Khao Lak is a beautiful coastal area in South Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. In this article, I will share with you my itinerary for 3 days in Khao Lak, and things to do. I’ll also share my opinion on how many days in Khao Lak is enough.
When visiting Khao Lak, you can enjoy beach activities such as swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and diving. Additionally, you can explore the waterfalls, go hikings, or take day trips to nearby attractions such as Takua Pa Old Town, Similan islands, or Samet Nangshe Viewpoint.
How many days in Khao Lak is enough?
In my opinion, three to five days is the minimum amount of time to do sightseeing and beach hopping in Khao Lak. I had 3 full days in Khao Lak and was able to see most things in Khao Lak as well as take day trips to nearby places such as Samet Nangshe Viewpoint.
I recommend adding more days to my itinerary if you’re looking for a more relaxed pace with plenty of time to unwind. You could mix in some days to do nothing but relax on the beach, enjoy the massage and local food.
Here are my recommendations on things to do in Khao Lak and how long to to these things:
#1. Beaches. The beaches in Khao Lak are long and quiet, ideal for relaxing. Famous beaches are Nang Thong Beach, Bang Niang Beach, Khuk Khak Beach, and Bang Sak Beach. You can spend days doing beach hopping and enjoy water activities.
#2. Hiking. There are several hiking opportunities in Khao Lak including the Hat Lek Nature Trail and the hike to Ton Chong Fa Waterfall in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. You can spend a couple of hours doing each trail.
#3. Takua Pa Old Town and Little Amazon. These two attractions are located close to each other, and you can explore it within a half day. The boat ride along the mangrove forest in Little Amazone lasts for 1 hour, and you can spend a few hours exploring Takua Pa Old Town.
#4. Day trips. Khao Lak’s strategic location in South Thailand, making it a great base to take day trips to many places in the region. You can take day trips to Khao Sok National Park, Jame Bond island, Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, and Similan islands.
See more: 22 Awesome Things to Do in Khao Lak
Getting to Khao Lak:
Khao Lak is easily reached from nearby cities and islands such as Krabi, Surat Thani, and Phuket. The closest airports to Khao Lak are Krabi airport and Phuket airport. From these airports, you can take a taxi or minivan to get to Khao Lak. It is 1-1.5 hours by taxi from Phuket and 2-2.5 hours from Krabi.
The nearest train station to Khao Lak is in Surat Thani, from where you can catch a bus or taxi to get to Khao Lak (around 4 hours drive). There is also a direct bus from Bangkok passing through Khao Lak.
Getting Around Khao Lak:
Once in Khao Lak, you can get around using taxis, songthaews, tuk-tuks, and buses. If you can drive and have a valid international driving license, you can rent a motorbike or a car to explore Khao Lak. Within each popular beach town, you can get to the beach and access to restaurants and shops on foot.
See more: How to Get to Khao Lak & Get Around
Best time to visit Khao Lak:
Khao Lak is warm all year round with two distant seasons, the dry season from November to April, and the rainy season from May to October. The best time to visit Khao Lak is the dry season. This month has little rain and lots of sunshine which is ideal for beach and outdoor activities.
The rainy season is also green and low season. You can avoid the tourist crowds during this period, and it is a good time to see waterfalls. The Similan Islands and Surin Islands are also closed in the monsoon season.
Top areas to stay in Khao Lak for tourists:
The most popular places to stay in Khao Lak are from Nang Thong Beach/ Bang La On to Bang Niang Beach. These areas have a cluster of hotels and resorts along the beach and offer easy access to a wide range of restaurants, bars, and shops.
You’ll find a quieter atmosphere to the north and south of these beaches. There are some luxury 5-star resorts far north between Pakarang Cape and Bang Sak Beach. See more: Where to Stay in Khao Lak.
Here my brief itinerary of 3-5 days in Khao Lak:
How to Spend 3-5 Days In Khao Lak Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival, Little Amazon, Takua, Bang Sak, and Nang Thong Beach
I came to Khao Lak from Khao Sok. I took the van from 9am in Klong Sok Village and arrived at my hotel in Khao Lak center around 10.20am. I rented a scooter from my hotel and started exploring.
