What you need to see and what you need to do in Khao Lak. What to choose, Phuket or Khao Lak? The best beaches in Khao Lak

Compared to nearby Phuket, they are not just deserted - they are deserted. Finding a beach in Khao Lak filled with three rows of sun loungers, which is common in Phuket, is simply unrealistic. Moreover, on such a beach it is difficult to find not only sunbeds, but also vacationers themselves. It is not surprising, since at 4 km. There are only 3 hotels on the cleanest beach, and taking into account the fact that this beach is located somewhat on the outskirts, tourists are really rare there.

If a beach like Khuk Khak seems too crowded, there is an island at your service. Only 25 km. north of Khao Lak, and in front of you there will be an island, the entire western part of which is one continuous 20-kilometer beach. Vacationers are present here only in the very south of the island, and the entire northern part of the beach, at a glance, is 15 km away. long, remains in an absolutely wild and pristine state. Despite all the wildness of this place, people live there and roads are built, so getting to even the farthest edge of the local beach will not be difficult.

And if this place seems too affected by civilization to you, a couple of kilometers north of Koh Kho Khao lies an island similar to Koh Kho Khao, but with wild deer, wild boars and unafraid hornbills. If you get there, you will have a rare opportunity for a resident of an industrial country to watch deer coming to the beach at sunset and local dogs, whose appearance of deer awakens half-forgotten hunting instincts.

Go to the islands, swim in perfectly clear water, lie on white coral sand and look at the amazing underwater world of the Andaman Sea

The islands of the Similan ridge, located 60 km. west of Khao Lak, are one of the most beautiful places in Thailand and it would be a real crime to miss the opportunity to visit there.

The main thing that amazes everyone who comes to the islands is the amazing diversity and unearthly beauty of the local nature. There is everything here that can amaze a resident of a cold northern country: monumental granite rocks protruding from the dark blue depths of the sea and perfectly clear blue shallow water; beaches with crystal white coral sand and lush tropical vegetation surrounding the beaches; shallow coral reefs with colorful colorful fish and deeper reefs, habitats of large marine animals.

The underwater world of the islands deserves a separate description, and for starters, suffice it to say that snorkeling and diving on the Similan Islands is considered not only the best in Thailand, but also claims to be considered the best in the whole world.

And finally, it should be noted that the islands themselves are very different from each other. In particular, the Similan and Surin look as if they are separated not by several tens, but by several thousand kilometers. So, if you have already visited, it does not follow that there is nothing else to see in the north of the Andaman Sea, and they can also give you many pleasant moments.

Visit national parks and see a real tropical forest

A real tropical forest is not at all the thin and frail vegetation that fills the gaps between the hotels in Phuket and Pattaya. And this is not the “jungle” with its notorious palm trees and monkeys.

In fact, a real tropical forest consists of huge 50-meter trees, vines tens of meters long and thickets of bamboo as tall as a five-story building. And also - these are idyllic landscapes with quiet river backwaters and schools of unfrightened fish, waterfalls in the spray of which a rainbow shines, and breathtaking panoramas of mountains, hills and plains lying between them.

These are the smells of unknown flowers and the aromas of rotten leaves, the sound of the wind in the crowns of trees and the singing of unfamiliar birds, incomprehensible rustles in fallen leaves and the powerful sounds of cicadas.

And yet, this is a place where you can meet inhabitants of the tropical forest who consider themselves, and not humans, to be the owner of these places. For example, hefty, meter-long lizards that do not run away in horror when you appear, but, on the contrary, look with curiosity at who has come to visit them.

If you have never been to a large tropical forest before, you can rest assured that it will leave a lasting impression on you. So indelible that trips to national parks may well become as natural a part of a Thai vacation as trips to beaches and islands.

See Phang Nga Bay, with its numerous islands and lakes hidden in the depths of the islands

One of the most unusual and impressive places in Thailand, a must see place. Famous for its islands sticking vertically out of the depths of the sea, intricate caves and lakes with emerald water, intricately located inside the islands.

Thanks to the efforts of Hollywood, this place is known to almost everyone and it is difficult to find a person who does not know what James Bond Island looks like. However, although the island is colorful, there are attractions in the bay that can further capture your imagination. First of all, this is Panak Island, which is a real miracle of nature. The very island where there are through caves connecting the sea with unreal beauty lakes, it is unclear how they ended up in the very middle of the island.

And all this splendor can be easily seen with your own eyes, just take a break from your sun lounger with a beer and buy an excursion to Phang Nga Bay. And at the same time, get as a bonus the opportunity to look at floating fishing villages and temples located in caves, touch stalactites and stalagmites with your own hands and get a photo as a souvenir against the backdrop of a stunning panorama of the bay.

