visited the excursion in March, so we didn’t get to the waterfall.
The price of the excursion also includes: insurance, drinking water, Russian-speaking guide.
Since this excursion is visited daily by a large number of tourists, the excursion route may change to disperse the flow. Some people visit the turtle farm first, and then ride the elephants and go to the temple, while others first visit the temple, and then go to the rafting and turtle farm. But this does not change the essence of the excursion.
We recommend taking with you: sunscreen and hats; telephone, camera; money for additional expenses. Wear swimwear and comfortable shoes. Optional: sunglasses, towel, change of shorts and T-shirt.
Cost of excursion from Phuket
From 2,800 - 3,000 baht - adult ticket, from 1,800 baht - children's ticket.
Excursion - Safari in Khao Lak National Park (Khao Lak Safari)
At 07:30 am we were picked up from our hotel and we drove from Phuket to mainland Thailand. The journey, including the collection of all excursion participants, took approximately an hour and a half.
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, the small concrete pens in which these cute creatures lie. According to the guide, the turtles are raised here until a certain age, and then released into the wild, this is done by order of the former King of Thailand, to preserve the endangered population.
On the way out we bought coconut ice cream. This is the most delicious ice cream we tried in Thailand. We have found it, at the moment, in only two places: at a merchant near this farm and at.
Our second stop was river rafting on bamboo rafts
It was this part of the excursion that we remembered most. This is not rafting, there is no extreme sports here, the Kaolak River was very calm and quiet. Our group, two people each, sat on rafts and Thai boys, deftly handling the raft, floated you down the river. The entire 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 calm and serenity appeared in our souls. We completely abandoned reality, sailed, enjoying the views of the jungle and the silence, broken only by the sound of the water and the occasional cries 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 we were offered to buy a photograph in an ecological frame made from elephant poop)). Interesting photo, we bought this for ourselves. Cost 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 we had soup, vegetables, fish, rice, meat and potatoes, French fries, Thai rolls, fruit and drinks with cookies. Pretty good and quite tasty, especially after a busy first half of the day spent outdoors.
Next stop was at pineapple plantations. Here the guide showed us and told us how pineapples grow and are harvested. It turns out that harvesting pineapples is very dangerous work. The bushes themselves are sharp and easy to injure, in addition, there are snakes in the fields, including poisonous ones. Snakes often bite harvesters, which can result in death.
Fifth stop - elephant safari
First of all, a 15-minute show with a baby elephant unfolded in front of us. The little elephant twirled a hoop, played the harmonica, while briskly waving his leg, and then did several tricks. The spectators, especially children, were delighted, and the baby elephant walked between people, holding a hat in his trunk, where everyone threw money.
After the show, we were offered a swim with a baby elephant. Cost 300 baht per person. We didn’t go swimming with the baby elephant, we just looked and took a few photos, for history and for you, of course.
Swimming with a baby elephant was like this: a small pond, natural, in the river, where the baby elephant was taken, then everyone who paid 300 baht was invited to join him. The participants in this action poured water on the baby elephant, rubbed his back, and finally took pictures with him. The whole process took 10-15 minutes. It didn’t look very good, to put it mildly, but the children were delighted.
Little elephants take part in the show and swimming; until a certain age, they are not allowed to ride with tourists. Because of their small sizes and little training. During the first few years of training, a baby elephant must get used to its driver, his voice and gestures, so they are trained in shows and bathing, and after they have matured, their bones have become stronger, and they have gained experience, they are sent out to give rides to tourists.
After swimming, we all went to the most awaited part of the excursion - elephant rides.
Two people rode elephants. Boarding the elephants took place in a special house, from where it was convenient to climb into the basket on the animal’s back. If you are wearing flip-flops, then you will have to leave your shoes here, but if your shoes fit tightly on your feet, then you can go in your shoes.
The ride 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 elephants did not make any impression on us, and on the contrary, we did not like it. We won’t go again, we feel sorry for the animal and we didn’t feel any emotional courage.
The skiing route went through the jungle, up and down hills, and also partially across a river, so in addition to the skiing itself, there was an opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the Thai jungle.
When you sit on the back of an elephant, the ground is quite far away, and the basket also sways; if the animal rises or descends from the hills, you shake and chatter from side to side. It's not scary, it hurts your back a little, but it's fun for some.
