Khao Lak is a laid-back resort area on the Andaman coast of Phang Nga province, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Phuket Airport: a string of long, quiet beaches backed by forested hills, with low-rise resorts set among palms and rubber trees rather than high-rise hotels. It is the main base for the Similan Islands, one of the world’s great dive and snorkel destinations, open only from mid-October to mid-May, and a good jumping-off point for the rainforest and lake of Khao Sok National Park. Khao Lak was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004, and its memorials are moving places to visit; the area has long since rebuilt into one of Thailand’s calmest, most family-friendly beach destinations. Come for wide, uncrowded beaches and sunsets, Similan and Surin boat trips, waterfalls and jungle, the old town of Takua Pa and good-value resorts. Its weather is sharply seasonal: dry and sunny from about December to March, and very wet from May to October.
Right now in Khao Lak
- Wed23–28°C73–83°F13 mm rain
- Thu23–29°C73–83°F5 mm rain
- Fri23–29°C74–83°F3 mm rain
Top tours in Khao Lak
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Khao Lak at a glance
- Best for: quiet beach holidays, families and couples, diving and snorkeling in the Similan Islands, and rainforest trips to Khao Sok.
- How long: 4–5 days for the beaches and a Similan day trip; a week or more to add Khao Sok or a liveaboard dive trip.
- Best time: December to March, with highs of about 33–34 °C (91–93 °F) and little rain; the Similan Islands are open from October 15 to May 15.
- Getting there: about 1–1.5 hours by road from Phuket International Airport (HKT); buses from Bangkok and Phuket stop on the main road.
- Getting around: taxis and songthaews, rental scooters and cars; most hotels arrange transfers to the piers.
- Fees to know: Mu Ko Similan National Park charges an entry fee, usually included in tour prices, and closes every year from May 16 to October 14.
- Before you go: entry rules, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, money and general safety are in our Thailand travel guide.
Khao Lak’s areas and where to stay
“Khao Lak” covers about 25 km (16 miles) of coast along Highway 4, from the forested headland of Khao Lak itself in the south to Pakarang Cape in the north. Most hotels lie between the highway and the sea, with beach access on quiet lanes.
Khao Lak and Sunset Beach
The southern end, below the green hills of Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park, has small, rocky coves such as Sunset Beach and Khao Lak Beach, with hillside resorts and sea views. It is the most scenic area but has fewer restaurants within walking distance.
Nang Thong
The busiest part of Khao Lak and its unofficial center, with a long beach, mid-range hotels, dive shops, restaurants, bars and shops along the highway. It is the most convenient base if you want to walk to dinner.
Bang Niang
Just north of Nang Thong, a long, wide beach and a lively strip with a market several evenings a week, a good choice of restaurants and the Tsunami Memorial Park. Popular with families.
Khuk Khak and Pakarang Cape
The northern beaches are long, empty and lined with larger resorts, many of them upscale. Pakarang Cape, at the northern tip, has a beach of broken coral and reefs exposed at low tide, and is a popular sunset spot.
Where to stay in Khao Lak
- Nang Thong: convenient, with the most restaurants and dive shops.
- Bang Niang: a family favorite, with a wide beach and night market.
- Khao Lak and Sunset Beach: hillside views and peace, less walkable.
- Khuk Khak and Pakarang: large resorts on long, quiet beaches; best with transport.
Rates peak from late December to February. From May to October many resorts offer big discounts, but some close and the sea is often too rough for swimming.
Top things to see in Khao Lak
The Similan Islands
Mu Ko Similan National Park is a chain of granite islands about 60 km (37 miles) off the coast, with white sand, huge rounded boulders, turquoise water and some of Thailand’s best coral reefs and dive sites. Day trips by speedboat leave from Thap Lamu pier, just south of Khao Lak, and visit islands such as Ko Miang, Ko Similan (Island 8) with its famous Sail Rock viewpoint, and Ko Ba Ngu. According to the national parks department, the whole park closes every year from May 16 to October 14, and several dive sites, including Fantasy Reef, Anita’s Reef, East of Eden and the reefs around Ko Tachai, are closed indefinitely to let the coral recover. The park has a daily visitor limit, tour operators must notify the park in advance, and overnight stays on the islands have not been allowed since 2018, so visits are by day trip or on a liveaboard dive boat. See our guides to snorkeling and diving.