Little Amazon
Little Amazon is a tourist attraction located in Takua, 30 minutes drive north of Khao Lak city center. You can take a canoe tour along the canal to explore the mangrove forest and spot wild animals. There are monkeys, crabs, snakes, Asian water monitors, and many kinds of birds.
It is easily reachable by scooter or car. If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can take a taxi or private drive from Khao Lak.
When arriving at Little Amazon, you can buy tickets at either the red or blue flag areas. They are two different companies but do the same thing on the canal. The ticket is 50 baht per canoe for 2 adults.
The boat ride is around 1 hour. My boatman is very friendly, showing me animals, ancient trees, and taking photos of me.
To be honest, if you have already taken boat tours in Mekong delta in Vietnam or traveled to many other parts of Thailand, visiting floating markets and going on safari tours, you can skip this one.
Takua Pa Old Town
Takua Pa Old Town is another popular attraction in Takua, located 10 minutes drive from Little Amazon, and 40 minute drive from Khao Lak city center.
This town is known for its colorful Sino-Portuguese style buildings and Chinese temples. It was once a bustling tin-mining town during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can find several cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops in the old town.
It is a small town, you can take a walk around the main streets for around 30 minutes, admire the colonial architecture houses, and explore nice painted walls.
If you are in Takua Pa Old Town on Sunday, you can explore many food stalls at the Walking Street, from 3pm to 7pm. It is a good place to try authentic inexpensive Thai food.
Boon Soong Iron Bridge
Boon Soong is a 400m long steel bridge located midway between Khao Lak and Takua Pa Old Town. This bridge was built in the 19th century for workers at a mining company to cross Takua river.
Boon Soong is easily accessible from the main road, and you can ride a scooter on this bridge to explore another part of Takua. The ride on the bridge is quite nice with stunning views of the surroundings and passing the river. Just be careful as it is a narrow bridge.
After Boon Soong, I head to the Takua Bus Station area. There are also many colorful houses in this part of Takua. You can find a bustling market with lots of local foods around the bus station.
Bang Sak Beach
I visited Bang Sak Beach, because it is conveniently located on the way back to Khao Lak from Takua. This is a very long beach with several top end resorts located here such as Le Méridien, Graceland, or Avani.
You can find a nice food truck and smoothie shop at the beach road near Graceland resort. There are just a few restaurants, bars, and cafes along the beach, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
You can have a nice walk on the beach or a nice ride on the beach road lined with pine trees. This is a quiet beach away from the tourist crowds.
The Khao Lak Center area
The city center of Khao Lak, particularly the area around McDonald Khao Lak, is a very busy area, packed with tourist amenities. There are lots of restaurants, massage shops, travel agencies, tailor shops, motorbike rentals, and convenient stores.
Nang Thong Beach at sunset
Nang Thong Beach is located within walking distance from the center area of Khao Lak. I walked along Nang Thong Road to reach the beach. This road is lined with massage shops, restaurants, and shops. It is also home to Alive Market, which also offers more options for food.
The beach has lots of big rocks and black sand. It is not the best place for swimming but you can take a leisure walk along the beach, and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. There are several resorts, beach bars and restaurants on the beach.
Dinner at 835 Street Food & Restaurant
After the beach, I walked back to the main road and had a look at Nang Thong Supermarket. This supermarket sells everything from alcohol, to cooked meals, and cut fruits at reasonable prices.
I had my dinner at 835 Street Food & Restaurant, which is located right on the main road of the city center. They have an open and clean kitchen where you can watch chefs cooking. I ordered grilled meat and rice. The food was tasty and the price was good.
Having a Thai Massage at Hatthatip Massage
I felt a bit unwell, so I decided to have a traditional Thai massage at a Hatthatip on Nang Thong Road. They did a very good job and I slept better after the massage. The price is similar to other shops in the area.
Day 2: Beach Hopping and Night Market
On my day 2 in Khao Lak, I did hopping from Bang Niang to Pak Weep, visiting Khuk Khak, Coconut Beach, White Sand Beach, Pak Weep Beach, and Bang Niang Night Market.
Bang Niang Beach
Bang Niang Beach is a long beach located in the city center of Khao Lak. This beach has clean water and yellow coarse sand. It is easily accessible from the main road by following Hat Bang Niang Road. I parked my scooter on the side road near Chong Fah Restaurant then walked to the beach.