During the ride, the mahouts offered, for a small fee of 100 baht, to take a few photographs of us riding an elephant, while the elephants poured water on everyone, putting it in their trunks, and gave them, so to speak, a refreshing shower.
At the farm you could feed the elephants bananas and take some memorable, colorful photographs. It is better to bring bananas with you for feeding, the price tag here is decent, several bananas - from 100 baht.
Next stop Cave Temple reclining Buddha (Wat Suwan Kuha) and monkey cave (Monkey Cave)
On the territory of the complex Temple Wat SuwanKuha is located: a working monastery, a cave with a reclining Buddha who entered nirvana and is located between heaven and earth, as well as a cave-mountain of monkeys.
Entrance to the cave temple is paid. Cost 20 baht per person.
Once inside, you find yourself in the first hall, here we see the legendary reclining Buddha and other attributes of Buddhism.
This hall once served as the main temple. Currently, the temple has been moved to buildings near the cave, and the cave itself has become a place for tourists to visit.
Having walked further and climbed the steps, 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, surrounding tourists and snatching treats right out of their hands. But still, it’s better not to take risks and not try to grab the monkeys or get into their faces, they might bite, then you won’t have any trouble, there’s no need for unnecessary injections and expenses. You can bring your own treats or buy bananas from local vendors for 50 baht for several pieces.
Near the cave there is a toilet and a small market.
Thailand has long enjoyed the well-deserved love of tourists from many countries. Khao Lak Resort is one of those places where you can have a wonderful holiday with the whole family. This is exactly what we will talk about in our article.
A little about the resort...
According to reviews, Khao Lak is a rather secluded resort in Phang Nga province. It is located on the shore of the Adaman coast. Marvelous a nice place attracts vacationers with endless snow-white beaches, waterfalls, bays, clear sea water and mango jungles. The resort offers numerous treatments at yoga centers and spas. Despite the distance from entertainment centers, the city can offer active leisure.
How to get to Khao Lak?
Khao Lak is often also called Khao Lak. It is located in the south of Thailand, 60 kilometers from the island of Phuket, and also 750 kilometers from Bangkok. The most convenient way to get to the resort is to take one of the flights that arrive at Aeroflot, which offers direct flights from Moscow. The flight takes about nine hours. Then in about an hour you can reach the city of Khao Lak. Since it is located on the path of all bus routes, there are no problems with transport.
City `s history
The history of the resort is not as old as other regions of Thailand. It dates back only to the nineteenth century. In those days, aluminum deposits were discovered on local lands, after which people flocked here, and a small town was founded. Gradually it grew more and more and took an important place in trade. In addition, Khao Lak (Thailand) is located just on the route between Phuket and Bangkok. However, the city's history has its dark spots. Not everything was always good in these lands. At a certain stage, the town was mired in internecine wars over rich deposits. The story could have had a sad ending if the warring parties had failed to reach an agreement and conclude a truce. In honor of this event, the Wat Chalong temple was erected in Phuket. Over time, mining became not so profitable, and local wealthy people took up trading.
In the twentieth century, the first paved roads appeared in the resort. Then local residents the idea came about the need to connect Phuket with the mainland. In the seventies, the Sarasin Bridge was built across the strait, which still exists today.
The first tourists began to visit Khao Lak (Thailand) in the eighties, which was associated with the opening of the national park. To urban tourists, the resort seemed like a real tropical paradise. Gradually the city began to grow, numerous hotels were built and resort infrastructure. And in 2004, a tsunami hit the region, sweeping away everything in its path. Among the victims were many indigenous people and tourists. But the city was quickly restored and soon again became a paradise for guests of the country.
Resort climate
The city is located in a tropical climate zone. Although the resort is located in the south of the country, its climate is different from other regions. The rainy season here begins in June and lasts until the end of October. But from March to May the resort is sunny and dry. Daytime temperatures are within +35 degrees. The warm sea warms up to +29 degrees. This is the best period for relaxation, since at high temperatures there is a low level of humidity, which means the heat is tolerated normally. When planning a vacation at this resort, you should pay attention to the weather in Khao Lak. The main thing is that your vacation does not fall during the rainy season. By the way, at this time the rains are not too annoying, since they fall at night. But the sea becomes rough and stormy. In the summer they even cancel everything excursion programs to the islands. At this time there are very few tourists here, and therefore bars, hotels, shops and restaurants are temporarily closed.
