21 Awesome Things to Do in Khao Lak

Khao Lak is a long and quiet coastal city located just a couple of hours drive north of Phuket. The city is known for its relaxing atmosphere and pristine beaches. It is a great destination for a laid-back beach holiday, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby beach towns such as Phuket or Krabi.

In this article, I will cover the 21 best things to do and see in Khao Lak. My list will include the best beaches, waterfalls, national parks, night markets, and temples in Khao Lak. I also give some suggestions about the popular day trips from Khao Lak.

Khao Lak is a very long cast line with golden sand, palm trees, and calm water, all without the massive crowds. Famous beaches from south to north are Nang Thong, Bang Niang, Khuk Khak, and Bang Sak Beach. The beaches are ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and chilling.

In addition to the beaches, the city also has several temples and cultural attractions to explore. You can visit the White Buddha, Khuk Khak temple, or Takua Pa Old Town.

If you want to do a bit of hiking and swim into the jungle, you can visit Ton Chong Fa Waterfall located inside the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. Within this national park, you can hike the Hat Lek Nature Trail and visit the small sandy beach at the end of the trail.

From Khao Lak, you can take day trips to many beautiful attractions nearby. You can take boat tours to Similan and Surin Islands for snorkeling and diving. 

If you are an adventurous traveler, you can consider taking an early trip to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint to catch sunset. I also recommend taking a day trip to the massive man-made Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park.

Khao Lak is the perfect place to simply relax. So if you’re not in the mood for exploring, you can just unwind at your resort, enjoy the beaches, savor delicious food and drinks, and treat yourself to some great massages.

If you want to know more the detail of my itinerary in Khao Lak, and How I get around, you can check these articles:

• Where to Stay in Khao Lak
• How to Spend 3-5 Days In Khao Lak Itinerary
• How to Get to Khao Lak & Get Around

I explored all the attractions and beaches in Khao Lak by rental bike. The roads in and around Khao Lak are in good condition, with most of them being flat and easy to navigate.

If you don’t plan to rent a bike or car, no worries – there are plenty of taxis, tuk tuk, and tours that take you to popular places. There are no Grab services in Khao Lak.

21 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak

Beaches

Beach Hopping is one of the top activities to do in Khao Lak. With a 25 km coastline from Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park to Bang Sak Beach, Khao Lak has many beautiful quiet beaches to explore. All the beaches have a relaxing atmosphere and stunning sunset views.

#1. Nang Thong Beach

Nang Thong Beach is a popular beach located right in the city center area of Khao Lak. At low tide, you can sit on the rock area to watch the sunset. The beach has golden sand and calm water. It is a great place to take a stroll along the beach and chill.

There are many resorts, restaurants, bars, massage and souvenir shops along the beach road running parallel with Nang Thong Beach. The Alive Market near the beach offers several options for food and drinks in one area. You can find many other tourist amenities on the Nang Thong road and highway 4.

The beach is easily reachable by scooter and taxi. If you stay in the city center, you can walk to the beach. It is only a 10 minutes walk from highway 4 through Nang Thong Road.

#2. Bang Niang Beach

Bang Niang Beach is a popular beach located just north of Nang Thong Beach. The beach has golden sand and calm water, good for swimming, sunbathing, and taking a long walk along the shore. The water goes very far at low tide.

There are not many shades on the beach. The beachfront is lined with resorts, and sun loungers belong to them. You can find some good beach bars and massage shops along the beach. 

The road to the beach, Hat Bang Niang Road, is lined with all tourist facilities, which include travel agencies, motorbike rental shops, massage shops, restaurants, bars. The Bang Niang Night Market is only a few minutes’ ride to the beach.

Bang Niang Beach is easily accessible on foot, taxi, and scooter. You can get to the beach by turning into Hat Bang Niang Road from highway 4 and driving to the end of the road. This is a popular spot to watch the sunset.

#3. Khuk Khak Beach

Khuk Khak Beach is a tranquil golden sand beach located north of Bang Niang Beach. It is a great place for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing. There are a range of luxury resorts lining the beach shore.

