Most beaches in southern Thailand, such as those in Phuket or Krabi, are crowded and full of people. If you’re looking for a quiet place with few tourists, Khao Lak is a good choice.
Khao Lak is a long coastal city located in South Thailand, close to many famous places like Phuket, Ao Nang, Krabi, and Khao Sok National Park. The city is known for its serene beaches, lush national parks, and laid-back atmosphere.
If you are looking for Where to stay in Khao Lak, you’re in the right place. In this article, I will help you to find the best places to stay in Khao Lak, including the best areas in Khao Lak, popular beaches, and the top hotels and resorts in Khao Lak.
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Best areas to stay in Khao Lak
Khao Lak has a long coastline, stretching about 25 km from Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park in the south to Bang Sak Beach in the north. You’ll find many hotels and resorts scattered along the shore.
The most popular areas to stay in Khao Lak are Nang Thong and Bang Niang Beach. These are the main areas of Khao Lak, offering easy access to many tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, massage parlors, travel agents, motorbike rentals, and souvenir shops.
Other beaches on the north of Khao Lak City Center, from Khuk Khak Beach to Bang Sak Beach, are also home to many high-end resorts. These areas don’t have as many tourist amenities as the city center, but there are enough restaurants and shops along the beach road to ensure a comfortable stay.
You can easily explore Khao Lak by Tuk tuk and taxi services, but the best way to explore is to rent a scooter. The road is usually flat and in good condition, so it is easy to drive if you have a valid license and are confident with your driving skill.
I prefer to stay in the city center, either around Nang Thong or Bang Niang Beach. This is because staying here allows me to walk to a range of restaurants and shops both day and night. These areas also offer a good range of affordable hotel options, giving me plenty to choose from.
In other areas, there are several eateries and shops during daytime, but they are quiet at night. You will need to use additional transport to get to the night market and range of amenities in the evening.
I was a solo female traveling on a budget and booked my stay at the We HOSTEL@ Khao Lak. It is a good budget-friendly hotel located in a great location, right on the main road of Khao Lak, within a 5-10 minutes walk from Nang Thong Beach.
They offer both dorm and private rooms. I stayed in the private rooms. My room is not the best, but overall a safe private place to stay to explore the city. You can check more details of my stay in Khao Lak at the end of this article.
My top hotel picks in Khao Lak:
- Luxury: The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani
- Mid-range: The Waters Khao Lak
- Budget: Srichada Hotel Khaolak
Best Places to Stay in Khao Lak
1. Nang Thong Beach
I stayed in Nang Thong and liked this area. It is a popular area to stay in Khao Lak, centrally located between Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park and Bang Niang Beach. This area has wide concentrations of tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, shops, tour agents, massage parlors, and supermarkets.
You can find a McDonald’s (the only one in Khao Lak), a 7-Eleven, Nang Thong supermarket, and many other tourist-friendly establishments along Highway 4 as it passes through Nang Thong. The minibus stop is located in this area where you can take a bus to Krabi and Ao Nang.
There are also many other shops on Nang Thong Road, which is a small road that connects Highway 4 with Nang Thong Beach. I had a good massage at Hatthatip Massage on this street.
Nang Thong is home to a small night market called Alive Market. It is located at the intersection of Nang Thong Road and the Beach Road. You can have a look at this market after watching sunset at Nang Thong Beach.
Nang Thong Beach is a long beach with a quiet atmosphere. The beach has clean water and lots of big rocks near the light house. There are resorts with several restaurants and bars lining the shore of the beach. It is a good place to relax, watch the sunset, and take a long walk along the beach.
Nang Thong is a convenient location to explore the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. It is just a 5 minute drive from the center area of Nang Thong (around the McDonald’s). At the park, you can take a hike along the natural trail, enjoy the beautiful sea views, and swim at the small white sandy beach.
Nang Thong is also very close to Bang Niang Market, which is a popular attraction in Khao Lak. You can easily drive for 5 minutes to the market if you have a scooter. If not, there are plenty of tuk tuk and taxis that take you there for around 100 baht.
Around 20 minutes drive to the South, you can visit the Sea Turtle Conservation Center to see turtles. The Thap Lamu pier is also located near Turtle Conservation Center, where you can take a boat to Similan National Park.
Where to stay in Khao Lak in the Nang Thong Beach area:
Khaolak Bhandari Resort & Spa
Bhandari is a beautiful 4-star hotel located in central Nang Thong. It is a few minutes walk from the beach and the main road. Alive Night Market is located right next to the resort.
