Khao Lak makes that the heart of any nature lover beat faster, because there is still much peace in this wild-romantic environment. Khao Lak belongs to the province of Takua Pa and stretches along the Andaman Sea. The distance to Phuket is about 90 km. The well-known holiday region is particularly suitable for those seeking relaxation and families. Only on the beaches of hotel complexes are some sun loungers and umbrellas and no loud speed boats or jet skis. Even in the small villages along the beaches, it is rather quiet in the evening, there are a handful of bars, some with live music. Everything takes place in a very pleasant atmosphere and is really suitable for families.

Khao Lak offers boat and diving tours to the Similan Islands and Surin Island. These islands are among the best dive sites in Thailand and are protected. With large speed boats or with boats from diving schools you can get there. With a little luck you can see dolphins on the way, who accompany the boat. The Similan Islands have increasingly paid attention to nature conservation in recent years. The number of visitors is limited and sometimes islands are also completely closed for the visit, to protect the underwater world.

Also located in the province of Takua Pa is the small island of Koh Kho Khao, which is definitely worth a visit for nature lovers. There are only a few hotels on deserted beaches, the center of the island is pasture and you can see free-running buffalo everywhere.

On Khao Lak's endless sandy beaches are numerous resorts and bungalow resorts. From very simple overnight accommodation to the luxury hostel, there is the right hotel for every taste. Most populated is Khao Lak Village.

We especially liked the Loft Garden Villa in Bang Sak. The Bang Sak Beach is a nice, quiet beach section. The Loft Garden Villa is a small resort with a lot of heart. The small bungalow complex is located just a few minutes from the beach and is located in a beautiful tropical garden with colorful flowers, palm trees and different plants. In the middle of the complex is a very nice pool, which invites you to swim. The 8 rooms are furnished with attention to detail and very stylish and modern: All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, refrigerator, safe and flat screen TV. In the bathroom is shampoo and shower and various toiletries available. Also a hair dryer is available. The welcome from the owner and staff was very cordial. The atmosphere is familiar and you can enjoy the tranquility of this small complex. The Loft Garden Villa also offers yoga classes. We have been here several times and will definitely come back.

Loft Garden Villa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loftgardenvilla/
Loft Garden Villa on the Internet:  https://loftgardenvilla.com
For readers of My Thailand Blog benefits are offered!

Due to the proximity to Phuket you can very easily reach Khao Lak from there by bus or minivan. Phuket is connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge. Even Phuket has an international airport and is connected with hourly flights of Thai Airways and other local airlines, with the city of Bangkok.

Airport transfer from Phuket to Khao Lak:
The airport transfer is regulated in Phuket. For about 1.200 baht / car (about 30 €) you can get from the airport Phuket in about 1.5 hours (depending on traffic) to Khao Lak. There are no price negotiations with the taxi drivers, because the taxi tickets are still issued in the airport building, just before the exit, and the fixed price is charged depending on the destination. There you will receive a receipt and can then board the booked taxi or minibus / van.

You can also rent a car at the airport. Here are several lenders to choose from. In addition to the common lenders AVIS and Europcar, Thailand's largest lender is Thai Rent a Car. Depending on the season, the prices vary greatly and often smaller vehicles are fully booked in the main season. The best way is to book the car already in your homecountry. Again, the journey time is about 1.5 hours depending on traffic.

From Phuket Town:
There are hourly buses from the bus terminal in Phuket Town towards Khao Lak and Takua Pa. The journey time in the public buses is about 3 hours, depending on traffic. The price of the ticket per person is about 70-140 baht.

•       Bus No. 435 - direction Ranong
•       Bus No. 436 - direction Takua Pa

Arrival from hotel in Phuket:
Here it is advisable to book a ticket in one of the small travel agencies that are found everywhere in the tourist centers. The travel price includes a pick-up service directly from the hotel. The mini bus continues to the "Bus Station" in Phuket Town. From here, continue on a larger bus to Khao Lak Center. Here on the main street Songthaeos (pick-up collecting taxis) are waiting as a feeder to the beaches.