Beach
The most luxurious beaches of Khao Lak are still practically unknown to our holidaymakers. The town itself is undeservedly deprived of the attention of our travel agencies. Many tourists learn about the resort quite by accident and come to it for the first time during excursion programs.
The beaches of Khao Lak stretch for more than twenty kilometers from north to south. In fact, they occupy the entire coastline along the Andaman Sea. The most famous and well-equipped beaches are located in the bay of Khao Lak National Park. Among them are Nang Thong, Bang Niang, Khuk Khak. But the coast of Khao Lak itself is not very popular among tourists.
The resort itself consists not only of the town, but also of several nearby villages. As a rule, if holidays are offered in this region, then most likely we are talking about these villages, since their infrastructure is the most developed. There is a good choice hotels, restaurants, bars and shops.
The beaches we have listed are the most in demand and popular; the rest of the coast is more deserted. Northern regions generally have only a few expensive hotels, which are built right on the shore, and behind them the wild jungle begins. Restaurants and cafes operate only in hotels, and there are not even the usual shops in the area. If you want to go on a trip, you need to book an excursion at the hotel.
But the northern region can offer a very calm and secluded holiday. There are practically no tourists on the local coast. You can always find a place where there is not a single person within two hundred meters.
In general, all the beaches of Khao Lak cannot be called crowded, since the resort is not yet very well known and is so in demand. But here you can have a good rest, enjoying clean sandy beaches and warm sea.
Bang Niang
Bang Niang can easily be called the most popular beach in Khao Lak (description is given in the article). Talk about the resort without remembering sea coast, is simply impossible. The beach is quite uncrowded, but very good for relaxation, and there is entertainment here. Hotels, bars and restaurants have been built along the coast. Nearby there are a couple of temples, a museum and food market. The local coast has deserted and busy areas. During the low season there are practically no tourists here. Therefore, this time will appeal to those who do not like noisy resorts.
According to reviews of Khao Lak, we can conclude that Nang Thong is another popular place. Unlike the previous beach, it is more elongated, but less wide. First line hotels are quite good. If you need to find a simpler option, then you should pay attention to the establishments located along the main road along which transport runs between Phuket and Bangkok.
There are even fewer tourists at this resort than in Bang Niang. But there are still all kinds of water activities, and the beach area is equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers. There is a lighthouse on the coast that you can even climb to. The southern part of the coast is called Sunset Beach. Expensive hotels have been built on its territory.
Resort hotels
Many hotels here were built after the tsunami in Phuket. Khao Lak is a very young resort in this regard. Modern hotels can offer an excellent level of service and beautiful rooms. Local establishments are built to all modern standards. One of best hotels Khao Lak are: “Breeze Beach Resort 5*”, “Khao Lak Emerald Beach Resort”, “Khao Lak Merlin Resort”. In general, the choice of accommodation at the resort is quite good. There are also simpler establishments and even guesthouses.
Local Attractions
What kind of resort is this without attractions? Any decent resort should have its own amazingly interesting places. It is for this reason that existing beauties are exploited or new ones are created artificially. Phanga Nga Province is a beautiful region that boasts natural beauty. The sights of Khao Lak are everything that was once created by nature, namely rocks, reefs, caves and other objects. The resort also has a tsunami museum and several temples.
Tourists can visit the tsunami memorial, the main exhibit of which is a police boat. During the tsunami it was thrown onto the coast, and since then it has stood on a pedestal, reminding of the events of 2004. This place is located near Bang Niang Beach.
Padungtampotiwas Temple is famous for its huge gilded Buddha statue. There are very few visitors here, but monks live on the territory.
Not far from Nang Thong Beach there is a Chinese temple that is simply impossible not to notice from the outside. It is especially interesting because of the white statue of the goddess, which stands on a lotus flower, and a dragon reclines at her feet. There are many interesting sculptures inside the stunningly beautiful structure.