The resort has an outdoor swimming pool that is lined with palm trees, sunbeds, and umbrellas. They offer spacious bungalows with traditional dark wood decor, a well-maintained garden, and massage services. They can help arrange diving, snorkeling, and sightseeing trips around Khao Lak.
Moracea by Khao Lak Resort
Moracea is a beautiful 5-star beachfront resort located in the Nang Thong area of Khao Lak. It is a great place to stay in Khao Lak for families and couples.
The resort has a good location. It is set on sloping Khao Lak Hill, within walking distance from the town centre where you can find a selection of restaurants and coffee shops. It also has multiple swimming pools, a fitness centre, and a spa.
Kokotel Khao Lak Lighthouse
Kokotel is a good budget 3-star hotel, conveniently situated on Nang Thong Beach. It has an excellent location near the light house which is a great spot to watch the sunset. The hotel is also 15 minutes walk to shops and restaurants. You can rent a motorbike to explore the area.
SENTIDO Khao Lak
SENTIDO is a popular mid-range 4-star hotel in Nang Thong Beach. It is an adult-only hotel and is a great base for couples and solo travellers. It has a quite good location, in a quiet area on the beach but still within a 15-minute walk from the town center.
You can pay a bit more to book the room with pool access for the best experience. It is overall a good base to explore Khao Lak.
2. Bang Niang Beach
Located just north of Nang Thong and south of Khuk Khak Beach, Bang Niang is one of the most popular places to stay in Khao Lak. It is home to the city’s popular night market, a small bus station, and Tsunami Museum.
Bang Niang has many resorts, bars, restaurants, cafes, massage shops, motorbike rentals, and souvenir shops. You can find these tourist amenities on Highway 4, Chai Hat Bang Niang Road (the road connecting the highway with the beach), and on the beachfront area.
The Bang Niang Night Market is one of the must-see attractions on Khao Lak. It is located right on Highway 4 and is a great place to go for Thai street food and souvenirs. The market is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 11pm.
If you are interested in the history of the 2004 Tsunami in the region, you can check the International Tsunami Museum nearby.
Bang Niang is also a 15 minutes drive from Ton Chong Fa Waterfall. This is part of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park and is a good place for hiking, spotting wild animals, and exploring the caves.
Bang Niang Beach is a long quiet beach with several resorts, restaurants, and bars close to the beachfront. You can find sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach. It is a good place to take a long walk and watch the sunset.
I like to watch the sunset at Bang Niang Beach in the area near Chong Fah Restaurant and have a beach massage at the massage parlor near Bobby’s Bar at the northern end of the beach.
Where to stay in Khao Lak in Bang Niang Beach:
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Khao Lak
Ramada is a beautiful five star beachfront hotel located on Bang Niang Beach. The hotel has a well-maintained ground with palm trees, a clean beach area, an outdoor pool, and spacious rooms.
It is within walking distance to a range of shops, bars and restaurants. The night market is also within a short distance from the resort. I recommend this hotel for couples and families with kids who want a nice quiet base in central Khao Lak.
La Flora Khao Lak
La Flora is a popular mid-range 4-star resort for families and couples, located right on Bang Niang beach. The hotel has a large pool area with lots of sunbeds as well as a private beach.
It is within walking distance to Bang Niang Road and the highway where you can find many restaurants, shops, bars, and minimarts.
The Waters Khao Lak by Katathani
This is a 4-star mid-range hotel located within a 5 minute walk from Bang Niang Beach. It is also close to the night market, shops, and restaurants.
The hotel has several pools and you can choose a room with private pool access. It is a good overall hotel in a quiet area of Khao Lak but still an easy walk to all amenteis.
3. Khuk Khak Beach
Khuk Khak Beach, located just north of the popular Bang Niang Beach, offers a more tranquil atmosphere while still being close to the nightlife of Bang Niang.
It is a long beach with golden sand and a secluded atmosphere. The beach is lined with palm trees and pine trees. There aren’t many beach facilities on the southern section near Haven Resort. You can find several restaurants, beach bars, and massage parlors in the area near the JW Marriott.
There are several high-end luxury resorts along Khuk Khak Beach. There are several restaurants, beach bars, eateries and minimart on the road to the beach and on the beach road. But the tourist amenities are much less compared to Bang Niang and Nang Thong.
On highway 4, you can find a Fresh Market, super markets, and a bus station. From this station, you can book tickets to other parts of Thailand like Phuket, Bangkok, and Takua Pa.
