Khao Lak Tourist Attractions

From world-class diving and snorkelling to bathing in the waterfall pool to visiting the tsunami museum, all the activities around Khao Lak are water-related to some extent.

Lamru Khao Lak National Park

This small national park covers the mountainous area immediately east of the coastline. The main park entrance with the headquarters is located between Nang Thong and Khao Lak beaches.

Two nature trails starting from the HQ and heading to a beautiful waterfall are ideal for some exercise when you get bored of sun, sand and water. But when you are in Khao Lak a nice beach is always somewhere near, and even inside the park there is a tiny white sand beach near the HQ.

The park is open every day from 8.30am till 4.30pm and the entrance fee is THB200 (THB100 for kids).

Tsunami Museum

Located on the main road in Ban Niang, the museum commemorates the victims of one the biggest natural catastrophes in human history. Khao Lak is the part of Thailand that was hit by the tsunami in 2004 worst, with 80 per cent of the 4000 casualties happened here.

The museum itself doesn’t offer a lot to see, and it’s quite easy to understand since nothing was left on the shore after that tragic day. Pictures and videos will give you an idea of how Khao Lak life changed in a matter of minutes. The entrance fee is THB100 and the museum is open every day from 9.00am till 7.00pm.

Diving and snorkelling

With the Similans and Surin islands just off the shore, Khao Lak is considered a world class destination for diving and snorkelling. As you soon as you arrive there you’ll realize that these two activities attract the lion share of travellers coming here. Diving shops offering courses, daytrips, multiday trips to various diving spots are everywhere, with the biggest concentration around Nang Thong beach. Competition is strong but prices are still a bit higher than on Koh Tao, which remains the diving mecca of Thailand and the cheapest place to get a PADI certificate at any level.

A lot of the corals around Khao Lak weathered the power of the tsunami and even if the effects of it are still clearly visible today, the damage is not as huge as one could have imagined. Turtles are common in the area, especially around the Similans, where the access to many of the islands is prohibited in order to protect their nests.

A snorkelling day tour to the Similans is the most popular activity – and for a good reason. The Similans are by far the most stunning islands in the whole Southeast Asia and we would strongly recommend you joining one of these tours. Shop around and choose what better suits your expectations. Prices vary within THB2000-THB4000 range and there’s a possibility to stop on one of the islands for the night, either in a campsite or in a simple bungalow. An on-site restaurant will offer a limited choice of Thai dishes for dinner.

There’s no way to reach the Similans independently so a group tour or a private boat (which will be of course more expensive) is the only options.

Lampi Waterfall

Lampi Waterfall is a great destination for a day trip and can be combined with a visit to the southern beach of Thai Muang. A popular picnic spot for the Thais, it is for some reason always overlooked by western tourists.

A beautiful three-tier waterfall with the final drop plunging into a large pool ideal for bathing and swimming, it is also easily reachable via a short walk from the car park.

The waterfall is located just before you reach Thai Muang village, so we would suggest you coming there in the morning to avoid the crowd. After you’ve done with the falls, head to one of the beach seafood restaurants on Thai Muang beach before you finally land on the sand waiting for a spectacular sunset.

The aterfall is open from 8.00am till 4.30pm, the entrance fee is THB100.