Khao Lak

01Getting to know Khao Lak - what makes the area special?

Khao Lak is in Phang Nga Province, on the west coast of southern Thailand, on the Andaman Sea.

The area stretches along about 20-25 kilometres of coastline and is made up of several beaches and tourist areas. Some have restaurants, cafes and markets, while others mainly suit people looking for quiet, space and a resort facing the sea.

One of Khao Lak's most distinctive features is the character of its beaches.

Instead of small bays surrounded by limestone cliffs, like the ones associated with Krabi and Phi Phi, here you will find long, wide stretches of sand, ideal for walks and relaxed time by the sea.

Behind some of the beaches are hotels and tropical gardens, and within driving distance there are rainforests, waterfalls and national parks.

That is also one of the reasons Khao Lak suits different kinds of holidays.

You can choose a beachfront hotel and spend most of your time resting. You can stay in an area with restaurants and a market within walking distance. Or you can use Khao Lak as a base for day trips around Phang Nga and the Andaman Sea.

Who is Khao Lak for?

Khao Lak is especially good for couples and families looking for a relaxed beach holiday, and for travellers who want to combine the sea, nature and day trips.

If you prefer markets, local food and laid-back evenings, you can choose one of the more central areas.

On the other hand, if you are looking for big parties, clubs and busy nightlife hubs, you may prefer other destinations in southern Thailand.

02Khao Lak's beaches

The beaches are a central part of the Khao Lak experience, but they do not all offer the same surroundings.

Some are close to areas with restaurants and shops, while others are surrounded mainly by resorts and open space.

Bang Niang Beach

Bang Niang is the area we chose to stay in on our visit in February 2025.

It combines a beach with restaurants, cafes, shops and a well-known evening market.

Its big advantage is that you can enjoy a relaxed holiday during the day and head out in the evening to an area with more going on.

We especially enjoyed the market and the atmosphere that builds up around it in the evening.

It is worth knowing that the name Bang Niang covers a fairly wide area. Not every hotel is right on the beach, and not everywhere is within walking distance of the market.

Nang Thong Beach

General information - we did not stay in this area.

Nang Thong is in the southern part of Khao Lak's resort strip, in the Bang La On area.

It is a long beach lined with hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops.

The area suits anyone who wants to combine the beach with tourist services fairly close by, without heading off to the quieter resort areas.

Khuk Khak Beach

General information.

Khuk Khak is a long, fairly quiet beach area, with places to stay and resorts spread along the shore.

It is better suited to people looking for space, rest and long days on the beach or at the hotel.

Options for eating and going out beyond the hotel may be more limited than in the central areas.

Pak Weep Beach

General information.

Pak Weep is further north along the resort strip.

The area is known for quiet beaches and resorts, and mainly suits people who prefer a holiday where the sea and the hotel are the centre of the day.

It is further from the main market and restaurant areas, so keep that in mind when planning a visit.

Bang Sak Beach

General information.

Bang Sak has a long beach, plenty of space and a less crowded atmosphere.

There are places to stay and beach restaurants in the area, but it is further from Khao Lak's tourist centres.

It suits people who are mainly looking for a quiet beach holiday.

03The Similan Islands - one of Khao Lak's main attractions

✓ We visited in February 2025

One of the main reasons to come to Khao Lak is the chance to take a day trip to the Similan Islands.

They are a group of islands in the Andaman Sea, known for clear turquoise water, pale sandy beaches and huge granite boulders that create a remarkable landscape.

We went on an organised day trip from Khao Lak, which included visits to beaches, snorkelling stops and lunch.

The beaches were beautiful, and the scenery was different from anything we had seen elsewhere in Thailand.

What should you know about the snorkelling?

At some of the stops the snorkelling is in fairly deep water, and it can be challenging if you are not a confident swimmer.

This is a point we want to stress, because when you book a snorkelling trip it is easy to picture a gentle swim in shallow water near the beach, but not every stop fits that description.

Ask in advance how deep the water is, whether there are currents, what equipment is provided and whether you can stay on the boat if you do not want to go in.

When can you visit the Similan Islands?

The national park is usually open to visitors from mid-October to mid-May, and closes during the monsoon season for safety reasons and to protect nature.

The exact opening and closing dates can change, so it is important to check them before you book.

What to check before you book a trip

• How long the boat ride takes and whether it is by speedboat.
• How much time is set aside for each island and each beach.
• How many snorkelling stops are included and how difficult they are.
• Whether lunch, equipment and the park entrance fee are included in the price.
• What the cancellation policy is if the sea is rough.

Read our Similan Islands guide ›

04Bang Niang Market - one of the places we enjoyed most

Bang Niang Market is one of the best-known places to spend an evening in Khao Lak.

