Khao Lak 2026: beaches, hotels, Similan Islands, from Phuket
Quick answer: Khao Lak is a long coast of quiet beaches in Phang Nga province, about 1 hour to 1 h 30 by road north of Phuket airport. It suits quiet family or couple stays, and it is the nearest departure point for the Similan Islands. Best time: November to April. Khao Lak is not one village but a string of beaches: Nang Thong (the centre, with restaurants and shops), Bang Niang (market, shops), Khuk Khak (large hotel resorts) and, further north, Bang Sak and Pakarang. The mood is calm, far from Patong: little nightlife, wide almost empty beaches and hotels for every budget. People also come for the trips: Similan, Khao Sok, Koh Phra Thong.
Highlights
Bang Niang and Khuk Khak beaches
Fine sand over several kilometres, with few people; swimming is supervised in places only.
Thatched huts and white sand
Palm-leaf shelters at the edge of the white sand, typical of the coast; to the north, towards Pakarang Cape, the sand stretches wide at low tide.
The Similan Islands
Day trip from Tab Lamu pier, the nearest; the park is open only from mid-October to mid-May or so (dates set each year by the national park).
The 2004 tsunami memorial
The police boat 813 stranded inland and the memorials at Ban Nam Khem recall the coast's history.
Practical info
Tips
- Choosing the area matters more than choosing the hotel: Nang Thong and Bang Niang to walk to restaurants and the market, Khuk Khak for a large beachfront resort, Bang Sak for seclusion. The cheapest hotels are set back from the beach along the road; check the distance to the sand before booking. Allow about an hour's drive from Phuket airport, more in heavy traffic. For a comparison with Phuket, read Phuket or Khao Lak; for a day from Phuket, Khao Lak from Phuket; for the islands, the Similan Islands.
How to get there
From Phuket airport: about 1 hour by taxi or private transfer, longer at rush hour From Phuket town: about 1 h 30 by car Buses and minibuses from Phuket or Takua Pa bus station; a hire car is useful to explore the coast
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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