Getting
Khao Lak
By
Air
From Bangkok, the easiest option for travel to Khao Lak
is by air to either of Phuket or Krabi International
Airports, then continue the trip overland (see below).
Daily flights from Bangkok to Krabi and Bangkok to
Phuket (and return) are conducted by Thai Airways in
both high and low seasons.
Flight schedules can be found on the Thai Airways web
page or by Tel: (02) 232 8000 (Bangkok office).
By Road
From Bangkok, travel via Highway 4 down through Prachuap
Khirikhan, Chumphon, Ranong to Phang-Nga province. Khao Lak lies 30 kms past the town of Takua Pa on the main
highway. Travel time from Bangkok is about 12 hours.
Daily bus services running from Bangkok to Phang-Nga
leave from the southern bus terminal in Thonburi, and
there are many private services available from almost
any travel agent and hotel tour desk in the city.
From Phuket, take route 402, over the bridge to
Phang-Nga province. Turn onto Highway 4 and head towards
Thai Muang and Thap Lamu – Khao Lak lies just beyond at
La On Village.Travel time is about 90 minutes. Bus
services from Phuket to Phang-Nga town are also
available hourly from the Phuket bus terminal. The trip
takes about 2 hours. From Phang-Nga Town catch a local
bus to Takua Pa and asked to be set down at Khao Lak, or
Ban La-on.
From Krabi , take Route 4 up to Phang-Nga, through
the town and continue on Route 4 through Takua Thung,
Thai Muang, up to Khao Lak. The trip can take up to 2
hours depending on weather and road conditions. If going
by bus from Krabi, take one heading towards Phuket, and
change at Kochloi to a bus heading for Takua Pa and
Ranong. Ask to be dropped at Khao Lak or Ban La-on.
Get
Around
There are two basic categories of transportation in Khao Lak: those that you steer, and those that someone else
steers.
In the first
category are cars, motorbikes, and bicycles. Rental cars
are available at the airports; sticking with a known
international company is suggested. Many hotels can
arrange for motorbike rentals, and some also have
mountain bikes available for those that prefer peddle
power.
Choosing to
let someone else do the driving is also popular. Resorts
away from the action will have shuttles running at
designated times – usually for a nominal fee. Local taxi
trucks are also an option. If you take the hotel’s bus
to town, this is often the most convenient way to return
– though you might have to negotiate front door service
for out of the way destinations.
Trips out to small islands off the main land are easily
made by longtail boat - arranged through agents at any
of the hotels and guesthouses in the area.
For ventures
futher afield, local bus services will take you to any
district you want to go. The most convenient method of
travel around however is by songtaew or taxi truck,
easily hired from any town by the trip or for the entire
day. Jeep and motorbike rentals are also widely
available.
|
Phuket Airport
(taxi) |
1/2-2 hours.
|
Phuket Town
(bus) |
2-2 1/2 hours. |
Takua Pa (bus) |
30-50 mins
|
Khao Sok (bus) |
2 hours.
|
Surat Thani
Airport (taxi) |
3 hours.
|
Ko Samui (bus,boat) |
4+1+1 1/2
hours. |
Phang nga
(bus) |
1+1 h.
|
Krabi (bus)
|
1+3 h.
|
Ko Lanta (bus,boat) |
4+2 h.
|
Ranong (bus)
|
4 h.
|
Chumphon (bus)
|
6 h.
|
Bangkok (787
km,bus) |
1+11 h.
|
Thap
Lamu-Similan (boat) |
3-5 h.
|
Khuraburi-Surin Islands (boat) |
4 h.
|
Destinations (from Khao Lak, in
Kilometres)
|
|
KM |
Chong Fah
Waterfall(in N.p.) |
8 |
Laem Pakarang
(Coral Cape) |
13 |
Bang Sak Beach |
16 |
Nam Kaem (Ko
Kho-Ferry) |
26 |
Takua Pa (Yanyao) |
30 |
Talad Takua Pa
(Pakwib Road) |
28 |
Khao Sok
National Park (N.P.) |
73 |
Rajjaprabha
Dam (N.P.) |
124 |
Surat Thani
(H401) |
187 |
Sri Phang Nga
(N.P.) |
55 |
Ao Koei Beach |
98 |
Bang Baen (Laem
Son N.P.) |
165 |
Ranong (H4)
|
198 |
|
Lamru
Waterfall (N.P.) |
54 |
Hin Lad
Waterfall (N.P.) |
58 |
Sang Thong
Waterfall |
56 |
Sa Nang Manora
Park |
64 |
Phang Nga
|
64 |
Phang Nga Bay
(Boats) |
72 |
Ao Luk (Than
Boke Khorani N.P.) |
92 |
Krabi |
132 |
|
Thap Lamu (for
Similan Island) |
14 |
Lam Pi
Waterfall (N.P.) |
28 |
Hat Chai Thale
Thai (N.P.) |
40 |
Khok Kloi (Bus
Station) |
51 |
Phang Nga Bay
(Boats) |
88 |
Phang Nga
|
87 |
Krabi |
171 |
Phuket Airport
|
72 |
Phuket Town
|
106 |
07.25 hrs TG226 10.00 hrs
TG202 16.15 hrs TG214 (not Sunday)
18.25 hrs TG218
20.50 hrs TG224 21.35 hrs
TG228
and 14.40 hrs TG609 (Wed, Fri,
Sun) 15.00 hrs TG986 (Thurs,
Fri, Sat)
If one considers the
connections to Phuket, via Bangkok, to be limited and
cumbersome, then an alternative approach might be via
Singapore. Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore airlines)
operates three flights per day from Singapore to Phuket.
There are also budget carriers from Singapore to Phuket.
Using this route will ensure that Passport control takes
place in Phuket, and that your luggage is also delivered
to Phuket.