Khao Lak is famous for its diverse and vibrant wildlife, tropical forests, and beautiful beaches. Exploring this famed part of Thailand is sure to bring you closer to nature, with plenty of things to do in the Khao Lak area, especially for nature lovers.
Khao Lak offers a variety of experiences. Whether you’re looking to appreciate the wildlife and nature within the rainforests and mangroves, swim in one of the region’s many lakes, or sunbathe on the area’s beautiful long beaches, Khao Lak offers unique experiences like no other. Let’s take a closer look at many things to do in Khao Lak.
Visit Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful and iconic locations in Thailand. With its tall limestone cliffs, islands, hidden caves, and mangroves, Phang Nga Bay is truly a sight to behold. There are various ways to visit Phang Nga Bay, whether by boat, car, yacht, longtail, kayak, or even on a Chinese Junk. You can choose to either see the bay in all its glory from Samet Nagshe, a vantage point on a hillside overlooking the limestone islands, or you can take a boat trip into the bay itself. These boat trips will take you along to the islands, caves, hidden lagoons, mangrove forests, and even the famous “James Bond Island”. There’s always something new to discover each time you visit Phang Nga Bay.
Sail to the Similan and Surin Islands
Taplamu Pier in Khao Lak is the gateway to the Similan Islands, and it’s just a ten minute drive from the Khaolak Merlin Resort, making it the closest resort along Khaolak Beach. From there you can take a boat to the Similan islands, which is known for having some of the clearest waters in Thailand. The Similan Islands are an archipelago of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea, rich in marine life with coral reefs, crystal clear waters, and white beaches. The Similan Islands are considered one of the best diving sites in the world, with many of Southeast Asia’s most impressive oceanic marine species being found in the area, including manta rays, whale sharks, whitetip reef sharks, leatherback sea turtles, giant morays, and more.
The Surin Islands are further away than the Similan Islands, and are also one of the most famous diving and marine life viewing sites in the world. These islands are part of an archipelago of five islands and are one of the few untouched places in Thailand.
Waterfalls
Because of the many mountains and jungles found in the area, there are several waterfalls to discover within the large jungle area of Khao Lak. Some of the best waterfalls include Lam Ru, a five-tiered waterfall, as well as the Ton Chong Fah falls. These waterfalls are a great way to cool down and escape the heat.
Little Amazon
30 minutes north of Khao Lak in Takua Pa is the “Little Amazon”. While a small mangrove forest, it is dotted with huge banyan trees with incredibly elaborate root systems that twist and twirl like dark tendrils. It’s very common to see animals here such as monkeys, hornbills, snakes, monitor lizards, and kingfishers. You can hire a small inflatable kayak and a guide to paddle along through the mangroves while you take excellent wildlife pictures.
Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Sok National Park is one of the most spectacular places in Thailand. This national park is covered by one of the oldest evergreen rainforests in the world, with huge limestone mountains shooting into the air, along with deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, intriguing caves, wild animals, and more. You can take one of the many wildlife tours traveling by longtail boat into the heart of the park.
Nearby Cheow Lan Lake is just as spectacular. You can get there by boat, allowing you to get closer to the jungle than you otherwise would be able to, and see the incredible wildlife. You can take a multi-day kayaking trip and enjoy seeing wildlife such as gibbons, hornbills, dusky leaf monkeys, and if you’re lucky, possibly even wild elephants. If you’re staying on Cheow Lan Lake for the night, you can book a stay at one of the many floating bungalows on the lake, allowing you to sleep in the middle of a lake deep within the rainforest.
A Wide Variety of Experiences
Khao Lak is a unique region with a wide variety of attractions, ranging from beautiful rainforest lakes to amazing archipelagos thriving with marine life. Khao Lak is a truly great location for nature lovers, whether you’re looking for rainforests filled with jungle animals and greenery, deep blue oceans and coral reefs, piercing limestone cliffs, or hidden cave networks. There is no shortage of things to do in and around Khao Lak.