Arrival from Bangkok:

• The arrival from Bangkok by plane is possible to Phuket. The companies Bangkok Airways and other local airlines (PB Air, Thai AirAsia, NokAir, Thai Airways and others) serve this route. From Phuket Airport you can take a taxi or mini bus to Khao Lak. At the airport in Phuket, the transfer prices are regulated, ie, if you book a trip, then at a fixed price advertised!
• From Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal, there are daily buses to Khao Lak and Phuket. The fare is between 500 and 900 baht. Depending on traffic, the journey takes between 11 and 13 hours. Due to the air conditioning it gets pretty cold in the buses. It is best to take a warm sweater or jacket with you for the ride. There are 3 different buses at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok:

1. Standard buses (orange) with approx. 75-80 seats (280 THB = approx. 7.- EUR) (the bus stops in different locations)
2. Aircon buses (blue) with approx. 40 seats (600 TBH = approx. 15.- EUR)
3. VIP buses (inscription "VIP Bus 999") with approx. 24 seats (895 THB = approx. 25.- EUR)

• Khao Lak is not connected to Thailand's rail network. But you can take the train to Surat Thani and from there about 200 km with the AC "Phuket Bus" No. 465 continue towards Khao Lak. The trip costs between 80 THB / 130 THB and takes about 4 hours depending on the traffic.

Arrival from Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Koh Tao:
Here it is advisable to book a ticket in one of the small travel agencies that are found everywhere in the tourist centers. The travel price includes a pick-up service directly from the hotel. The mini bus continues to the pier and from there by boat / ferry to Surat Thani. From Surat Thani we continue by bus to the "Bus Station" in Khao Lak Center.

Arrival from mainland Tailand (for example Krabi, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin):
Again, you can book the pick-up service directly from the hotel again. With the mini bus it goes on to the respective bus station and from there with a larger bus up to the "bus station" in Khao Lak center.

Also, the Phuket - Khao Lak and Phuket - Krabi routes are also served by public buses. Here the fare is much cheaper, but is stopped at many stops.

Tsunami Memorial, Police Boat 813 as well as Tsunami Museum
The Tsunami Museum and Memorial Park are located off Highway 4 in Bang Niang. Every year on the 26th of December, the victims of the tsunami disaster are remembered. In Memorial Park u.a. the police boat 813 washed up by the tsunami.

Lamru National Park (on the A 4, south of Khao Lak):
The National Park offers some 125 km² of wonderful hiking and trekking trails through dense jungle. The park is bordered to the north by Ton Chong Fah Waterfall and to the south by the Lamru River. The park is divided into several zones, some of which can only be visited with a guide. For the park visit you should come with sturdy shoes and take enough drinks, since there are no catering options.

Ban Nam Khem Memorial Park: Located just outside Khao Lak (about 28 km along Highway 4 towards Takua Pa / Thanon Phet Kasem, Moo 2, Ban Nam Khem) is another Tsunami Memorial. In Bang Muang, two large fishing boats were washed ashore. Memorial Park has a partially tiled wall with the names of the victims as well as a larger Buddha statue located directly on the sea. In Ban Nam Khem there is also the pier to Koh Kho Khao.

Little Amazon: For nature lovers, the Little Amazon is highly recommended. Here you can take boat tours through the mangrove landscape. In the park there are some small monkey species, snakes and birds to watch. At low tide it is especially nice to drive through the canal, as you can see the root system of the mangroves very well. The Little Amazon is located approximately 35 km north of Khao Lak in the direction of Takua Pa. (Highway A4)

The beaches and towns of Khao Lak were almost completely destroyed by the tsunami on December 26, 2004. Almost all hotel businesses and restaurants fell victim to the tidal waves. Also, the once lush tree and palm population at the shoreline has suffered severely. In the meantime, there is no sign of the destruction for the visitor as the plants have been reforested and the hotels and villages have been rebuilt. Only the Tsunami Memorial and the Tsunami Museum are still reminiscent of this natural disaster.