The Surin Islands
Mu Ko Surin National Park, farther north near the Myanmar border, is known for clear water, coral and the Moken sea-nomad village. Trips usually start from Khuraburi, about an hour north of Khao Lak, and the park follows the same season, closing every year from May 16 to October 14.
The tsunami memorials
The Police Boat 813 (Tsunami Memorial Park) in Bang Niang is a patrol boat that the 2004 wave carried about 2 km (1.2 miles) inland, now surrounded by a small memorial garden. The International Tsunami Museum nearby explains the disaster and how warning systems work, and the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial, in a fishing village north of Khao Lak, has a curved wall bearing the names of the victims. Visit quietly and respectfully.
Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park
The forested headland between Khao Lak and Thap Lamu is a national park with a coastal nature trail to small beaches, a viewpoint, and a waterfall. The headquarters is on the main road at the top of the hill; an entry fee is charged.
Waterfalls and viewpoints
- Lam Ru Waterfall: a multi-tiered waterfall in the hills inland, best in the rainy season.
- Chong Fah Waterfall: a short drive inland from Bang Niang, with a forest walk to several tiers.
- Ton Chong Fah and Ton Prai: smaller falls for a swim on a hot day.
- Khao Lak viewpoint: a roadside lookout on Highway 4 over the coast and the Similan horizon.
Other things to do in Khao Lak
Food and drink
Khao Lak is good for relaxed dining: southern Thai curries such as gaeng som and gaeng tai pla, massaman curry, seafood grilled to order, and the local Phang Nga specialty of mee hokkien (fried yellow noodles). The night markets in Bang Niang and Khuk Khak are the cheapest places to eat; beachfront restaurants set out tables on the sand at sunset. Many restaurants close or shorten their hours in the rainy season.
Diving and snorkeling
Khao Lak has dozens of dive centers running Similan and Surin day trips and liveaboards of three to five nights, which also reach Richelieu Rock, a pinnacle famed for whale sharks and macro life, and Ko Bon, where manta rays are seen in season. Beginners can take courses in the pool and on reefs closer to shore. See our guide to diving.
Beaches and sea turtles
The beaches are long, wide and rarely crowded, and sea turtles occasionally nest on the quieter stretches; respect any marked nests. See our guide to beaches.
Festivals
Songkran in mid-April and Loy Krathong (November 24 in 2026) are celebrated at the beaches and temples; on December 26 each year memorial ceremonies remember the victims of the 2004 tsunami.
Activities and best months
- Scuba divingJanFebMarAprNovDecMu Ko Similan National Park, reached from Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak, closes every year from 16 May to 14 October; several reefs (Fantasy Reef, Anita's Reef, East of Eden, Ko Tachai) are closed indefinitely; visitor numbers are capped and there are no overnight stays.
Day trips from Khao Lak
- The Similan Islands: a full day by speedboat, from October 15 to May 15.
- Khao Sok National Park: rainforest, limestone cliffs and the Cheow Lan Lake, about 1.5 hours by road; a night in a raft house is best. According to the national parks department, the Tham Nam Thalu cave closes from June 1 to November 30.
- Phang Nga Bay: limestone islands, sea caves and “James Bond Island,” about 1.5 hours away; see our Phuket guide for more on the bay.
- Takua Pa Old Town: a quiet street of Sino-Portuguese shophouses about 30 minutes north, recognized in 2026 with a Green Destinations award for sustainable management.
- Phuket: beaches, Old Town and nightlife, about 1.5 hours south.
Nearby destinations
- Phuket72 km
- Ao Nang (Krabi)90 km
- Ko Phi Phi115 km
- Ko Lanta145 km
- Ko Samui216 km
- Ko Pha Ngan232 km
- Ko Tao239 km
- Ko Lipe265 km
Getting there and getting around
By road and air
The nearest airport is Phuket International Airport (HKT), with flights from Bangkok in about 1 hour 20 minutes and many international routes. Khao Lak is about 1–1.5 hours north by taxi, minivan or hotel transfer along Highway 4. Buses between Phuket and Ranong or Takua Pa stop on the main road in Khao Lak on request, and long-distance buses from Bangkok take about 12 hours. Krabi Airport is about 2.5 hours away.