You can easily get to the beach by either following the way to JW Marriott Resort or The Haven Resort. 

The area of the beach near JW Marriott Resort is home to several restaurants, beach bars, and massage shops. There are lots of shades under the palm and pine trees. 

There are no beach facilities at the section near Haven Resort, you can bring your beach mat here to lie down on the sand under the pine tree. You can find some restaurants and massage on the beach road nearby running parallel with the beach.

If you are visiting Khuk Khak Beach, I recommend combining the trip to the beach with the nearby white Buddha and Wat Khuk Khak. They are peaceful places to visit.

#4. Coconut Beach

Coconut Beach is a busy beach located close to Pakarang Cape. The beach has white sand and is lined with coconut trees, pine trees, and has lots of shades. There are many beach facilities such as bed chairs, umbrellas, massage places, and restaurants on the sand.

The beach has calm water which is ideal for swimming and relaxing. The beach is easily accessible by scooter and taxi from the main highway 4, and there are many parking lots near the beach.

#5. White Sand Beach

White Sand Beach is a beautiful beach located just a few minutes drive from north of Coconut Beach. It has white sand and clean water, which is great for swimming and sunbathing. 

The beach has a lot of shade as well as a row of umbrellas and beach chairs on the shores. You can have a meal at one of the several restaurants on the beach or have a nice relaxing beach massage here.

You can combine the visit to White Sand Beach and Coconut Beach in one trip. The beach is easily accessible by scooter and car. 

#6. Pak Weep Beach

Pak Weep Beach is a kid-friendly beach located north of White Sand Beach and south of Hat Bang Sak Beach. The beach has a long stretch of sand and is a great place to watch the sunset.

There are a cluster of restaurants right next to the beach, as well as convenient stores, massage shops and kid playgrounds. 

You can get to Pak Weep Beach by scooter and taxi. From highway 4, turn into Hat Aow Ma Kham Road, and drive to the end of the road to reach the beach.

#7. Bang Sak Beach

Bang Sak Beach is another long quiet beach located just north of Pak Weep Beach. This beach is lined with luxury 5 star resorts. It is a great place for swim and watch the sun go down.

There are several cafes, beach bars, and restaurants on the narrow road running parallel with the beach. This beach road is lined with pine trees, creating lots of shades. 

You can find a couple of food trucks selling food, drinks, and fruits near the Kappa club resort. You can try some very good Thai street food here at a reasonable price. 

You can get to Bang Sak Beach easily by scooter, taxi, songthaews pickup trucks. It is just 200 meters from highway 4.

#8. Pakarang Beach

Pakarang Beach, aka Coral Beach is a long coast line, stretching from north of Khuk Khak Beach to Pakarang Cape. The beach is a secluded spot with lots of dead coral on its shore.

There are several resorts on the road running parallel with the beach. You can find a cluster of restaurants and beach bars near the Tsunami Shelter.

While in Pakarang Beach, you can drive along the narrow beach road north to Pakarang Cape. This place has beautiful sunset views and is where local fishermen dock their boats.

The beach is a popular spot for surfing, especially the area around Memories Beach Bar and restaurant. There are bed chairs and umbrellas on the beach as well as surfing equipment for rent. This beach is easily accessible by scooter and taxi. It is 3 km from highway 4, and close to the Elephant Home.

Waterfalls and Hiking

Khao Lak is home to Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, which is a great place for hiking, visiting the waterfall, and its small sandy beach. You can take the hike at Hat Lek Nature Trail and swim at Ton Chong Fa Waterfall.

#9. Hat Lek Nature Trail

This is a short natural trail located within Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. It is just a few km south of Khao Lak town center. The trail runs along the coast and has stunning views of the beach along the way.

It generally take 1 to 3 hours round trip. It took me 50 minutes to get to the sandy beach from the parking area. The trail is 1.5 km long with some steep sections. At times, you’ll need to climb over tree roots or navigate wooden paths with bamboo handrails.