The coastal region of Khao Lak extends over a total area of about 30 kilometers of coastline and offers several fantastic stretches of beach. The powder-fine sandy beaches are palm-lined and meet crystal clear turquoise waters. There are lagoons and rocky outcrops and breathtakingly beautiful nature. Despite mass tourism, it is quiet on the beaches and in the villages.

Khao Lak's most popular beaches are:

The Khao Lak Beach (also called South Beach) south of Cape Lamru gives the region its name. The small town of Khao Lak stretches along the main road. The beach is very natural. The beach is golden yellow shaded by tall Kasuarinenbäumen. The hotels are densely built and located right on the beach. The surf can be strong depending on the season and the wind. Sometimes the waves reach almost to the hotels. Due to the strong surf roots of the trees are exposed. The life takes place here mainly within the hotel facilities, as here are some larger resorts with large pool areas and sun loungers. Between the hotels and the main street has established a lively little neighborhood with many restaurants and shops.

Undoubtedly one of Khao Lak's most beautiful beaches is Sunset Beach on Cape Lamru. The beach is located on a hill with dense jungle vegetation. Here are many good resorts.

Nang Thong Beach is just north of Sunset Beach. The region is very popular with tourists. There are some boulders in the sea. In Nang Thong are numerous hotels and bungalow resorts. The center of the village offers restaurants and shops as well as diving schools and a post office.

The Laguna Beach is also north of the Sunset Beach and is a very popular Strandabschnitt.Der beach is not as fine-grained as other sections. The area is still very popular with tourists. In the small village there are restaurants and shops.

The approximately 3 km long Bang Niang Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Khao Lak region. On the south side the beach is framed by a small river and in the north by a beautiful lagoon. The beach is wide and gently sloping and perfect for swimming. The fine-grained sand meets crystal-clear water here. The back of the beach is covered with palm and pine trees, which provide shade at lunchtime.

Khuk Khak Beach is one of the longest and quietest beaches in the region. There are only a few hotels here. During the day the beach is deserted, although the sand is powdery and the beach is lined with palm trees.

In the far north are the beaches Pakrang Beach and the Laem Pakrang promontory. There are beautiful beaches along the land line, which have been named after the restaurants and hotels that reside there. On the north side is the Coconut (Kantary) Beach and on the southeast side is the White Sand Beach. The beaches offer a backdrop from the picture book. Coconut palm trees grow diagonally across the beach and the water is crystal clear and turquoise blue. The sand is fine and powdery. For small money you can eat in idyllic beach restaurants seafood and delicious Thai curries.

Further north, just before Bang Sak Beach, lies Pakweep Beach. At this beach section, some larger luxury hotels have settled in beautiful gardens. The beach invites you to go for walks and the sunset is wonderful to watch.

Bang Sak Beach is located in northern Khao Lak. The beach is wonderfully fine-grained and kaiser trees donate plenty of shade at lunchtime. The hotel facilities are less luxurious than the Pakweep beach and therefore affordable for all budgets.

Further north is the Ban Thap Tawan Beach, a stretch of beach mainly used by locals. The beach offers no shade. At the back there are some beach restaurants and cottages.

Bang Lut Beach is Khao Lak's northernmost beach, just outside the provincial town of Takua Pa. The beach is lonely and wild-romantic, only a few simple resorts have settled here. Nearby is also a small lagoon. From here you can continue to the small offshore island of Koh Kho Khao.

Koh Kho Khao is only very little developed touristically. The center of the island is used for agriculture. On bountiful green meadows many buffaloes graze here. These can move freely on the island and cross the streets there. But there are very nice beaches with some small bungalow resorts. For a day trip from Khao Lak from the island is recommended.