Around Khao Lak
Taxis and songthaews wait at the main junctions; agree the fare first. Most hotels and tour operators include pickups for boat trips. Renting a car or scooter is useful for reaching the waterfalls and Khao Sok, but Highway 4 is fast and busy; you need the right license, an International Driving Permit and a helmet.
When to go and how long to stay
Khao Lak is on the Andaman coast, which takes the full force of the southwest monsoon: it is one of the wettest parts of Thailand from May to October, and dry and sunny from December to March. The table uses the 1991–2020 normals of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) for its Takua Pa station, about 6 km (4 miles) north of Khao Lak, as submitted to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): average daily highs and lows, total rain, and days with at least 1 mm of rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (days with 1 mm or more) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 62 mm (2.4 in), 5 days | Dry and sunny; peak season; Similans at their best |
| February | 33 °C (92 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 45 mm (1.8 in), 4 days | The driest month; calm seas |
| March | 34 °C (92 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 145 mm (5.7 in), 9 days | Hot; occasional showers; manta season |
| April | 34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 222 mm (8.7 in), 14 days | Hot with afternoon storms; Songkran |
| May | 33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (76 °F) | 431 mm (17.0 in), 20 days | Monsoon begins; Similans close from May 16 |
| June | 32 °C (89 °F) / 25 °C (76 °F) | 457 mm (18.0 in), 19 days | Wet, with rough seas; many resorts discounted |
| July | 32 °C (89 °F) / 25 °C (76 °F) | 466 mm (18.3 in), 20 days | Heavy showers and big waves |
| August | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 570 mm (22.4 in), 20 days | Very wet; waterfalls at their fullest |
| September | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 636 mm (25.0 in), 22 days | The wettest month |
| October | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 529 mm (20.8 in), 22 days | Still very wet; Similans reopen October 15 |
| November | 32 °C (89 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 232 mm (9.1 in), 14 days | Drying out; the season starts |
| December | 32 °C (89 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F) | 78 mm (3.1 in), 7 days | Mostly sunny; busy at Christmas and New Year |
The Takua Pa station records about 3,870 mm (152 in) of rain a year, about four-fifths of it from May to October, with downpours, strong winds and big waves that make swimming dangerous on many days. From December to March the sea is usually calm and clear.
Weather month by month
4 days in Khao Lak
Day one, settle in and watch the sunset at Pakarang Cape. Day two, a Similan Islands day trip. Day three, the tsunami memorials, the International Tsunami Museum and a waterfall in the afternoon. Day four, a beach day and the Bang Niang market in the evening.
A week or more
Add two days in Khao Sok with a night on the lake, a day in Takua Pa Old Town, or a liveaboard dive trip to the Similan and Surin islands and Richelieu Rock.
What a trip to Khao Lak costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 33 baht to the US dollar.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Market or street food dish | 60–120 baht (about US$1.80–3.60) |
| Seafood dinner for two | 900–2,000 baht (about US$27–60) |
| Taxi from Phuket Airport | 1,200–1,800 baht (about US$36–55) |
| Similan day trip by speedboat, including park fee | 3,000–4,500 baht (about US$90–135) |
| Similan day of two dives, including park fee | 5,000–7,000 baht (about US$150–210) |
| Khao Sok day trip | 1,800–3,000 baht (about US$55–90) |
| Scooter rental, per day | 250–350 baht (about US$7.50–11) |
| Mid-range beach resort double | 2,000–6,000 baht (about US$60–180) |
Practical tips for Khao Lak
- Book the Similans early: daily visitor limits mean popular dates sell out in the high season.
- Season matters: from May to October some resorts and restaurants close, boat trips stop, and the sea is often too rough to swim.
- Tsunami signs: Khao Lak has warning towers and blue evacuation-route signs; take a moment to note the route from your hotel.
