Located less than 100km from Phuket, Khao Lak comprises some 20-odd kilometres of idyllic beaches and wild jungle along Thailand’s Andaman coastline. Low key and laid back, the area is perfect for families or travellers seeking serenity, solitude and unspoilt nature.
Khao Lak is also a convenient gateway to the Similan and Surin national marine parks, offering spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities.
Explore the Similan and Surin Islands, as well as extra-quiet Hat Pakarand and Hat Bang Sak, a gorgeous stretch of beach surrounded by rubber-tree plantations and dense mangroves.
Other highlights include various luxury spa centres, an abundance of waterfalls, and the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Sea Turtle Nursery. Don’t miss the sunset views from Laem Pakarang promontory, a short drive from the town centre.
Khao Sok National Park is an incredible lowland jungle reserve in Southern Thailand. Extending over 646 square kms, this spectacular stretch of wilderness is home to the exquisite Cheow Lan Lake, some remarkable limestone formations, a host of jaw dropping waterfalls and an enthralling rainforest believed to be over 160 million years old.
Visitors to the park can indulge in a wide range of exhilarating outdoor activities including tubing down the river, caving, kayaking, and ziplining through the forest canopy while spotting some of the park’s rare wildlife (which includes bears, boars, marbled cats, wild elephants and even tigers).
If you are only able to visit one national park in Thailand, head to Khao Sok.
As previously described
Conveniently located only 30 minutes by speedboat from the popular tourist centre of Phuket, the peaceful island of Koh Yao Noi boasts breathtaking views of Phang Nga Bay and its towering karst islands.
The island is the second largest of the Koh Yao islands, an archipelago of forty-four idyllic islands which have remained largely unaffected by the kind of mass development seen in nearby Phuket and Krabi.
This has resulted in the preservation of Koh Yao Noi’s magnificent mangrove forests, lush jungle-clad interior, and sandy east-coast beaches which serve as an ideal environment for a range of exhilarating activities such as fishing, kayaking, hiking, snorkelling and swimming.
With its dramatic sea-cliffs, exquisite blue lagoons and pristine beaches, Koh Yao Noi is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an active tropical adventure or a relaxing beach getaway.