From Chong Fah Restaurant, you can access the northern part of Bang Niang by driving to Bobby’s Bar. It is a nice beach bar with a massage parlour next to it. It had a 90 minute oil massage here.
Wat Phadung Tham Phothi and the White Buddha
From Bang Niang Beach, I headed to Khuk Khak Beach and stopped at Wat Phadung Tham Phothi along the way. This is a nice temple complex with different halls to explore.
It is home to a White Big Buddha Statue. I walked around for 20 minutes and had a nice talk with the monks at this temple.
Khuk Khak Beach
Khuk Khak Beach is a long quiet beach located just north of Bang Niang Beach. It is a good place for sunbathing, reading, and swimming. The beach is clean with coarse sand.
The beach is easily accessible. First, I checked the beach section near Haven Resort, then another section near JW Marriott resort.
There are no sunbeds, umbrellas, and shades on the public beach near Haven Resort. You can bring beach mats/towels with you and sit under the pine trees.
The beach JW Marriott resort has several nice restaurants, beach bars, massage places, swings, and chairs on the beach. I had orange juice from a Friendship Restaurant. You can have many other delicious Thai meals here.
Wat Khuek Khak
On the way from Khuk Khak Beach, to highway 4, you can check out Wat Khuek Khak. This is a beautiful temple and great for taking photos. It is free to enter, and open everyday.
Memories Beach
Memories Beach is a good spot for swimming and surfing. There is a restaurant, bar, and massage shop, as well as plenty of bed chairs and umbrellas on the beach.
This beach is accessible by driving through a 3km dirt road, passing the Elephant center. Memories Beach is separated from Pakarang Beach by a river.
Pakarang Beach (Coral Beach)
Pakarang Beach is another long quiet beach in Khao Lak, located 15 minutes north of Khao Lak City center. I parked my scooter at the parking area near Tsunami Shelter and walked to the beach.
There are lots of dead corals and shells along the sand and it seems like no one is swimming at this part of the beach. It is a good place to take a stroll along the beach.
There are several restaurants, beach bars, and massage shops on the road to the beach near the Tsunami Shelter.
Pakarang Cape
Pakarang Cape is the north end of Pakarang Beach. The ride along the beach road from Tsunami Shelter to Pakarang Cape is quite nice with lots of shades and beach views. Nothing much here, it is just a fishing dock with a colorful boat, you can have good views of the nearby beaches.
Coconut Beach
Coconut Beach is a white sandy beach with crystal clear water and palm trees. It is located just a few minutes drive from Pakarang Cape. This is a busy beach with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach.
You can find several restaurants, beach bars, and massage places here. The beach has lots of shades.I parked my scooter at the parking area of Coconut Beach resort and walked to the beach.
White Sand Beach
Similar to nearby Coconut Beach, White Sand Beach is a busy beach area with lots of beach facilities such as umbrellas and bedchairs. It is a good place to swim and relax.
If you don’t want to rent beach chairs, or eat at the restaurant to use it, you can bring your own beach towel and find your place to chill on the beach under the shaded trees.
Pak Weep Beach
Pak Weep Beach is a long quiet beach located 15 minute drive north of White Sand beach. There are lots of restaurants, bars, as well as children playgrounds at the end of Hat Aow Ma Kham Road.
I had nice ice cream at a convenient store on the road to the beach and sat at the rocks area for relaxing and enjoying views of Bang Sak Beach. It is one of the best places on Khao Lak to watch the sunset.
Sunset at Bang Niang Beach
Bang Niang Beach is a great place to watch the sunset. The area at Chong Fah Restaurant attracts lots of tourists to come here to watch the sunset around 6pm.
Bang Niang Night Market
Bang Niang is a popular night market in Khao Lak, located right on highway 4, opposite the International Tsunami Museum. It is a big market with a food section, bar section, and clothes & souvenir section. The market is only open a few nights a week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Day 3: Samet Nangshe Viewpoint and Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
On my third day in Khao Lak, I visited Samet Nangshe Viewpoint and explored Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. I hiked the Hat Lek Nature Trail and visited Ton Chong Fa Waterfall in the national Park. In the late afternoon, I caught a minibus to Krabi.
