One of Thailand's best kept secrets ...
Enclosed in one of the many national parks in the province of Phang-Nga, the little town of Khao Lak lies along the western shore line, only 55 minutes drive north of Phuket International Airport.
Khao Lak is famous for its spectacular natural surroundings which consist of a variety of landscapes. On one side, it is fringed by the aqua Andaman Sea which offers dazzling white sandy beaches and the famous Similan Islands, as well as abundant coral beds and wonderful marine life. The other side is covered by the tapestry of lavishly verdant jungle, an excellent habitat to the rare species of wildlife animals and plants.
Khao Lak is quickly becoming the latest place to be put on the tourist map. Here are some of the wonderful things to see and do there.
| Beaches - large sandy beaches with charming composition of boulders and rocks, fringed by the shady casuarinas and palm trees. Offshore, forests of coral are perfect for diving and snorkelling which can be reached via long-tail boat, about 45 minutes from the shore. |
A beach in Khao Lak |
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Khao Lak National Park -
go trekking, swim in a waterfall, bird watch or have a picnic in the forest.
Tone Chong Fah waterfall originates in Klong Bangniang, formed by the 5-tier-cliff with waters flowing through all year round. The dense forest is also a home to some endangered animals such as tapirs and hornbills. |
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| Similan Islands - located only one hour offshore from Khao Lak is an archipelago of nine islands called the Similan Islands. Rated within the top ten dive spots in the world, these islands have white sandy shores ringing pristine rainforest, and all have distinctive huge granite boulders marking their headlands. Divers may enjoy the reefs that surround the islands, which are home to giant sea turtles, manta rays as well as a huge variety of fish and sharks. The islands are numbered Koh 1 - 9, with camping facilities and a restaurant on Koh 4. |
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John Gray's Sea Canoe tours
There are many different companies running sea canoe tours through the caves in Phang-nga Bay, but this one is unique! Learn about the natural history of the area as you are paddled through cave tunnels into hidden lagoons. Their specialty tour is Hong By Starlight, a trip that takes you into the "hongs" or lagoons at night, allowing you to marvel at nature itself. A lovely addition of the traditions of the Thai candle festival Loy Krathong makes this trip magical. Highly recommended!
www.johngray-seacanoe.com
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| Pakarang Boatyard - located along the beach front near Pakarang Cape, visitors can watch traditional long tail boats being made from scratch. As this is a local community project, donations and volunteers are both welcome. |
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Trekking / elephant riding
It is an amazing experience to discover the areas wild flora and fauna by trekking or riding on an elephant through the forest. |
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