National Park
Holidays on Khao Lak are not only about the beach and the sea, but also about the opportunity to admire the local beauty. In particular, you can visit Khao Sok National Park, which is a natural attraction. The park covers an area of about 125 square meters. km. It received national status in 1991. On its territory there is Mountain peaks and waterfalls, as well as interesting representatives of fauna and flora. The easiest way to see the park is on a guided tour, which can be purchased at any local travel agency. There are different travel options. You can ride through the jungle on the back of an elephant or walk along a short route. The choice, as they say, is yours.
Resort waterfalls
In reviews of Khao Lak, tourists recommend visiting the resort’s waterfalls. Almost all of them are located within the national park. The most interesting is Thong Chong Fa, it is located seven kilometers from Bang Niang Beach. The waterfall consists of five levels. And the lowest one forms fresh lake with cool water. You can swim in the pond after a difficult and difficult climb. The Hin Lad and Lam Prao waterfalls are very close by. One of them has two levels, and the second has three.
Similan Islands
All tourists vacationing in Khao Lak (Phuket) strive to get to the Similan Islands. This archipelago is located in the Andaman Sea, just 70 kilometers from Khao Lak. In total, it occupies an area of about 142 square meters. km. Since 1982, it has been awarded the title of National Marine Sanctuary, and is controlled by the King himself. Similan means nine. Initially, there were nine islands, and later, in 1998, another one, Tachai, became part of the archipelago. The remaining islands are named Bangu, Similan, Huong, Payang, Mayan, Payu, Hok, Miang, Ha. The islands are a real paradise for divers. These are the places that are most popular for scuba diving. The coastal waters have many rock labyrinths, coral reefs and caves. Among the underwater inhabitants you can see many exotic specimens here. The sea waters here are so clear that they can be seen for 35 meters. No less beautiful animal world Similan Islands. They are home to forty species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and more than 30 species of mammals. Of the most amazing creatures Here you can see a crab, which is covered with wool, a blue lizard, a horned heron and a leatherback turtle.
If you want to spend the night on the islands, then you can do this only on two of them - Miang and Similiang. Small houses are built here, and there are also bars and restaurants. You can book a sightseeing trip at one of the local travel agencies. However independent trip from Thap Lamu Pier will cost much less.
Surin Archipelago
The Surin archipelago includes five islands - Surin Nuea, Surin Tai, Klang, Ri, Khai. All of them are located in the Andaman Sea, approximately 57 kilometers from Khao Lak. The total area of the islands is 140 square meters. km. All of them have the status of a national reserve. The islands have lagoons and forests, mountains and beautiful coral reefs, as well as a rich underwater world.
The Surin Islands have a diverse fauna and flora. About one hundred species of birds and thirty species of animals live here. The islands are home to the rarest sea turtles, which are protected by the state. The archipelago will appeal to all connoisseurs of virgin nature, which has not yet been touched by human hands.
What to do on the island?
While relaxing at the resort, you can find a lot of interesting activities for yourself. As we already mentioned, the Surin and Similan Islands are excellent diving destinations. There are also a number of dive companies in the city that offer reef diving trips. Snorkelers also gather here. Lovers can even go to the islands for a few days.
If we talk about sea activities, then it’s worth remembering surfing. Many agencies offer lessons with trainers, as well as the opportunity to rent equipment.
The resort can please all shopping lovers. Numerous markets offer very interesting goods. One of them is located in the center of Bang Niang. The market is open only three days a week. It sells vegetables, groceries, fruits and fish. You can also buy all kinds of goods here - clothes, dishes, souvenirs, etc. It is customary to bargain in the market, so the original price can be significantly reduced.
There is another market in the center of Khuk Khak that sells fresh produce. Owners of cafes and restaurants usually purchase everything they need there. You can also buy imported food products here.
Khao Lak resort Khao Lak) is located 70 km north of Phuket Airport, on the mainland.
It takes about 40 minutes by car.
Khao Lak from Phuket
We went to check out the beaches of this place having accommodation in Phuket, but we liked Khao Lak so much that we stayed there for the night.
And this despite the fact that I didn’t want to swim there just like in Phuket: strong waves and muddy water with a suspension of sand discouraged the desire to go into the water: .
