Khao Lak sits on a narrow strip of land between the primeval tropical mountainous Lak jungle and the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. Although only an hour’s drive from Thailand’s holiday Mecca of Phuket, this part of the Andaman coast remains relatively unknown and far less developed.
Clean Golden Beaches
Khao Lak’s clean rock peppered beaches are extensive, golden and almost deserted. Children will enjoy exploring the many rock pools that stretch along the beach. This is the kind of place where time slips by just watching the turquoise Andaman waves roll in. A big event is walking to the local mini-market where the Bangkok Post does not arrive until two in the afternoon. And where the gin is cheap and Schweppes tonic water cheaper still and pint bottles of cooling Heineken can be had for under a pound.
Dramatic Sunsets
Khao Lak faces west, the sunsets are dramatic and tangerine coloured. It is one of Thailand's wettest regions and low season afternoon thunderstorms give way to magnificent misty, purple sunsets. There is nothing as romantic as eating fresh seafood by candlelight with your toes in the sand listening to a tropical storm with the rain fading to dusky purple-pink sunsets that casts a quixotic glow upon the evening.
Besides its beach Khao Lak has other attractions; Laem Pakarang or the Coral Cape is a pine tree draped beach. Through the ages the Andaman currents have deposited mountains of white coral along this shore, the beach has a long shallow ledge that is ideal for safe bathing.
Khao Lak itself forms part of the Khao Lak-Lamroo National Park the jungle that covers the park is a remnant of a 160 million-year-old forest. With a vast number of animal and bird species a number of local tour operators will tailor make a trip.
Discover Khao Lak
At Khao Lak Land Discovery the staff speak fluent English and have extensive local knowledge and experience. Take a two-day visit to the national park where you can try a number of activities. The most exciting perhaps is trekking through the forest on the back of Dia an 18-year-old elephant who will stop to munch on leaves and twigs whenever she feels the need and demolishes young trees when she could not be bothered to walk around them.
Or relax on a ride on a bamboo raft down a clear stream watch as the brilliant blue butterflies and bright iridescent crimson dragonflies frolic at the waters edge. And marvel at the silvery spider-webs laced through the bamboos dipping to the water.
Father and Son Bungalows
The Nom Family Bungalows a stone’s throw from the beach, they are simple and comfortable and at 700 baht ($10 US) a night very cheap. The Bungalows also have a restaurant that sells authentic southern Thai food at the unprepossessing Nom Family Restaurant at a fraction of a hotel restaurant prices.
English and German is spoken.
There are many more beach side bungalows and more upscale hotels too, but Khao Lak remains a quiet and peaceful alternative to bustling Phuket.
Contact:
email: info@father-sonsiam.com
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