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.

The national park is located 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

In brochures, an excursion to Khao Lak National Park costs: 2,800 baht for an adult ticket, 1,800 baht for a child’s ticket. In reality, the excursion costs less, they willingly lower the price. We purchased a tour for 1,000 baht per person.

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 one 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. Due to its small size 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 of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Suwan Kuha) and Monkey Cave

On the territory of the Wat SuwanKuha Temple complex there are: 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.

) »»» 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 one 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 in 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 of Khao Sok National Park is the mountain lake Cheow 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, Si Phang-Nga National Park 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) is the closest national park to the tourist center of the same name. 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 the eastern border.....

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 (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.....

Lake Cheow Lan near the Thai city of Khao Lok is one of the most famous and popular attractions of the local Khao Sok National Park.

Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Lak

In the form that Lake Cheow Lan in Khao Lak exists now, it appeared in 1982, after a hydroelectric power station was built on the river. Despite the fact that, according to wildlife activists, much of the region's nature was destroyed as a result of the construction of the hydroelectric dam, the main attraction of the National Park makes a stunning impression on visitors. The area of Lake Cheow Lan in Khao Lak is about 160 square kilometers and the best way to admire it is from the water by renting a boat. While walking along Cheow Lan Lake, tourists will be able to better appreciate its scale and admire the amazing rocks that line the shores and rise out of the water. One of the most famous places here is the part of the lake known as the Three Rocks. There are three tall, narrow rock formations covered with vegetation. For those who want to stay on the lake for a few days and fully enjoy the privacy in a magnificent location, there are many bungalows built on the shore of the lake and right on the water of Cheo Lan. It costs from 500 to 100 baht (approximately 500 – 1000 rubles) per night to stay here. It is worth keeping in mind that there is no Internet in the houses and almost no mobile phone reception. In order to get to the most remote bungalows, you will have to rent a boat for 2000 - 3000 baht (approximately 2,000 - 3,000 rubles).

Hydroelectric power station on Cheow Lan Lake

Separately, it is worth mentioning the hydroelectric power station, thanks to which this gigantic lake arose. The hydroelectric power station also makes a very strong impression on tourists. The length of this overall structure is 800 meters, and the height is almost one hundred meters. By the way, anyone can visit the dam to appreciate its power. On the mountain nearby there is a recreation area, a park and a cafe where locals like to spend time. The most stunning view of the hydroelectric power station and Lake Cheow Lan in Khao Lak opens in the evenings in the pre-sunset hours, when the mountains around the lake are plunged into thick fog.

Helpful information

Cost of visit: Lake Cheo Lan is located on the territory of a national park, for entry to which you will need to pay 200 baht (about 200 rubles) for an adult and 100 baht (about 100 rubles) for a child. A boat ride on the lake costs about 2,000 baht, and the trip to the bungalow costs the same. Excursions to the national park and lake are organized from the bungalow for approximately 1,500 baht (about 1,500 rubles) per person. The excursion program also includes a visit to a hydroelectric power station.
Opening hours: the national park is open to the public from 08-00 to 18-00 daily
How to get there: Khao Sok National Park can be reached either as part of an organized excursion or on your own along Highway No. 401. Public transport also runs here - municipal buses and minibuses. The cost of a taxi ride from Khao Lak to the national park will be about 1,500 baht (about 1,500 rubles).

▣ Khao Lak beaches - An excellent place for a relaxing holiday.

The beaches of Khao Lak are located in the area between the national park (Khao Lak - Lam Ru) and Cape Pakarang, this is mainly a quiet family holiday, without loud parties and crowds of people.

In the beach area there are more than 80 hotels and guesthouses offering accommodation for every taste and budget. The total length of the beaches is more than 20 km, and for comfortable travel it is advisable to use personal or rented transport. There is no public transport on the beaches.

Map of Khao Lak with beaches, hotels and detailed infrastructure

When it comes to the beaches of Khao Lak, in 99% of cases we mean the northern beaches. The northern beaches are more populated and popular; they are worth choosing for those who are more interested in resort night life and entertainment. But the opportunity to visit a deserted seashore and feel a kinship with wild nature is hard to miss. In addition, there is another group of beaches, about 2 km long, located in the south of the national park.

Each Khao Lak beach is at least a little different from the rest. To decide what suits you best personally, you should use this information.

The first beach of Nang Thong. This is the most populated beach in the region. There are several large resorts here, many of which have swimming pools overlooking the sea. The hotels have excellent restaurants with a variety of refreshing drinks.

Wedding ceremonies are often held on the rocky cape that ends the beach. There is a lighthouse on a small island not far from the shore.