Samet Nangshe Viewpoint
Samet Nangshe Viewpoint is a popular attraction located 70 km south of Khao Lak. This viewpoint offers stunning views of Phang Nga Bay and the mountains rising above the sea. You can visit this viewpoint anytime at your convenience, but the best time to visit is at sunrise and sunset.
I woke up around 4.30 am and struggled to decide whether to sleep or leave for the viewpoint. I finally got out of bed and drove to Samet Nangshe along highway 4.
I had to stop many times along the way to check the direction as my scooter didn’t have a phone holder. I got lost at some points, driving around the villages and middle of the rubber farms.
It was a bit scary with dog barks, and in the dark, but I finally got on track and reached Samet Nangshe around 7am. When I arrived at the entrance area, many people had already left because they aimed to be in this viewpoint around 6am for the best scenery.
You need to pay 30 baht entrance fee or 90 baht if you use songthaew services to get up and down the viewpoint. It is possible to walk up for around 20 minutes but I wouldn’t recommend it. It is a red dirt road and you will be covered with the dirt.
The driver dropped me off at the top for exploration and told me his car number to jump up when getting down. The songthaews run every few minutes.
The viewpoint has a cafe and camping area. There were lots of tourists around 7am taking photos and fly cams above the viewpoint. The views are stunning from every corner. I spent one hour here and I think it is enough to enjoy the views and take lots of photos.
Natai Beach
On the way back to Khao Lak from the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, I stopped at Natai Beach for a look. This is a very long and quiet beach, a great place for swimming and away from all tourists. There was almost no one on the beach, and you can have it for yourself.
Hat Lek Nature Trail in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park is one of the top places to visit in Khao Lak. This park is located just a few minutes drive south of Khao Lak City Center. The ticket is 100 baht and 20 baht for parking.
From the ticket counter, you can follow the sign to take a walk along the coast line to Small Sandy Beach. The trail is called Hat Lek Nature Trail. It was an easy walk, passing several rocky beaches and viewpoints where you can enjoy stunning views of Khao lak coast line.
It took me one hour round trip to do this trail. At the end of the trail is a small sandy beach where you can swim. There is a small restaurant onsite where you can order foods, drinks, and snacks.
When you come back to the parking area, you can pass the restaurant to go to a rocky Beach and the camping area. It is a short walk to the rocky beach and has beautiful views of Khao Lak Beach. The way back to the parking area is quite hilly.
Ton Chong Fa Waterfall
Ton Chong Fa Waterfall is part of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, but located 20 minutes drive north of the main entrance to Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. You can use a ticket at Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park for Ton Chong Fa Waterfall.
The waterfall has 5 different levels, and it took me 45 minutes to reach the top. You can have fish massage at the first level, and swim at the upper levels.
If you have more time in Khao Lak, you can spend your day 4, 5, or 6 for relaxing or taking day trips to nearby islands and national parks. I recommend taking day tours to Jame Bond island, Cheow Lan lake, or Similan and Surin Islands.
Day 4: Day trips to Cheow Lan lake in Khao Sok National Park
Cheow Lan Lake is a popular day trip from Khao Lak, located only a couple of hours drive away. This lake is known for its stunning landscape with blue water and breaking limestone mountains.
The day tours usually include a boat ride along the lake, visit to a cave, a short jungle hike, and a visit to the floating house for lunch, swimming, and kayaking. You can also consider taking the 2 days and 1 night trips to the lake for more experience staying on the floating hotel.
Day 5: Similan and Surin Islands for snorkeling and diving
Similan and Surin Islands are only a short boat ride from Khao Lak and are popular destinations for snorkeling and diving. There are many tours to these islands each day.
You can easily book tickets from your hotels and many travel agencies in the region. The price is around 2000 baht for a day trip, which is, in my opinion, quite expensive.
These are my guides on how to spend 3-5 days in Khao Lak. This time frame, in my opinion, is enough to explore and enjoy the beaches. Of course, you can add more days if you want days just doing nothing. You can do beach hopping, do little trekking in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, and take day trips to nearby Khao Sok National Park or Similan Islands.