Khao Lak diving destination

Khao Lak is a beautifully sleepy beach resort, just two hours north of Phuket. It is best known as a gateway for diving around the Similan and Surin islands, but is also a wonderful place to stretch out in the sunshine.

From Khao Lak, it takes two hours by speedboat to reach the miniature Similan and Surin islands. These islands offer a diving experience very different to Ko Tao. At Ko Tao, the most famous dive destination in the Gulf of Thailand, the dive sites are much closer to each other. It tends to attract complete backpacker beginners hoping to get their PADI open water diving certificate. By contrast, the dive sites at Similan and Surin are totally unspoilt and far quieter. If you are not interested in diving, you can simply relax on the wide sandy beach away from the tourist hotspot of Phuket. As most travellers arrive in Khao Lak from Phuket with a rental car, we reserve overnight accommodation in the centre of Khao Lak in a small-scale resort with a lovely swimming pool.

Duration	4 days / 3 nights (extendable)	Accommodation	3 nights in a resort hotel with swimming pool Comfort level 3 (see accommodation)
Price	From £144 per person - based on two people	Includes	Accommodation (including breakfast)
Travel	Own arrangements to Khao Lak	Excludes	Other meals, drinks, entry fees and excursions

Day 1: Arrival at Khao Lak

Most travellers arrive in Khao Lak from Phuket. It's easy and cheap to arrange public transport between the two destinations, but if you need a hand with the arrangements our local agent will be happy to help. You can also arrive in Khao Lak with our Southern self-drive module, in which you drive a rental car from Surathani, via Krabi, to Khao Lak. The roads are in very good condition, and the landscape during the drive is breathtaking.

You will stay in a small resort in the town centre of Khao Lak. It has 10 bungalows and a swimming pool set within a beautiful garden, full of palm trees and tropical plants. The beach is a mere 500m away. The resort is very lovely, with a warm and cosy atmosphere. If, however, you would prefer to stay directly on the beach, we can arrange this for you instead. At the bottom of this page you’ll find a few photographs of both accommodation options.

Days 2 and 3: Staying in Khao Lak

The next few days are yours to do with as you wish, maybe your overdue a little lazing by the beach in Khao Lak. If you want something more active, you wont have to search far for information about diving and snorkelling, as the town centre has several dive shops where you can check out prices and dive sites available.

Khao Lak was hit hard by the tsunami in 2004. Many of the resorts on the beach have been rebuilt or renovated. If you like, you can take a look at the Tsunami Memorial monument. If you're feeling energetic, there are also several nature trails leading through the wilderness that surrounds the town. A walk along the beach at sunset is unmissable in Khao Lak, as more beautiful sunsets are seldom seen anywhere in the world. The evenings are charmingly sleepy in Khao Lak, although there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, as well as a good selection of bars and other shops and souvenir stalls open late which will keep you occupied.

Similan and Surin Islands

If you're looking for an active day, you can go diving or snorkelling off the Similan and Surin Islands. Similan National Park ranks as one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world. The reputation is justified- the coral gardens and marine life are spectacularly diverse and almost completely unspoilt. The nine Similan Islands are totally uninhabited and formed of massive granite rocks overgrown with thick vegetation. The western side of the island group marks the beginning of the Indian Ocean. For most of the year, the sea is crystal clear and comfortingly warm.

The diving season runs from October to May, as this is the Northern Hemisphere's winter and spring. Conditions are at their very best from November to April. Between February and April, you have the greatest chance of spotting whale sharks and manta rays. In the summer months (May to August), diving conditions are often better in the Gulf of Thailand. If you are travelling during this period, you might consider heading for Ko Tao instead. August, September and October are not good diving months anywhere in Thailand.

You'll leave for the harbour early, a 20-minute drive away from your resort. As the islands lie about 50km off the coast, it takes about 1½ hours to get there by speedboat. You can make 2 to 4 dives during your time at Khao lak, and in between these dives you'll be provided with something to eat on board. This is a wonderful excursion, and comes very highly recommended.

Day 4: Khao Lak Departure

This module finishes today. After a leisurely breakfast you'll have the morning to yourself and in the afternoon you'll arrange your travel back to Phuket by bus, or we can arrange a private transfer.

It is possible to extend this module if you'd like to stay here longer. Just let us know on the quote request form

WARNING: If you have been diving, you must not fly within 24 hours of your last dive.

If you feel like something a little more active after a few days on the beach, we would suggest our Giant trees and lakes module in the jungle of Khao Sok Park National Park.

A peek at your accommodation

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