If you can’t sit either in the hotel complex or on the sun lounger provided by the hotel (there are no sun loungers or sun loungers on the beach itself), then you can easily ride a catamaran, kayak, rent a windsurfing board, play volleyball or enjoy the famous and , which is important, a real Thai massage.

Nearby is the village of La On, which was small and modest just a few years ago, but now it is a whole entertainment complex. At night you will find plenty of bars and pubs with a relaxed atmosphere and live relaxing music. In restaurants you can try dishes of various cuisines. Many restaurants offer dishes of various nationalities, and at the same time have reasonable prices.

Accommodation on the beach is provided in the form of beach-front hotels - located directly on the shore, and guesthouses located along the main route. The cost of living is from 500 baht. A night at a hotel in high season from 1,500 baht.

Niang Beach is the second most populous among all the beaches in Khao Lak. Here you will find several hotels, cheap restaurants and massage huts. But here you can ride not only kayaks, but also sailboats, and also go fishing.

The night resort is more suitable for romantic walks than for the dissolute fun typical of big cities in Thailand. You will also find many tailor shops here. Typical rental prices start from 500 baht.

Khuk Khak Beach

Near Khuk Khak beach there are many charming palm groves and pine trees. They are surrounded by hotels and other infrastructure elements, which, by the way, are not cheap.

The main hotels worth highlighting are: Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort, Andamania Beach Resort and JW Marriott. The estimated cost per night will be from 2500 baht. The beach is separated from Bang Niang by a river and a lake, which are easy to wade across.

Khuk Khak is a transition zone. There are even fewer tourists here than on the previous beach. There are even more local fishermen here - people earn their bread through hard work; unlike tourists, they are not at the resort. Not far from the resort is the only gas station in all the resorts.

Pakarang Beach and Pakarang Cape

Parakang Beach is divided into two parts, and the southern part is suitable for families with children - there is a very flat coast and shallow sea. The beach is less picturesque than the previous one, but those who love not only gentle sand and warm sea will be interested in Cape Parakang.

Strewn with shells, it is not very friendly to bare feet, but from it you can see almost all the beaches of Khao Lak. This place is surprisingly deserted and almost wild.

Pak Weep or White Sand Beach

Pakwip is essentially a continuation of Parakang. The beach has the status of a national park - there are no jet skis or other noise here. But there are luxury premium hotels. The Sarojin hotel deserves special attention, with rates starting from 15,000 baht per night in high season.

▣ Pak Weep or White Sand Beach

This is the quietest beach in Khao Lak. And, by the way, it’s the cleanest – you can simply sink your feet in the sand here! The resort is located very advantageously, on the shore of the bay - the water here is much clearer than anywhere else. The bank is overgrown with grass and many tall trees. It's also a good choice for families - the waters are shallow and the lack of tourists makes it easy to keep an eye on the kids. This beach is also sometimes called differently - White Sand Beach.

Bang Sak Beach

Bangsak Beach is a gently curving shoreline dotted with soft white sand. This is the northernmost of the beaches, 100 meters behind it is the city of Takuapa. The beach is long, and there are different sections, some inhabited and some deserted. There are few hotels here, only a few hotel complexes. The typical cost of a night's stay is 3,000 baht.

There are quite a lot of people here, mostly locals. After hard work on Sundays and weekends, tired Thais come here from surrounding villages and the city of Takuapa. There are many cafes and restaurants here that offer a wide range of dishes from various cuisines.

Bangsak stands out from other resorts in Khao Lak with its local flavor. While relaxing here, you can fully immerse yourself in real Thai life, and not a decorated and combed picture for tourists. The water here is calm, there are few waves. It's a ten-minute walk to the city, and it's wise to go there for shopping.

Southern Beaches

The southern beaches start from the village of Lam Kaen. There are both expensive hotels and budget options. The infrastructure here is less developed than in the north, but there are significantly fewer people.

Among the places of accommodation, it is worth highlighting the following hotels: Merlin Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Briza Resort, Diamond Beach Resort; the average price per night can range from 3000-5000 baht. There is the possibility of cheaper accommodation on the beach.

Beaches of Koh Kho Khao Island

These islands are just for those who would not like to meet other tourists at all. Moreover, each beach has its own road, sometimes even covered with asphalt. Getting to the islands is easy - it takes just five minutes by ferry. Freight ferries leave every hour, just in case you need to transport your car.

Prices here are more than reasonable, and there is only one budget guesthouse - Roo Poo Guest House, accommodation per day is 600 baht in low season. Located with a pier. The main hotels are located on the coast, the typical cost of accommodation is from 1000 baht per night.

– this is the most beautiful region of Thailand, two dozen kilometers of wild beaches with nature that has not known the hand of man. Despite its high popularity among tourists, it is not at all difficult to find serene solitude here!