Khao Lak

Khao Lak is a string of long, quiet beaches on the Andaman coast of Phang Nga province, about 77 km north of Phuket airport by road. It is the main base for day trips to the Similan Islands, which are open only from 15 October to 15 May, and it is also the stretch of coast that suffered most in Thailand from the tsunami of 26 December 2004.

There is no single town called Khao Lak. The name covers some 20 to 25 km of coastline in Takua Pa and Thai Mueang districts, with resorts, small shopping streets along Highway 4 and a few fishing villages. It is calmer than Phuket and more spread out, so it suits couples, families and divers more than people looking for nightlife.

This guide covers the beaches, the Similan trips, the memorials and how to get there. Our separate page on Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan Lake covers the most popular inland trip, about an hour's drive away.

The beaches from south to north

Khao Lak's beaches run almost without a break along the coast, and the differences between them are about atmosphere rather than sand. All of them face west into the Andaman Sea, so sunsets are the evening event everywhere.

• Khao Lak beach and the national park coast: at the southern end, below the forested headland of Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park. Small coves and fewer buildings.
• Nang Thong: the most built-up area, with the main cluster of shops, restaurants and dive centers along the highway. Easiest for walking to dinner.
• Bang Niang: a little north, with a long beach, a local market area and the T.813 memorial boat. A good middle ground.
• Khuk Khak and Pakarang: further north, large resorts on long, open beaches; quiet in the evening, and Pakarang has a rocky cape that is exposed at low tide.

The northern beaches are lovely for a resort week but far from restaurants if you do not have transport. If you want to walk out for dinner each night, stay in Nang Thong or Bang Niang.

The Similan Islands: Khao Lak's big day out

The Similan Islands lie out in the Andaman Sea west of Khao Lak and are protected as Mu Ko Similan National Park. They are known for clear water, granite boulders and some of Thailand's best diving and snorkeling. Most day trips and many liveaboard dive boats leave from Thap Lamu pier, a short drive south of the main beaches, which is why Khao Lak rather than Phuket is the natural base.

The key fact is the season. The Department of National Parks (DNP) closes Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Surin National Parks to tourism and overnight stays every year from 15 May to 15 October, during the southwest monsoon. The parks are open from 15 October to 15 May; the 2026–27 season starts on Thursday 15 October 2026. Any tour offered to the Similans between mid-May and mid-October is not going there.

The Similans are a Category 4 park, the most expensive group: 500 baht for a foreign adult and 250 baht for a child aged 3 to 14 (October 2026). Since 15 October 2025 every visitor must have an electronic ticket: foreigners register with their passport number, and tickets can be bought in advance or on the day until 08:00. Tour operators normally do this for you, but you must give them correct passport details, because the DNP fines operators that under-declare passengers.

One famous island is no longer on the program. Koh Tachai, further north, has been closed since May 2016 to let it recover, and no reopening date had been announced by October 2026. The page on the Similan Islands compares day trips with liveaboards in more detail.

Remembering the 2004 tsunami

On Sunday 26 December 2004 the Indian Ocean tsunami struck this coast harder than anywhere else in Thailand. Thousands of people died along the Phang Nga shore, both Thai residents and foreign visitors, and whole communities were destroyed. Khao Lak has been rebuilt, but the memorials are part of the place, and many visitors come specifically to see them.

The best-known is Police Patrol Boat T.813, often called "Tor 813", which stands in a field at Bang Niang about 1.25 km from the sea, where the wave left it. The boat had been guarding Khun Poom Jensen, a grandson of King Bhumibol, who died in the tsunami. It was left where it landed and kept as a memorial. You may see the number written as "1.813" in older guides; the vessel is T.813.

North of Khao Lak, the fishing village of Ban Nam Khem was one of the worst-hit communities. The Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park there has a curved concrete wall carrying name plaques of victims, a small exhibition of photographs from before and after the disaster, and a warning tower. According to a Prince of Songkla University tourism project, the park is open daily and the exhibition from 08:00 to 17:00.