At the sandy beach, you can swim, and buy snacks and drinks from the small kiosk at the beach. From the beach, you can come back to the same trail to get back to the headquarters entrance. You can also take a 40 meters trail that heads to highway 4 if you don’t feel like hiking back the same trail.

The park is open every day from 8.30am to 4.30pm. The entrance fee is 100 baht. You can use this ticket to access Ton Chong Fa Waterfall, located around 12 km northeast of the park’s headquarters.

#10. Ton Chong Fa Waterfall

This waterfall is part of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, but located around 20 minutes drive from the Hat Lek Nature Trail and the national park’s headquarters. You can reach the waterfall by scooter, taxi, or songthaews.

The ticket to the waterfall is 100 baht for foreigners. You can use the ticket at the Hat Lek Nature Trail for this waterfall. Show them to the staff and they will let you in.

Ton Chong Fa Waterfall is a 1.3 km trail and has 5 different levels. It takes around 1 hour to climb to the top of the waterfall. The first one is the spa fish where you can have free fish massage. You can swim at upper levels. 

There are ropes and tree roots along the trail acting as natural steps. Some parts are steep and slippery, especially in the rainy season. You can enjoy peaceful forest surroundings, and stop at any pool that you want to swim in.

Night Markets

Khao Lak City Center is home to one big night market called Bang Niang Night Market. If you are in Khao Lak in Sunday, you can check out the Night market in Takua Pa Old Town, which is located 30 km north of Khao Lak. 

#11. Bang Niang Night Market

Bang Niang Night Market is a famous  open-air night market located right on the main road of Bang Niang. The market is only open on Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. It is a great place to have dinner, enjoy the drinks, and buy souvenirs.

I recommend coming to the market around sunset time after visiting the nearby Bang Niang Beach. You can find everything at the market, even the bar section. There are all kinds of different street food, smoothies, cocktails, beers, fruits, and handicraft items.

You can reach the night market easily by scooter, taxi, and tuk tuk. There are many tuk tuk taking visitors to this market in the evening.

Temples and Cultural attractions

While enjoying the beaches, waterfalls, and hiking trails in Khao Lak, you can visit several small temples and cultural attractions. I recommend visiting Wat Khuek Khak, Wat Pha Dung Tham Pho Th, and Takua Pa Old Town.

#12. Wat Phadung Tham Phothi 

This is a peaceful temple located off the highway 4, on the way to Khuk Khak Beach. It is free to visit. You can walk around visiting different halls and Buddha Statues. If you are in the Khuk Khak Beach, or Bang Niang area, it is worth visiting.

#13. Wat Khuek Khak

This is another small beautiful temple located near Khuk Khak Beach, just off the main road. It is free to visit. You can stop for a quick look if you go to Khuk Khak Beach. 

#14. Takua Pa Old Town

Takua Pa Old Town is the historic town located 30 km north east of Khao Lak City Center. The town was an important tin mining town in the 19th century. It is now home to many well-preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture, vibrant street art, and a relaxed, authentic atmosphere.

You can take a stroll around the narrow streets exploring colorful shophouses, colonial-era buildings, and beautiful graffiti. There are several small Chinese temples and shrines to look at on the Walking Street.

If you are in Takua Pa Old Town on Sunday, be sure to check out the night market on its walking street. It is great to exploreince local atmosphere and try Thai street food.

I recommend combining a trip to Takua Pa Old Town, with the nearby attractions such as Boon Soong Iron Bridge and Little Amazon. You can reach Takua Pa Old Town by scooter, hire a private driver, or take an organise tour.

#15. Boon Soong Iron Bridge

This historic bridge is located just 3km from Takua Pa Old Town. It is the 0.4km long steel bridge constructed in the 19th century during the tin mining boom. It was built for mining workers to cross the Takua river.

If you come with a motorbike, you can drive on the bridge, cross the river, to the new town of Takua Pa. You can continue the trip to the markets and bus station area of the town to have a look of local life.