How to get to Khao Lak
The easiest option is to get to Khao Lak from Phuket - and take it to the place.
Perhaps for me it is the simplest - but so it is.
At Phuket Airport, rental prices are minimal, and the choice of cars is maximum.
I book cars in advance at - it’s convenient: there are no problems with receiving and returning the car, and if they did happen, they were always resolved in my favor.
Car insurance is included in the rental price. Refundable deposit when renting a jeep is 5,000 baht ($150).
In addition, you will need a car in Khao Lak to travel around the surrounding area: to other beaches, to the national park, to the lakes, to the province Phang Nga(like James Bond Island, if you haven’t), or Krabi, or to Phuket.
Or maybe you will be interested in the border of Thailand with Burma in the north (170 km from Khao Lak).
Where to Stay on Khao Lak: South Beach
We liked two beaches: the very first one if you come from Phuket - Khao Lak South Beach, as the name suggests, this is south beach Khao Lak.
What we liked here: houses right on the beach, a small bay with sandy beach and palm trees.
Shops, restaurants, laundries - all within walking distance.
I use the diminutive prefix to highlight one quality: everything is small and compact.
No packagers.
Well, or pronounced packagers who can be recognized from afar.
There are no noisy bars, whores, discos and everything that has not interested you for a long time.
Quiet.
If there is a group of people sitting, you can’t hear them.
In general, all the signs of a good holiday.
You can see housing in this place by opening the booking com site map - just don’t forget to indicate your dates before this: free options will be marked on it in a neutral color, and occupied ones in red.
So that you don’t waste time opening individual pages.
So, we passed all the attractions for tourists and turned onto the road to the sea and quite by chance we ended up on a deserted beach Khuk Khak Beach where we really liked the hotel Khaolak Blue Lagoon Resort where we stayed: a spacious house on the lake, a 5-minute walk from the beach.
The house has a living room, kitchen, bedroom, terrace.
Fish like red crucian carp, as tall as I am, swim in the clear lake.
They really love the cones that lie here on the ground.
At first we tried to feed them chips, but the cones caused a simply bomb effect - the crucian carp jumped out of the water like whales opposite Vancouver, near Victoria Island in Canada.
The sea is across the road.
I said loudly that the road is a strip of asphalt along which a car passes once an hour.
It's quiet and homey here.
Prices for Khao Lak
How much Phuket has deteriorated in terms of price is clearly felt on Khao Lak.
Exactly the place Khuk Khak Beach(which I wrote about above) has become indicative and exemplary in comparing the quality of life here and in Phuket.
The layout is as follows:
— we stayed in a house measuring 60 square meters (called a villa here) for $120 per day.
Distance to the beach - first line - 30 meters.
Khao Lak food prices
Dinner at the restaurant. At a coastal beach restaurant (north of Bang Tao) we paid 1,700 baht for dinner without alcohol.
In a hotel Khaolak Blue Lagoon Resort we paid 900 baht for dinner with three cocktails and a large set of seafood.
That is, more than twice as cheap.
However, there is also another one nearby natural Park, which is called Khao Lak - Lampu.
Khao Lak is still little known among Russian tourists. For some reason, this place is not given much attention, thereby leaving it to independent travelers. And this is very cool, since there are not many people. In general, there is not much of anything, with the exception of beaches and untouched nature. Nevertheless, Khao Lak is not inaccessible, rather the opposite - getting here is as easy as shelling pears, even easier and faster than to.
Khao Lak on the map of Thailand
Who should go to Khao Lak
Khao Lak will help you go back 20 years ago to what was the most popular island then. The resort is famous for its small number of tourists and its secluded beaches. As a result, the infrastructure here is poorly developed - there are few cafes, restaurants and shops, but, in principle, it is enough for a comfortable stay.
This place will be of interest primarily to nature lovers and relaxing holiday. The deserted multi-kilometer coastline and forests are simply a paradise for such people. In the morning you can watch the sunrise, during the day you can lie on the beach, swimming and enjoying life, in the evening you can watch the setting sun, and then enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants.
There are almost no attractions at the resort, and, in general, there is little. Khao Lak should be chosen if you just want to relax in the lap of nature or lie down with a book under a palm tree.