These are places of mourning for many families. Dress modestly, keep your voice down, do not climb on the boat or the wall, and ask before photographing people who are there to pay their respects. If the risk of another tsunami worries you, our article on tsunami worries in Thailand explains the warning system; along this coast you will also see blue evacuation-route signs pointing inland and uphill.

Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park and Takua Pa

The headland at the southern end of Khao Lak belongs to Khao Lak–Lam Ru National Park, a Category 1 park where a foreign adult pays 100 baht. It is a good half-day change from the beach: forest trails, small coves and views back along the coast. Carry water and leave before the afternoon heat.

About half an hour north, Takua Pa's old town has rows of Sino-Portuguese shophouses from the tin-mining era and a weekly rhythm that has little to do with tourism. It makes an easy morning trip, combined with Ban Nam Khem.

Getting to Khao Lak from Phuket airport

Phuket International Airport is the usual gateway. Khao Lak is to the north, across the Sarasin and Thao Thep Kasattri bridges onto the mainland, and the road distance to Bang Niang is about 77 km (our measurement on OpenStreetMap routing). Allow around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes without stops.

• Hotel transfer or pre-booked taxi: the simplest choice, especially after a long flight or with children.
• Taxi or ride-hailing from the airport: available at the terminal; agree the price or check it in the app before you leave.
• Public bus: long-distance buses between Phuket and the north run on Highway 4 through Khao Lak and can let you off on the highway; you then need a short ride to your hotel. Times are not published reliably online, so ask at the terminal.

The Phuket Smart Bus and the orange airport bus do not go to Khao Lak; they serve Phuket's beaches and town. Our guide to Phuket airport transport covers those, and the Phuket guide is useful if you combine both. Visitors from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur often fly straight into Phuket, which makes Khao Lak an easy short break; see the page on flights to Thailand from Asia.

When to go and what the low season is like

Khao Lak follows the Andaman pattern. Thai Meteorological Department normals for Phuket, the nearest station with published figures, show February as the driest month (about 24 mm of rain in Phuket Town) and September and October as the wettest (about 350 and 336 mm). November to April is beach season, and mid-October to mid-May is the Similan season.

From May to October Khao Lak is green, quiet and cheaper, but the sea is often rough, the Similans are closed and some restaurants and dive shops reduce their hours. It can still be a good base for Khao Sok, which is beautiful in the rain. Our overview of the rainy season in Thailand explains what to expect day to day.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Similan Islands open?

From 15 October to 15 May every year. The Department of National Parks closes Mu Ko Similan National Park to tourism and overnight stays from 15 May to 15 October during the southwest monsoon. The 2026–27 season opens on Thursday 15 October 2026.

How far is Khao Lak from Phuket airport?

About 77 km by road to Bang Niang, which usually takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Most visitors use a hotel transfer, a taxi or a ride-hailing app; the Phuket Smart Bus does not go to Khao Lak.

Where is the tsunami boat in Khao Lak?

Police Patrol Boat T.813 stands at Bang Niang, about 1.25 km inland, where the tsunami of 26 December 2004 left it. It is kept as a memorial. Visit quietly and do not climb on it.

Is Khao Lak good for families?

Yes. The beaches are long and uncrowded, the resorts are spread out and there is little nightlife. In the monsoon months the surf can be dangerous, so families should swim only where lifeguards are present and never when a red flag is flying.

What does the Similan park fee cost?

As of October 2026, 500 baht for a foreign adult and 250 baht for a child aged 3 to 14. Tickets are electronic and registered to your passport number; tour operators usually buy them for you, so give them correct details.

Sources

• Department of National Parks – Similan e-ticket system and season (checked October 2026)
• Department of National Parks – Koh Tachai reopening preparations (checked October 2026)
• The Nation – Similan and Surin close for the 2026 monsoon season (checked October 2026)
• Kapook Travel – National park entry fees by park group (citing DNP) (checked October 2026)
• Visit Andaman Local (Prince of Songkla University) – Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Center (checked October 2026)
• Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (Phuket stations) (checked October 2026)
• UK FCDO – Thailand travel advice: safety and security (checked October 2026)