The market is in the Bang Niang area and has stalls selling food, fruit, clothes, souvenirs and more.

We stayed in this area in February 2025, and visiting the market was one of the things we loved most.

After a relaxed day in Khao Lak, it is nice to go out in the evening to a place with people, food stalls and a different atmosphere from the hotel.

The market also works well if you want an informal dinner, to taste a few different things or simply to wander between the stalls.

What can you find at the market?

There are stalls with Thai food, fruit and drinks, alongside stalls selling clothes and souvenirs.

The advantage of a food market is that you can pick several small dishes from different places instead of ordering a whole meal at one restaurant.

When is the market on?

According to the official Bang Niang Market website, the market is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 14:00 to 22:00.

The evening is an especially good time to visit, when the food stalls are busy and the atmosphere becomes livelier.

If your stay in Khao Lak is short, check in advance that the market is open on one of your evenings in the area.

05Food and restaurants in Khao Lak

Khao Lak offers a mix of local Thai food, tourist restaurants, hotel restaurants and market food stalls.

What you will find depends on the area you are in.

Bang Niang and Nang Thong have a range of restaurants and cafes alongside hotels and shops.

In the quieter northern areas, some of the restaurants are inside the resorts or near the beach.

Restaurants in the Bang Niang area

The Bang Niang area suits anyone who wants to combine a holiday with the option of going out to restaurants and cafes.

Besides the evening market there are other places to eat in the area, so you do not have to build all your evenings around the hotel restaurant.

Even within Bang Niang, though, it is worth checking the distance from your hotel to the places you want to eat.

Beach and resort restaurants

In the quieter parts of Khao Lak, hotel restaurants and beach restaurants are a central part of the stay.

If you are looking for a relaxed holiday, a meal facing the sea can be part of the fun and not just a break between activities.

On the other hand, if you like trying a different restaurant every evening, choose an area with more places to eat within walking distance.

06Nightlife in Khao Lak

Khao Lak is not a destination for big parties and intense nightlife.

Evenings are more about restaurants, markets, bars and relaxed time out.

In areas such as Bang Niang there are more options for leaving the hotel, wandering between places and sitting down to eat or drink.

On our visit we especially enjoyed being able to combine Khao Lak's calm with an evening at the market.

If you are looking for livelier nightlife, with clubs and big parties, you may find better options in other destinations.

07Waterfalls and nature in Khao Lak

Khao Lak offers much more than a beach holiday.

Behind the strip of hotels are green mountains, rainforests and nature reserves that you can reach on day trips.

The attractions in this section are based on outside information. We did not visit them ourselves.

08Takua Pa

General information.

Takua Pa is a town in the Phang Nga area, north of Khao Lak's main resort areas.

Its old town is known for historic buildings and Chinese and Portuguese architectural influences.

It is a good destination if you also want to get to know the urban and historic side of the area, away from the strip of hotels.

Takua Pa Old Town

In the old town you will find streets with old buildings, shops and an atmosphere quite different from the tourist beach areas.

A visit works well combined with a meal or a stroll along the main streets.

The Sunday market

Takua Pa Old Town also has a Sunday walking street market, with food stalls and local products.

The market can change with the season and local conditions, so check the details before you go.

09Khao Lak and the 2004 tsunami

Khao Lak was one of the areas hit hardest by the tsunami that struck the coasts of the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004.

The disaster claimed many lives and left a deep mark on the local communities.

Today you can visit memorial sites in the area that commemorate the event.

Police boat T.813

One of the best-known memorial sites is in the Bang Niang area.

Police boat T.813 was carried far inland from the shoreline by the tsunami, and today it stands as a memorial to the disaster.

It tells an important part of Khao Lak's history and of how much the area has changed since.

The information in this section is based on outside sources.

10Khao Lak as a base for exploring southern Thailand

Khao Lak's location north of Phuket makes it easy to fit into a route that includes other destinations in southern Thailand.

You can get there from Phuket by road, spend a few days on the beaches and attractions in the area and continue on to other destinations from there.

One of the most interesting combinations is Khao Lak and Khao Sok.

Khao Lak and Khao Sok

Khao Sok National Park is inland, and it offers a completely different experience from Khao Lak.

Instead of beaches and seaside resorts, Khao Sok is known for rainforests, limestone cliffs and Cheow Lan Lake.

You can combine the two destinations on the same route to enjoy both the sea and the jungle.

If you are planning to visit Khao Sok after Khao Lak, you can save unnecessary journeys by planning the order of your destinations in advance.

Read our Khao Sok guide ›

11Where to stay in Khao Lak - in brief

Khao Lak has several different areas to stay in, and the one you choose shapes the kind of holiday you have.