Tours to Khao Lak
To date the best prices for hotel complexes in Khao Lak they offer 4* and 5* (for the Russian Federation - Anex Tour, Tui, Biblio Globus, Pegasus, Tez-tour). That is, if you want a hotel holiday, then in most cases it is more profitable to buy package tour.
It is best to go to Khao Lak as a package tour in the following cases:
1. If you plan to be on the hotel premises most of the time.
For most of your vacation, you plan to swim, lie on a sun lounger, eat, take part in animation, and attend spa treatments. In this case, you do not need to choose several hotels for your trip, you only need one, but the best one for your money. If you want to live in several places, then it will be individual tour, and it’s more profitable to fly on your own.
2. If you are traveling with children and teenagers.
Variety of food in good hotels separate children's table. Children's animation and peers with whom it will be interesting and fun.
3. If you want quality service for your money.
Almost direct dependence on price. The more prestigious and expensive the hotel, the higher the quality and variety of services, the more interesting the territory and food.
4. If you live in a region from where they are not carried out regular flights.
If you live far from major airports, then the choice of air travel is small. Even if there are any regular flights, they may have transfers. In this case, it is easier to buy a package tour, which already includes air tickets for a direct charter, which are usually not found on free sale.
5. If you want to save money.
Due to large sales volumes during the season, tour operator prices are generally lower than if you buy all parts of the tour separately. Yes, we must admit, these parts are not always of the best quality (charter, insurance, general transfer), but for most tourists everything is determined by the price.
What does a trip to Khao Lak include?
Usually a tourist package includes:
Everything has already been taken care of for you, there is no need to buy anything separately.
Where to buy tickets
First of all, tours to Khao Lak can be purchased at travel agencies. Usually the employees there are well versed in the current market situation. But like all sellers, they are interested in selling certain tours because tour operators can offer higher commissions. Those. You should be wary of particularly active imposition of a specific hotel and tour operator.
If you know what exactly you want, know how to use the Internet and find truthful reviews, then you can book a tour to Khao Lak yourself on the tour operator’s website.
It’s even more profitable to do this on the websites Travelata and Level.Travel (Misto.Travel for Ukraine), since there you can compare the prices of all tour operators at once. Very simple and convenient sites, booking is possible in 5 minutes, unlike most tour operator sites. An additional benefit is that there is a bonus system for repeat purchases, and discounts are also offered from time to time.
How to get there
Khao Lak is not a very popular Thai resort, so transport links with it are poorly developed. The nearest one is 60 km to the south, where a huge number of flights arrive from all over the world. Many well-known airlines fly here: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, Etihad Airways, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, as well as charter companies.
Cheap flights to Bangkok
You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.
Transport
You can move around Khao Lak from beach to beach by taxi or songthaew. Songthaews are blue in color and usually do not have any inscriptions in English, only in Thai. These are small trucks, like the ones from Phuket. There are also taxis, which are covered pickup trucks, similar to those in Pattaya. They usually have Taxi written on the windshield.
There are also offices that rent out motorbikes. Cost - 200 baht per day. Most of them are located at travel agencies and may not even have a Motorbike For Rent sign. There are several gas stations on the main highway, costing 35-37 baht per liter.
Beaches
There is no clear boundary where the resort begins and ends. The string of many kilometers stretches for 25 km, almost to the city of Takuapa. Of course, there is officially a town named Khao Lak, but all the main beaches, hotels and other infrastructure are concentrated to the north. And usually Khao Lak means the area north of it, in the area of the beaches and - these are the main tourist places.
If you want at least some action with bars, restaurants, massage parlors, motorbike rentals, etc., then this is the place for you. There is even a transvestite show and night club in Bang Niang. If you want a purely beach holiday without all this, then the other 5 beaches are at your service. There are only a few fairly expensive hotels on the coast and nothing else. Those. nothing at all - as soon as you leave the hotel territory, you find yourself in a forest or an open field.
When we talked about the action in Nang Thong and Bang Niang, this should not be understood as a vibrant nightlife, like in Pattaya or on Patong Beach in Phuket. Here everything is much more moderate and quieter. In fact, the crowd is concentrated on one street in Bang Niang and consists of a dozen drinking bars and restaurants. In bars you can catch a “night butterfly”, so lonely men will definitely not be bored.
