Khao Lak is a beach area located 70 km north of Phuket and about 50 km south of Takua Pa, the province' capital. With a long stretch of white-sanded clean beaches Khao Lak has fast become an alternative destination to Puket and Krabi.
By today the area is packed during high season and rather quiet in low season (March - June and September - November). Low season is more rain - when we stayed there in May it rained daily. But after a couple of hours wheather turned sunny again and it's actually a good time to be there - unless you want to sunbath all day long. It's perfect for family holidays, or folks enjoying tranquility. There's plenty of restaurants and shops, as well as quite a number of dive schools offering trips to nearby Similan Islands and also organize trips to Burmese dive destinations. Accomodation is available sufficiently ranging from low-price to four and five star resorts. Nightlife is poor - massively available though - if in need - at one hour drive away Puket. Check our database for accomodation and dive centers.


North of Takua Pa is the Khao Sok National Park, which is a preserved natural area with a beautifully set lake where accomodation is available as well and for nature-lovers a splendid place to hang out for a couple of days. You might book trips either from Takua Pa or even more convinient at Khao Lak, where many little tour operators offer reasonable priced packages.


Continue north on highway no.4 you'll arrive at Kuraburi which is the jump off village to Similan Islands, a famous dive spot and also a great trip even you don't go for diving. Best spot to stay for a night (expensive though) is the Greenview Resort some 11 km south of Kuraburi, beautifully nested into the landscape, with the mountains raising behind. From Kuraburi (pier is at Ban Hin Lad) leaves a boat (fare is about 1.200 Baht a person) at 9 am. to Surin Islands to arrive there some five hours later. On Surin Islands you can rent a bungalow, row house (400 Baht) or in high season a tent for 300 Baht. The group of little Islands is pretty much preserved, waters are usually crystal-clean so you should do some snorkeling if not dives and enjoy the all surrounding nature. It's advisable to make reservations for the trip at the Surin National Park Office, Tel. 076-491378.