We chose to stay in Bang Niang, mainly because it let us combine a relaxed holiday with evenings at the market and the restaurants.

But if you prefer to spend most of your time on the beach and at the hotel, you can also find good options in the more northern areas.

Before you choose a hotel, check its exact location, the access to the beach and the distance to restaurants and markets.

The full guide: where to stay in Khao Lak ›

The hotel where we stayed

In February 2025 we stayed at Grandfather KhaoLak Resort in the Bang Niang area.

Staying in this area let us combine the holiday with visits to the market and the restaurants nearby.

If you are thinking of booking this hotel, read our full review of the stay, where we also cover the differences between the photos we saw before booking and the room we actually got.

Read the full review of Grandfather KhaoLak Resort ›

12How to get to Khao Lak

From Phuket to Khao Lak

Khao Lak is north of Phuket, and you can get there by road.

Phuket International Airport is one of the most convenient arrival points for the area.

The journey time depends on the exact location of your hotel, where you are setting off from and the traffic.

Arriving as part of a trip around southern Thailand

You can fit Khao Lak into a route that includes Phuket, the Phang Nga area and Khao Sok.

It is worth planning the order of your destinations in advance, especially if you want to avoid unnecessary trips back to Phuket between neighbouring areas.

13How do you get around Khao Lak?

Within some areas, such as Bang Niang and Bang La On, you can walk to restaurants and shops.

But because the resort area stretches along a long strip of coast, not everything is within walking distance.

To move between beach areas, reach the waterfalls or head out to more distant attractions, you will usually need transport.

You can use taxis, private transfers or a hire car.

So it is worth planning in advance which places you want to visit and choosing an area to stay in that fits your plans.

14How many days should you spend in Khao Lak?

How long to stay depends on whether Khao Lak is a short stop on your route or the main destination of your holiday.

Two nights

Two nights suit anyone fitting Khao Lak into a longer route who wants to enjoy the area or take one day trip.

We stayed in the area for two nights and combined the stay with experiences outside the hotel.

Three to four nights

This is a more comfortable length of stay if you want to combine a trip to the Similan Islands, a visit to the market, beaches and some time to rest.

That way you do not have to fill every day with a different activity, and you have more flexibility depending on the weather.

Five nights or more

A longer stay suits anyone who wants to enjoy the hotel and the beaches and also add waterfalls, nature and trips around the area.

On a holiday like this you can spend whole days resting without feeling you are missing the main attractions.

15When is the best time to visit Khao Lak?

November to April is generally considered the relatively dry season in the Khao Lak area.

It is a more comfortable time for a beach holiday and boat trips, although even in this season there can be rainy days or sea conditions that are not suitable for activities.

In the other months the chance of rain and rough seas is higher.

The weather is especially important if you are planning a trip to the Similan Islands, because the national park is not open to visitors all year round.

Even if you come during what is considered the good season, check the forecast and the boating conditions close to the date of your trip.

16What to know before you go

The Similan Islands are not open all year

If you are planning your holiday around a trip to the islands, check in advance that the park is open and that trips are running.

Not every snorkelling trip suits everyone

Some trips include stops in deep water. Check the type of activity, the equipment and whether it suits your swimming level in advance.

Bang Niang Market is not open every evening

If you are coming for a short time, check which days it is open so you do not miss the market.

The distances between areas are significant

Khao Lak is not one small tourist centre. Choose your hotel's location according to what you plan to do.

You can combine Khao Lak with other destinations

Phuket and Khao Sok can fit into a route that includes Khao Lak, without having to go back to the same starting point each time.

17Khao Lak FAQs

Where is Khao Lak?

Khao Lak is in Phang Nga Province, on the west coast of southern Thailand, north of Phuket.

Is Khao Lak good for a holiday with children?

Yes. The area has long beaches and resorts, as well as nature and sea trips. Choose the area and activities according to your children's ages and the sea conditions.

What is the main attraction in Khao Lak?

The Similan Islands are one of the main attractions in the area, especially if you love beaches, snorkelling and sea views.

Is Bang Niang Market worth visiting?

We really enjoyed the market and the evening atmosphere. It is a good place for food, a little shopping and time out of the hotel.

Can you get to Khao Lak from Phuket?

Yes. Khao Lak is north of Phuket, and you can get there by road.

Do you need a car in Khao Lak?

Not necessarily. In some areas you can walk to restaurants and shops. To move between areas and reach more distant attractions you will usually need a taxi, a transfer or a car.

Is Khao Lak good for nightlife?

Khao Lak is better suited to relaxed evenings in restaurants, markets and bars than to big parties and intense nightlife.

How many days should you spend in Khao Lak?

Three to five days let you combine beaches, an island trip, the market and some rest. A shorter stop can also work as part of a route around southern Thailand.