In addition to the peaceful beach, this area is home to several local attractions like Wat Phadung Tham Phothi – Big Buddha, and Wat Khuek Khak.
If you are families or couples who want a tranquil beach holiday in a luxury hotel that is not too far from the action, you can consider staying in Khuk Khak Beach. You can rent a scooter for exploration and use a taxi for around 10 minutes to get to the city center area.
Where to stay in Khao Lak in Khuk Khak Beach:
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa
JW Marriott is one of the top places to stay in Khao Lak, especially for families and couples. This 5 star luxury resort is located right on Khuk Khak Beach, which provides a tranquil escape from the busy crowds.
They also have excellent facilities including pools and a private beach area with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas for its guests. There is a TP Minimart and numerous restaurants on the beachfront area near the resort. If you like exploration, you can rent a scooter to explore Khao Lak.
The Haven Khao Lak
The Haven is a 5-star luxury resort located right on the southern end area of Khuk Khak Beach. It has a huge pool area, and amazing restaurants. There is also a free scheduled shuttle bus twice a day to the town centre and the market.
The Haven is overall a good place to stay in Khao Lak away from the crowds, but still a short taxi or scooter ride to the action.
Andamania Beach Resort
Andamania is a stunning 3-star accommodation situated right on a tranquil beach area of Khuk Khak. It has a very well maintained ground and a nice pool area. They can help organise snorkelling tours to Surin islands at a reasonable price.
4. Pakarang Beach
Pakarang Beach, aka Coral Beach, is a long secluded beach area located north of Khuk Khak Beach. This beach, including Memories Beach, is a good place for surfing. It is also close to other popular beaches like Coconut beach and White Sand Beach.
There are several resorts along Pakarang Beach and it is a very quiet place to stay. Some local attractions in the Pakarang Beach area are the Elephant Home, Tsunami station, and Memories Beach Bar.
It is best to rent a scooter if you want to explore other parts of Khao Lak. The town center and popular places like Bang Niang Night Market are located 10 km from Pakarang Beach. You can find restaurants and local minimarts in this area but it is quite spread out.
Where to stay in Pakarang Beach:
Apsara Beachfront Resort & Villa
Apsara is a 4-star resort located on Laem Pakarang Beach, which has stunning sunset views. It is popular for both families and couples who want a peaceful and secluded holiday. The resort is close to the elephant sanctuary, and Memories Restaurant.
Palm Galleria Resort
Palm Galleria is a 3-star hotel located near the quiet and picturesque Pakarang beach and Coconut Beach. It has a large swimming pool, a garden full of flowers, an onsite restaurant and bar. There are several restaurants, bars, and a minimart located within walking distance from the resort.
5. White Sand Beach & Coconut Beach
There are two beautiful neighboring sandy beaches located north of Pakarang Beach and south of Pak Weep Beach. These beaches are around 20 minutes drive from Khao Lak city center and Bang Niang Night Market.
The beaches have white fine sand and clean calm water, ideal for swimming pools. They both have lots of shade on the shore. There are several massage parlors, restaurants, bars on the beach. You can rent beach facilities like sunbeds and umbrellas.
The downside of staying White Sand Beach & Coconut Beach is that they are quite far from the main areas of Khao Lak. If you want to explore other parts of Khao lak, it is best to rent a scooter when staying in these areas.
Good place to stay in White Sand & Coconut Beach:
The Sarojin
The Sarojin is a 5-star hotel located in a peaceful area close to both White Sand and Coconut Beach. The hotel has beautiful grounds and a swimming pool area. There is also a fitness center, private beach area, and spacious rooms. It is a good base for relaxing and unwind.
Ao Thong beach Resort
This is a 3-star beachfront hotel located on White Sand Beach. It is a good place to stay for a few days to get away from any hustle and bustle of life. If you are looking to go to the city center, it is best to have a scooter. The taxi can be experienced to get around when staying in this part of Khao Lak.
Smilebeach Resort Khaolak
This seafront accommodation is located in the secluded area of White Sand Beach. They offer beach bungalows with a quiet atmosphere. There are several small restaurants on the beach during daytime and it is quiet at nighttime. Good base for relaxation.
6. Pak Weep Beach
Pak Weep Beach is the quiet beach area located between White Sand Beach and Bang Sak Beach. It is close to highway 4 which offers quick access to the city center and Bang Niang Night Market, around 15 minutes away.
You will find a range of restaurants, shops, bars, and children playgrounds along Hat Aow Ma Kham Road. Some local attractions in Pak Weep Beach area include Sai Rung Waterfall and Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary.