On the coast itself there is almost no one after sunset, no discos or loud music, even on the busiest beaches.
Well, those who want complete privacy can go to, which is located near Bang Sak beach and the journey there from the mainland takes only 5 minutes by boat. There are a dozen hotels on this island, despite the fact that its length is approximately 20 km. So you can imagine how crowded it is, especially in low season. That's right - no one!
Rent a motorbike on the mainland, take it to Koh Kho Khao (20 baht per moped and 20 baht per person on it) and enjoy unlimited freedom. A paved road has recently been laid across the entire island, along which you can drive with the breeze and not meet anyone on your way. For lovers beautiful views And wild beaches this place is a real find, definitely go!
What to do and what to visit
Attractions
Almost everything natural is National parks, waterfalls, and the beaches themselves. Of the man-made ones, we can name only a few temples and the tsunami monument, the one with the police ship. in 2004 led to the largest number of victims in all of Thailand (about 4,000 people).
All attractions can be visited on a rented motorbike, and excursions to the most important ones are organized at local travel agencies, of which there are a large number at every step.
Stores and shopping
Shopping in Khao Lak is only possible in Nang Thong and Bang Niang, but don’t expect anything special. There are no shopping centers or large stores either. You can buy local delicacies in the markets. For shopping, you can go to Phuket; fortunately, its best shopping center, Central Festival, is about an hour and a half away.
Entertainment
Entertainment in Khao Lak includes massage (average 300 baht per hour), water sports (only on popular beaches), elephant riding, bars, restaurants and excursions. You can go to the Zantika Pub nightclub, which is on the main road near Bang Niang. There is also a transvestite show called Moo Moo Cabaret nearby. In the evenings you can launch a Chinese balloon into the sky.
When we think of Thailand, we imagine beautiful beaches stretching beyond the horizon, clean, white and soft sand, transparent sea water various shades of turquoise, palm trees, greenery decorating the beaches, luxury hotels overlooking the beach and sea, mountains with jungle greenery, evening entertainment for the whole family and many restaurants and bars, smiling and hospitable Thai people who ask how you are, even if you are not going to buy anything from them... In short, we imagine Khao Lak!!!
Khao Lak is the name of the region of the largest and most beautiful beaches Thailand.
Moreover, in a few minutes you will find nature reserve Ton Pariwat with a variety of attractions and wonderful rafting on a stormy mountain river.
The name Khao Lak literally means “Mount Lak”. This mountain is the heart 
Khao Lak Lam Ru Nature Reserve, which stretches east from the beaches and then turns south to end at the sea. The area of the reserve is approximately 125 square kilometers and contains a wonderful collection of beaches, sea cliffs, mountains and evergreen forests. The mountains rise above the beautiful beaches and together with them they create a wonderful and magical picture of the entire area.
This article focuses on the southern border of Lac Mountain and the entire area.
A little about the location and geography of the province. Khao Lak is located in the Phang Nga region in the Takua Pa district. Khao Lak is located 75 km north of Phuket Airport.
If you drive from Phuket itself, at kilometer 803 you will see a sign with the name Ban Khao Lak and after you climb the winding road to Mount Lak, you will arrive at Ban Bang La On which is the center area called Khao Lak.
I use the word “under title” because there is confusion and ambiguity about where 
exactly Khao Lak is located, what borders this zone and what is included in it. This confusion, partly intentional by the resorts in the area, can make orientation very difficult, so I decided to devote a few lines to this issue.
In the Khao Lak area there are a huge number of hotels, resorts and tourist centers, as well as manufacturing enterprises, concentrated in three different populated areas, and they all identify as Khao Lak, so it's very easy to get confused.
A little order - the three main areas in the region, from south to north, are called:
Bang La On - southern, Bang Niang - central,
Khuk Khak – northern.
All three regions are located north of the same mountain spur, which symbolizes the southern border of the region and constitute the so-called Kao zone Lac, and it is very likely that you will be staying at a hotel in one of these three places. Later in the article I will describe these areas in more detail.
Contributing to the general confusion is the “original” beach, which is called Khao Lak Beach, as well as a small village with the same name, which are located a few kilometers south of Khao Lak.
