This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Khao Lak is built around the Andaman Sea, so most of the best things to do here are on or near the water, from Similan Islands diving to sea kayaking through Phang Nga Bay’s limestone karsts. Inland, Khao Sok National Park and a handful of waterfalls fill out the list. This guide covers the top activities with locations, hours, and prices so you can plan each day. Start with our Khao Lak travel guide for an overview, and for which months each activity runs, see our best time to visit Khao Lak guide.
Things to Do in Khao Lak on the Water
Similan Islands Diving and Snorkeling
Mu Koh Similan National Park, about 70 km offshore, is Thailand’s best-known dive destination. Day trips leave from Thap Lamu pier, roughly 20 minutes south of town, and take 90 minutes by speedboat. A full-day snorkeling trip costs 2,200 to 3,500 THB (US$60 to US$95) and typically includes lunch, gear, and national park fees. Dive sites like Elephant Head Rock and Christmas Point hold manta rays and whale sharks. The park runs mid-October to mid-May only, when the sea is calmest; our Khao Lak weather by month guide shows monthly sea conditions.
Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock
The Mu Koh Surin Islands lie further north and are quieter than the Similans. Richelieu Rock, about 14 km east of Surin, is rated among the world’s best dive sites, with regular whale shark sightings from February to April. Liveaboard trips of 2 to 4 days cost from about 20,000 THB (US$550), while a day trip runs 3,500 to 4,500 THB (US$95 to US$120). Sea gypsy villages on the islands still practise traditional fishing.
Phang Nga Bay Sea Kayaking
Roughly 40 minutes south of Khao Lak, Phang Nga Bay is a maze of limestone karsts, sea caves, and the famous James Bond Island. Guided kayak trips paddle into the hongs (hidden lagoons) and cost 1,800 to 3,000 THB (US$50 to US$80) for a half-day. Operators pick up from Khao Lak hotels, and the calmest paddling is December to April; our Khao Lak travel tips and FAQ guide covers getting around the area.
Surfing and Paddleboarding at Pak Weep
Pak Weep Beach, about 10 km north of Bang Niang, is Khao Lak’s surf spot. From May to October, when the southwest monsoon pushes swell into the coast, small beach breaks work for beginners, and boards can be rented for 300 to 500 THB (US$8 to US$14) an hour. In the dry season the same stretch is flat enough for stand-up paddleboarding, with rentals around 400 THB (US$11) an hour.
Things to Do in Khao Lak on Land
Khao Sok National Park
About an hour inland, Khao Sok protects one of the world’s oldest rainforests and the 165 sq km Cheow Lan Lake, a flooded valley ringed by 900-metre limestone cliffs. A full-day trip costs 2,000 to 3,000 THB (US$55 to US$80) and usually includes a longtail boat ride, jungle walk, and lunch. Overnight floating bungalow stays on the lake run 1,500 to 4,000 THB (US$40 to US$110) a night and are worth it for the dawn mist. See our where to stay in Khao Lak guide for where to base yourself between trips.
Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
This coastal park straddles the town and has two good waterfalls. Ton Chong Fa, a 20-minute drive inland, drops over five tiers with a swim hole at the base, and Sai Rung is smaller but quieter. Entry is 100 THB (US$3) for foreigners, and the falls run strongest from May to November. The park also protects a stretch of beach forest that’s home to hornbills and macaques.
Tsunami Memorial and Police Boat 813
The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami hit Khao Lak harder than anywhere else in Thailand, and the beached police boat at Bang Niang now serves as a memorial to the roughly 4,000 people who died in the area. It’s free to visit, open 24 hours, and sits a short walk from Bang Niang’s night market. A small museum nearby documents the event. Every December 26 a remembrance ceremony is held here.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries
Several sanctuaries around Khao Lak and Khao Sok rescue elephants from logging and riding camps. You feed and walk alongside the animals but don’t ride them. A half-day visit costs 2,500 to 3,500 THB (US$70 to US$95) and usually includes pickup, lunch, and a guide. Book direct and check reviews, since not every place that calls itself a sanctuary has dropped riding.
Things to Do in Khao Lak’s Towns and Markets
Bang Niang Night Market
The Bang Niang market runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from about 4 pm to 10 pm on the road behind the beach. Stalls sell grilled seafood, pad thai, mango sticky rice, and clothes, and most dishes cost 60 to 150 THB (US$2 to US$4). It’s the cheapest dinner in Khao Lak and a good place to try southern Thai curries; for market nights and bigger festivals, see our Khao Lak events and festivals guide.
Old Takua Pa Town
Takua Pa, about 25 km north of Khao Lak, is a former tin-mining town with Sino-Portuguese shophouses, a Sunday walking street, and a 200-year-old market. It makes an easy half-day trip for a break from the beach and costs 400 to 600 THB (US$11 to US$16) each way by taxi. For more on the surrounding beaches and districts, see our Khao Lak beach areas guide.
