What to Do in Khao Lak
Khao Lak is a lot quieter than Patong and in this lies its strength. Visitors looking for the brash and lurid excitement of Bangla Road or Pattaya's Beach Road could be disappointed and get itchy feet after a while but for those searching peace and tranquillity Khao Lak delivers in great style.
From romantic beach strolls, to day tours, to great scuba diving, there's lots to do, but in a quiet sort of way. Nightlife is a little subdued and there are no girlie bars but there are friendly places to have a few beers with either fellow visitors or the many foreigners working as scuba instructors.
Khao Lak Scuba Diving (Similan Islands)
Courses to learn how to dive and daytrips for experienced divers are freely available, most groups making up about six divers maximum. For those who can't get enough of the vivid underwater life in this area there are liveaboard trips.
Due west from Khao Lak are the Similan Islands with the Surin archipelago to the northwest. With a high performance speed boat, you can reach the Similans in about 90 minutes from Tablamu Harbour. Trips to the more remote locations Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock take somewhere between 100 and 120 minutes. (Read more...)
Phang Nga Bay Sea Canoe
There are several companies offering sea cave kayaking tours from Khao Lak to nearby Phang Nga Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the departure point, the 'mother ship', which also carrys the kayaks, takes you to limestone islands that, over time, have collapsed into themselves leaving the interior intact and untouched over many years.
Sea caves lead into these lagoons and when tide conditions are right and the result is like a visit to a parallel world where time has stood still. Tours visit several of these sites, lunch is provided. (Read more...)
Nature Tours
As Khao Lak is surrounded by national parks, an eco-friendly nature tour is a must. Pick ups in the Khao Lak area are generally at about 09:00 and you will be driven to a fishery to have a look at the many exotic species there, then taken to an elephant camp.
A ride through the jungle on the back of an elephant is definitely a life-enhancing experience and you will be amazed at the gentleness of these huge beasts. After lunch you are bussed up to a camp in the mountains where bamboo rafts are waiting to take you downriver. Different tours have varying itineraries. (Read more...)