Local Restaurants

Khao Lak offers a delightful array of dining options, from authentic Thai eateries to international cuisine. You can find a cluster of restaurants and bars on the main road around Khao Lak Center and Bang Niang area as well as on the road to Nang Thong Beach and Bang Niang Beach. 

#16. 835 Streetfood & Restaurant

This is my favorite restaurant in Khao Lak. It is located right on the main road in Khao Lak City Center, close to Mc Donald. The restaurant served beautiful and delicious Thai food. They have an open kitchen where you can watch chefs cooking.

#17. Thai body/ foot massage

Having a Thai massage is a must when traveling to any city in Thailand. Khao Lak is not an exception. You can find massage shops everywhere in Khao Lak, from the main road, to small alleys, to the beaches. The price is also good, 300 baht for an hour traditional Thai massage.

I recommend trying at least one massage on the beach. There is a beautiful massage parlour on Bang Niang Beach right next to Bobby’s Bar. I had a very good 1,5 oil massage here and felt very relaxed.

Other attractions and activities

#18. Little Amazon

Little Amazon is a good attraction located 25 km north of Khao Lak City Center. It is known for its tranquil waterway with dense canopy of banyan trees and rich biodiversity. You’ll ride a boat along the canal to explore the mangrove forest and observe the wildlife that lives there.

I saw monkeys, crabs, water monitors, and birds. It was a one-hour round trip on a floating kayak, with the boatman paddling it. The boatman will stop at highlight areas to take photos for you.  You can choose the longtail boats with motors on it for a longer journey on the canal.

The ticket is quite expensive, 500 baht for one boat. It is worth it if you have never had the experience of taking a boat ride in the mangrove forest. Otherwise, skip it and spend money on something else.

#19. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint is a beautiful viewpoint located next to Phang Nga Bay, 70 km south of Khao Lak. The viewpoint has stunning views of the limestones and the ocean, especially at sunrise and sunset. 

If you plan to see the sunset, you can stay the night at the viewpoint. They have bungalows and camping sites. I’m an adventurous traveler, so I woke up at 4.30 am, and drove all the way to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. 

The roads are mostly highways with good conditions but I was not lost a bit when I went on the side roads. I was a solo traveler and didnt have a phone holder installed in my motorbike, so I had to stop many times to check the GPS, and sometimes just guessing the directions.

I reached Samet Nangshe Viewpoint a bit late around 7am, not the best time of sunrise, But I still have some nice photos with beautiful rays of the sun. I also captured some scenic views along the way. 

The ticket for two ways up and down the viewpoints by songthaews is 90 baht. They run every 10 minutes. You can spend as much time as you want at the viewpoints, and just jump in one of the cars going down. 

You could walk, but I couldn’t recommend it as the dirt from the road will cover your faces and clothes. If you decide to walk, you need to pay 30 baht for the entrance.

#20. Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is a famous national park in the southern region of Thailand. It is only one hour drive from north east of Khao Lak City Center. 

The park is known for its massive man-made lake with striking limestone, turquoise water, and lush forest. You can take the boat ride along the lake, enjoy the stunning scenery, do jungle trekking, visit the caves, and swim and kayak around the floating raft houses.

You can get to Cheow Lan Lake and Khao Sok National Park by an organized tour or hire a private driver. The tour can be easily booked at a local agency or by asking tour accommodation to help.

#21. Similan and Surin Islands

These are famous islands located 60 km off the coast of Khao Lak. It is known for its vibrant marine life, and is a great destination for snorkeling and diving. The tours to these islands are quite expensive, around 2000 baht for a day tour, but if you are into snorkeling and diving, it is worth investing.

These are the 22 things to do and see in Khao Lak. The city has beautiful quiet beaches, high-end resorts, and lots of tourist facilities to enjoy. You can visit some small temples, explore the night markets, take a hike in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, or visit Ton Chong Fa Waterfall. You can also consider taking snorkeling tours to Similan island, day trips to Khao Sok National Park, or Samet NangShe Viewpoint.