When to go, how to get around and how to get to the most beautiful places in Khao Lak, a paradise between virgin forests, golden beaches and blue seas
Khao Lak. Simply a paradise. Golden beaches, blue seas populated with colorful tropical fish for unforgettable diving and snorkeling. And then forests with bluebirds, the largest flowers in the world and unexplored islets await you for a relaxing holiday. The best time for a holiday in Khao Lak is undoubtedly between december and april. Its location close to Phuket and Krabi, from which day trips depart almost daily, makes it an easily accessible destination.
By plane. The closest airport to Phang Nga (center near Khao Lak) is Phuket International Airport, which serves many Thai and international companies, both from Thailand and abroad. From Phuket you can reach Khao Lak by train, bus or car. It is also possible to fly to Krabi, from where you can rent a car or take a minibus to Phang Nga (a two-hour journey).
By train. There is no direct train to Phang Nga, but Thai Railways operates the Bangkok-Surat Thani direct line. Thus, tourists can reach Phang Nga by getting off at Surat Thani station and then face a two-hour trip.
If instead you choose theautoFrom Bangkok to Phang Nga there are 800 kilometers and a 12-hour trip. While from Phuket the distance is 90 kilometers (an hour and a half by car). In bus numbers There are daily services between Bangkok and Phang Nga: they depart both in the morning and in the afternoon (12-hour journey). You can easily reach all the most beautiful places in the area.
Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park. Between waterfalls, caves, plantations and splendid forests. The park can be visited every day from 6 am to 18 pm and is located 33 kilometers from Amphoe Takua Pa. Take road number 4 and at kilometer 56/57 you will find the park on the left. Tents and accommodation available.
Khao Sok National Park. This is also worth a visit. The most beautiful experience is the trip to Chiaw Lane Lake, perhaps on a long-tail boat, the typical Thai boat. Or, the excursion to the forest, a very rich ecosystem dating back 160 million years, which offers an unforgettable hiking experience among streams, bat caves, large colorful butterflies, hairy centipedes and blue birds.
In addition, it is the habitat of Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. The fauna is almost exclusively nocturnal, the ride on the back of the elephant is fun, but the animal remains within the limits of the park. The park is open every day from 8 a.m. to 18 p.m. From Khao Lak to Khao Sok you can go by private buses and vans that reach Takua Pa in less than 2 hours. To get to Khao Sok it takes approximately another hour and 30 minutes.
Phang Nga. Phang Nga Bay is one of the great wonders of Southeast Asia and is a magical place that you will not easily forget. Rocky islands emerge from emerald waters and hide hundreds of sea caves inside. There are around fifty emerging islets and some have never been explored. The area is a national park and within it there are rare animals such as the sea eagle and the water monitor, which can reach up to 2 meters in length.
The park is located 8 kilometers from the city of Phang Nga, very close to Khao Lak. To get there you must take Highway 4 and turn left for 4 kilometers along Highway 4144 to the customs dock, where you will find a boat for rent. You can also take a tuk tuk (quaint three-wheeled local taxi) from the provincial town to the dock, or boat cruises are offered from the customs docks of Surakum and Ao Phang Nga National Park.
James Bond Island. Pang Nga has one of the most beautiful parks in all of Thailand. The main island of the park archipelago is called Koh Tapu (40 meters from the mainland) and owes its fame to the 007 film "The Man with the Golden Gun": it has since been renamed James Bond Island. It is shaped like an inverted cone (8 meters in diameter at the top, half that at water level) and looks like a large nail surrounded by very shallow emerald green water. Getting there is simple: you can depart from Khao Lak, Phuket and Krabi and reach James Bond Island by long tail boat (very agile traditional boats that arrive after a suggestive tour of the mangroves) or by motor boat. All the ravines can be visited by canoe.
Similarly. They are an incredible archipelago. Paradise on earth for diving lovers. Islands accessible by boat from Khao Lak, the best access is offered thanks to fast daily connections (you can rent a boat at Tap Lamu pier). Don't miss the Elephant Head Rock area, where swirling currents swell soft coral forests into a crazy band of bright colors. Here gorgonians grow to gigantic proportions and you can swim among them along with leopard sharks, turtles and tropical fish.
In general, don't pay too much attention to the local fauna, but bring a good mosquito repellent. The best time to visit the Similan Islands is between December and April. If you want to stay on the island it is better to book well in advance: the islands are sought after by tourists from all over the world.