Even municipal distribution adds to the confusion - almost the entire region 
Khao Lak (with the exception of the small village of Ban Khao Lak) belongs to the municipal district of Khuk Khak (sub-sub-district of Takua Pa), so in the formal address of hotels, resorts, camp sites and restaurants, the name is Khao Lak doesn't appear at all.
After we realized how confusing everything is, it's time to talk about the beaches, as well as a little about each area individually.
Bang La On area ranks first among amateurs active rest(shops, banks, restaurants, diving centers and other opportunities at your service), and this is probably why most tourists mistakenly call this place
Khao Lak. If you are traveling by bus and say your destination is Khao Lak, then Bang La On will be the place where you will be told to get off, although it is possible that you meant one of the other two areas. So, it is advisable to be more precise.
As I already said, the Bang La On area has many restaurants, stalls, shops and businesses, in the evening the whole area is crowded with tourists relaxing here in comfort.
Beach of Bang La On area - Nang Thong.
The Bang Niang area and the beach of the same name are 2-3 km north 
from the Bang La On area, they are easy to find at the 7/11 store. Bang Niang is concentrated night life Khao Lak with an abundance of excellent restaurants, bars, discos, various types massage and, of course, many different shops. This is a crowded place until the very late hours of the night.
*Highly recommended here is a great Italian restaurant called 
“Pinocchio”
The Khuk Khak area is more “Thai” and has fewer tourists. It is located just a few kilometers north of Bang Niang. Khuk Khak has an excellent chain of luxury Marriott hotels; if you see the name of this hotel, you can be sure that you are in Khuk Khak.
* Transport in the Khao Lak area. Many tourists rent bicycles; you can also rent a scooter. Most transportation here is done in a Song Tao, a type of pickup truck used in many parts of Thailand.
Conclusion. Khao Lak has many magical and impressive attractions, without being gaudy or ostentatious. There are beautiful beaches surrounded by mountains and evergreen forests, pristine nature, a huge number of excellent hotels and resorts that fit well with the area, as well as restaurants, bars with vibrant nightlife.
The tourist infrastructure of the Khao Lak area is well developed, but at the same time harmoniously combines with the calm Thai life of the area.
The area is also an ideal starting point for scuba diving trips.
sailing to places that are considered some of the best in the world: Surin, Koh Tachai and Similan Islands, not far from here is the Khao Sok Nature Reserve, which is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive in Thailand. In addition, you can visit beautiful corners of nature (reserves, beaches, waterfalls), combining walking and cycling.
Near the same area is the Ton Pariwat Nature Reserve with its charming
And unique nature, including the world's largest flower, Rafflesia. Here you can go whitewater rafting throughout the year, ride all-terrain vehicles, walk through the reserve, or do the same thing, but on elephants.
Even the beautiful Phang Nga Bay with James Bond Island is a short drive from Khao Lak, so you can take in the sights on a bay cruise, including all the scenic spots of the Thon Parivat Nature Reserve.
The Khao Lak area is the complete opposite of places like Patong and Phuket, which have long lost their natural charm and become 
noisy and crowded, and whose main purpose was to extract money from tourists. For someone who comes to Thailand in search of “exotic” prostitutes and transvestites, or for a beach holiday combined with buying cheap T-shirts and fake watches from the vendors who hang out on the beach, Khao Lak would be the wrong choice.
Khao Lak is now a tourist attraction that attracts many tourists, mainly Europeans and Anglo-Saxons, especially families and couples who are looking for a place full of peace and tranquility to spend pleasant stay in an excellent resort location with the possibility of diving and visiting nature reserves.
* On my own behalf, I would like to add that of all the resorts in Thailand (and, believe me, I have been to many, many times), I liked Khao Lak the most.
Quote from one of the leading online travel resources:
“Khao Lak has long been a favorite for families. If you are looking for a Thailand beach vacation without the seediness of places like Patong and Pattaya - but with the comfortable resorts and foreigner friendly scene - Khao Lak is a great choice.”
Translation: “Khao Lak has long been a favorite destination for families. If you are looking for a beach holiday in Thailand without the hype of Patong and Pattaya, but with comfortable resorts and hospitality towards foreigners, Khao Lak is a great choice.”