- Cash: ATMs are along the main road in Nang Thong and Bang Niang.
- Cannabis and vaping: cannabis flower needs a Thai prescription, and e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand.
- Help: the Tourist Police (1155) speak English, and the TAT Contact Center (1672) answers tourist questions.
Safety
Khao Lak is calm and family-friendly; the main risks come from the sea, the road and the heat.
- Sea conditions: from about May to October the southwest monsoon brings big waves and strong rip currents to every Khao Lak beach; swim only when flags allow it, never when red flags fly, and stay out of the water in stormy weather. Even in the dry season, currents can be strong off Pakarang Cape.
- Diving safety: Similan sites can have strong currents and are deeper than training reefs; dive within your certification with a licensed operator, use a surface marker buoy, and leave 18–24 hours before flying. Make sure your insurance covers diving.
- Boat trips: speedboat crossings to the Similans take about 1–1.5 hours and can be bumpy; trips are canceled when the sea is rough.
- Road safety: Highway 4 is fast and busy, with little lighting at night; take care crossing it to the beach, wear a helmet on a scooter and never drive after drinking.
- Tsunami preparedness: warning towers, sirens and evacuation signs are in place along the coast; if you feel a strong earthquake or hear the siren, move inland or uphill along the marked route.
- Heat and sun: drink plenty of water and use strong sunscreen, especially from February to April.
- Emergencies: call 1155 for the Tourist Police (English spoken), 191 for the police and 1669 for an ambulance.
What to pack for Khao Lak
Swimwear and a rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, sandals and water shoes, a dry bag and seasickness tablets for boat trips, insect repellent and sturdy shoes for waterfalls and Khao Sok, a light rain jacket from May to October, and your dive certification card. Thailand uses 220 V; sockets take both flat two-pin and round two-pin plugs.
What to pack
- Dry bags and phone pouchesDive boats are wet; keep phone, documents and a towel dry between dives.
- Fleeces and warm layersA warm layer or windproof after a dive stops you chilling on the boat ride back.
Khao Lak travel FAQ
When are the Similan Islands open?
From October 15 to May 15. According to the national parks department, the park closes every year from May 16 to October 14, and some dive sites are closed indefinitely.
Can I stay overnight on the Similan Islands?
No. Overnight stays on the islands have not been allowed since 2018, so visits are by day trip or liveaboard dive boat.
What is the best time to visit Khao Lak?
From December to March, when it is dry and the sea is calm. May to October is the rainy season.
How far is Khao Lak from Phuket Airport?
About 80 km (50 miles), or 1–1.5 hours by road.
Is Khao Lak good for families?
Yes. It has long, quiet beaches, family resorts and little nightlife, though the sea can be rough from May to October.
Which beach is best in Khao Lak?
Nang Thong for convenience, Bang Niang for families, Sunset Beach for scenery and Khuk Khak or Pakarang for long, quiet sand.
Can I visit Khao Sok from Khao Lak?
Yes, it is about 1.5 hours by road; a day trip works, but a night on the lake is better.
Is Khao Lak good for diving?
Yes. It is the main base for the Similan and Surin islands and Richelieu Rock, among the best diving in Thailand, from mid-October to mid-May.
What happened in Khao Lak in 2004?
The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 struck the coast with great loss of life. Memorials, a museum and warning systems are now part of the area.
How many days should I spend in Khao Lak?
Four or five days for the beaches and a Similan trip; a week or more to add Khao Sok or a liveaboard.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Similan, Surin and Khao Sok closure dates and the Similan dive-site closures: the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Similan visitor limits, advance notice and the end of overnight stays, the Takua Pa Green Destinations award, cannabis and e-cigarette rules and the Tourist Police: the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); climate normals: the Thai Meteorological Department via the World Meteorological Organization’s 1991–2020 normals; Loy Krathong date: the 12th-month full moon from the US Naval Observatory; exchange rate: the US Federal Reserve. Park fees, journey times, sight details and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and schedules change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Thailand travel guide.
Also: tatnews.org · TMD normals 1991–2020, Takua Pa (climate)
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)