The area attracts lots of people to come to watch the sunset. There are several hotels and resorts located in this area. You can find both adult-only and family-friendly accommodations in this area.
Where to stay in Pak Weep Beach:
7. Bang Sak Beach
Bang Sak is a 6km long beach, located at the northern part of the Khao Lak region. The beach is home to several 5-star luxury resorts and offers a peaceful location for a more relaxing beach holiday.
The resorts are concentrated at the northern end and southern end of the beach. On the northern end, you can find Le Meridien, Graceland, and Grand Mercure. The southern area of Bang Sak is home to Avani, Outrigger, and Bang Sak Village.
You can find some eateries, restaurants, and beach bars along the beach road and around the areas where resorts are located. It is quiet at night and is a great spot for relaxing and unwinding.
I love to drive along the shaded beach road running parallel with Bang Sak Beach. The food truck and smoothie shops near Graceland are also great places to try affordable and authentic Thai food.
I made some good Thai people here. I had pad Thai from the food truck and coconut water from the stall next to it. If you want to check it out, find Best Place Food & Smoothie near Graceland on Google Map.
Bang Sak Beach is quite close to Takua Pa Old Town, Boon Soong Iron Bridge, and The Little Amazon Takuapa. It is good to visit places to learn more about the historic mining town near Khao Lak. The Sunday Night Market Takua Pa Old Town is also worth checking out!
Where to stay in Khao Lak in Bang Sak Beach:
Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa
Le Meridien is a five hotel located on the white sandy Bangsak beach. It has multiple gigantic swimming pools, bars, restaurants, and a private beach.
It is quite far from downtown Khao Lak but still within walking distance from several local restaurants, convenience stores and bars. Ideal for families and couples who want a luxury quiet vacation.
Graceland Khaolak Beachfront Resort
Graceland is a luxury family-friendly hotel located right on Bang Sak beach. It is a nice laid back place to spend your holiday in Khao Lak.
Where did I stay in Khao Lak – my personal experiences staying in Khao Lak
I traveled to Khao Lak in early January. It was peak season, and I booked the hotel just a couple of days before my arrival, so there weren’t many options available. I was traveling on a budget as a solo traveler and didn’t want to spend a fortune on accommodation.
Luckily, We HOSTEL was available during my visit to Khao Lak. If you are traveling in the high season (from November to May), be sure to book hotels in advance to have the best deals.
We HOSTEL@ Khao Lak
Location
We HOSTEL is located in a very central location on Highway 4 in the Nang Thong Beach area. I booked a minivan from Khao Sok National Park to Khao Lak, and the driver dropped me right in front of the hotel.
The minibus station is also located on the opposite side of the road, which is convenient to take a bus to Ao Nang and Krabi.
The hotel is just a few steps away from 7-Eleven and McDonald’s. There are plenty of tourist amenities within walking distance from the hotels like massage shops, tailor shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, motorbike rental, and laundry shops.
I like to eat at 835 Street Food & Restaurant on the main road, have a body massage at Hatthatip Massage and Nang Thong Road, and do some grocery shopping at Nang Thong Supermarket. All of these places are within walking distance from We HOSTEL.
Nang Thong Beach is around 10 minutes from my hotel. It is a good spot to take a leisure walk and watch the sunset. From We HOSTEL, I drove for 5 minutes to reach Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park for hiking and swimming at the sandy beach.
Amenities
My room was a twin bed room. Yes I was a solo traveler but only a twin bed room was available, so I booked it. The room was clean and spacious with two single beds, chairs, TV, and air conditioning.
The bathroom is also big and clean with a separate wall for the toilet and shower. The room was located away from the main street, so it was quiet and free from traffic noise. However, the room was not soundproof, and I could hear noise coming from the neighboring room.
The staff is also friendly. I rented a scooter from them. They are not the best scooter but they worked well. I traveled all around Khao Lak, including Takua Pa Old Town and the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, and had no issues at all.
They have a tour desk and help with trips around Khao Lak including driving and snorkeling trips to nearby islands on Mu Ko Similan National Park.
They also have dorm room options, which is great for budget backpackers and solo travelers. The location is in the central area of Khao Lak, making it an excellent base to explore the region.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
I hope you enjoyed reading my guide on where to stay in Khao Lak and have found the place where you want to stay. Overall, Bang Niang, Nang Thong, and Khuk Khak Beach are three most popular areas to stay in Khao Lak. For a more secluded beach holiday, head to the northern beaches of the region like White Sand or Bang Rak Beach.