Khao Lak in 5 days

Quiet Andaman beaches, jungle national parks, and the Similan gateway. Best time to visit: November to April. Average daily budget: $50 to $100.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Bang Niang, The lively middle strip with night market, beach clubs, mid range resorts and the best restaurant choice.

Morning: Day trip to the Similan Islands. Snorkel or dive the famous granite islands with the clearest water in Thailand, open roughly late October to mid May.

Afternoon: Explore Bang Niang, The lively middle strip with night market, beach clubs, mid range resorts and the best restaurant choice.

Evening: Visit Bang Niang night market. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays: grilled seafood, mango sticky rice and cheap clothes in a friendly local market.

Eat: Fresh grilled snapper and tiger prawns at Bang Niang's seafood restaurants

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Nang Thong, The original tourist beach with a relaxed village feel, walkable restaurants and good swimming sand.

Morning: Cruise Phang Nga Bay. Sea canoe through limestone caves into hidden lagoons at James Bond Island and Hong by Starlight.

Afternoon: Explore Nang Thong, The original tourist beach with a relaxed village feel, walkable restaurants and good swimming sand.

Evening: Swim in the Ton Chong Fa waterfall. A multi tier jungle waterfall in Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park, 30 minutes inland, with pools to cool off in.

Eat: Khao soi and northern curries at the night market stalls

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Khuk Khak, Quieter southern stretch with big name resorts, wide empty beaches and easy access to the Turtle sanctuary.

Morning: Walk the Khao Lak-Lam Ru coastal trails. Jungle paths behind the beaches to hidden coves and the small Cape Pakarang turtle project.

Afternoon: Explore Khuk Khak, Quieter southern stretch with big name resorts, wide empty beaches and easy access to the Turtle sanctuary.

Evening: Take a Thai cooking class. Many resorts and small schools run half day classes starting with a market tour and ending with your own curry paste.

Eat: Massaman curry, a southern Thai specialty, with roti

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Bang Niang, The lively middle strip with night market, beach clubs, mid range resorts and the best restaurant choice.

Morning: White Sand Beach at Coconut Beach, a quiet northern cove reachable by scooter. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Bang Niang, The lively middle strip with night market, beach clubs, mid range resorts and the best restaurant choice.

Evening: The International Tsunami Museum, a moving small exhibit with local stories. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Mango sticky rice and fresh coconut ice cream for the heat

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Nang Thong, The original tourist beach with a relaxed village feel, walkable restaurants and good swimming sand.

Morning: Suwan Palm farm tour to taste palm sugar fresh from the tree. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Nang Thong, The original tourist beach with a relaxed village feel, walkable restaurants and good swimming sand.

Evening: Sung Pae waterfall deep in Khao Sok's edge, visited on jungle treks. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Fresh grilled snapper and tiger prawns at Bang Niang's seafood restaurants

Hidden gems

White Sand Beach at Coconut Beach, a quiet northern cove reachable by scooter
The International Tsunami Museum, a moving small exhibit with local stories
Suwan Palm farm tour to taste palm sugar fresh from the tree
Sung Pae waterfall deep in Khao Sok's edge, visited on jungle treks

Getting around

Khao Lak stretches 20 kilometres along Highway 4, so rent a scooter (250 to 350 baht a day) or use the local green songthaew buses that crawl the main road. Taxis and Grab work but are pricier than Phuket. Phuket airport is 80 minutes north; Krabi airport 2 hours. Boat piers for the Similans are at Thap Lamu, 15 minutes south.

Safety

Khao Lak is very safe and family friendly. Main cautions: strong rip currents on some beaches in low season (November is calm), jellyfish in the Similan season, and scooter accidents on the winding coastal road. The December 2004 tsunami reshaped this coast; all hotels now have clear evacuation routes and warning systems.

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