Khao Lak is one of southern Thailand’s premier natural recreation areas; with more activities on offer than most visitors will have time to fit into their trip. The lovely Andaman Sea may be the obvious starting point for most sights, with plenty of picture-perfect beaches, snorkelling and diving sites. But don’t overlook the slew of national parks that are within easy striking distance of Khao Lak. These parks offer a rare chance to explore what remains of Thailand’s virgin tropical rainforests, replete with exotic animals, gorgeous natural scenery and the fantastic limestone formations unique to this region. For any kind of urban experience, you’ll need to head 90 minutes south to Phuket Town or north to the old tin mining town of Takuapa. But most visitors quickly fall into the languid pace of life in Khao Lak, enjoying the beautiful beaches and trying to decide what next to order off the menu.

Boonsong Wreck
This tin mining boat is an interesting underwater dive just off the coast of Khao Lak. It sank in a storm in the 1980s and has since evolved into a fully inhabited coral reef habitat. Also nearby is another tin mining wreck called the Premchai. Much newer than the Boonsong, this boat is still very intact, allowing a better diving experience if the wreck is your main interest. The two can be combined for a nice half day excursion.

Khao Lak-Lamru National Park
Lamru is the closest national park to Khao Lak and offers the easiest way to get a taste of the native tropical jungle environment that dominates this part of southern Thailand. Just south of town, Lamru is a combination of undeveloped beaches, tropical evergreen forest, granite mountains and limestone cliffs. There are plenty of hiking trails leading to stellar viewpoints, secluded beaches and waterfalls.

Khao Sok National Park
One of Thailand’s most impressive national parks is just around the corner from Khao Lak. Actually one of five contiguous protected areas, the total conservation area covers more than 4,000 square kilometres, making it the largest preserve in the entire Thai-Malaysian peninsula. Khao Sok is packed with stunning natural attractions in the form of dense virgin rainforest, lakes, streams and as much wildlife as you’re likely to see anywhere in the country. At the centre of it all is the massive Chiaw Lan Lake, which has magnificent limestone karsts rising from the waters to heights of 960m. Some 45 species of mammals and 180 species of birds live here and the excellent network of trails enable visitors to get as deep into this natural world as they want.

Lamru Waterfall
Khao Lak’s most impressive waterfall can be found in the Khao Lak-Lamru National Park, about 30kms from town. The falls are made up of five medium-height cascading levels which flow all year round. At the bottom is a nice pool for swimming, and the surrounding birdlife and towering tropical trees create a wonderful setting for an afternoon away from the beach.

Pakarang Beach
If you need to get away from the resort atmosphere of Khao Lak Beach, you can rent a motorbike and cruise north along the coastal road for about 20 minutes to the quiet and serene Pakarang Beach. Before the 2004 tsunami, one end of this beach was called Coral Cape, but the tragic event literally erased the entire cape from the map. Fortunately, the beach is still here and is actually larger as a result of the tsunami. If you are in search of isolation and long contemplative walks, you will need to look no further.

The Similan Islands
Khao Lak is the starting point for boat trips to the incredible Similan Islands, located 40kms offshore in the middle of the Andaman Sea. These nine pleasantly deserted islets are one of Thailand’s National Marine Parks, meaning there aren’t any private bungalows, restaurants, tourists or garbage. In fact, there’s hardly any sign of human existence at all except for a park ranger station on one of the islands. Even if you don’t want to indulge in the world-class scuba diving here, the haphazardly boulder-strewn beaches coated in powdery white sand and tiny emerald coves are well worth the journey.

The Surin Islands
A few kilometres north of the Similans lie Thailand’s other idyllic little group of islands, called the Surins. These five islands are also a protected National Marine Park and are just as surreal as the Similans. Apart from the incredible diving and snorkelling sites, the interior of the islands are perfect for hiking, especially among the tropical evergreen forests of Ko Surin. Ko Surin Tai is the home of one of the few remaining clans of Sea Gypsies who still live in their traditional way, offering a bit of exotic culture to go with your deserted island paradise.

Wat Suwan Khuha (the Temple Cave)
One of the most interesting Buddhist temples in Thailand is about 12kms west of Phang Nga, a town about 40 minutes inland from Khao Lak. Situated inside a large natural cavern eroded from the surrounding limestone cliffs, Wat Tham (as it’s locally known) consists of a series of interconnected caves which can easily be explored. The highlight is a 15 metre-long Reclining Buddha located in the largest of the caverns, the walls of which are covered in classic Thai religious art. The other smaller caves also have Buddhist imagery painted on the walls, and each has its own unique character.

Dive at Richelieu Rock. This amazing dive site is regularly on the short list of the world’s best. Located 18kms east of the Surins, this is the highlight of every diver’s trip to Khao Lak. The headwall is thick with pink and purple coral and supports a staggering array of marine life. The gentle and rare whale shark is frequently spotted here, as well as manta rays, sea turtles and sea horses.

Explore the Mangrove Estuaries. Much of the coastline around Khao Lak is filled with Mangrove forests, strange twisted trees whose exposed roots survive in and above the salt water. These root systems provide an essential feeding and breeding ground for myriad sea creatures and are fascinating to explore. Long tail boats can take visitors deep into this unique environment, where crab-eating macaque monkeys hang out in the trees. Thai Muang National Park and Khao Lak-Lamru are the best sites to experience this. Most resorts can arrange the excursion.

Go native and ride an elephant. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can ride an elephant through the jungle, but fortunately, Khao Lak is one of them. The Wildlife Conservation Centre at nearby Ton Patiwat is the best place to start. The surrounding tropical forest, with its small streams and ample wildlife is a great place to explore on the back of an elephant. Khao Sok National Park is another popular site for getting to know a pachyderm, but occasionally you’ll even see elephants along the beaches at Khao Lak during the high season.

Visit Similan and Surin Islands. These two protected groups of islands 40kms offshore of Khao Lak are commonly agreed to be the most beautiful clusters of islands in the country. If you are a scuba diver, then this must be at the top of your ‘to do’ list while in Khao Lak. The dozens of dive sites here are among the best on the planet, and even snorkellers can get into the act at the Surins, whose reefs are just below the water’s surface. If nothing else, just come out for the day to experience a deserted island at its finest. The hiking on the Surins is excellent and the beaches are simply stunning. The best time to go is between November and April and daytrips can be arranged at every resort in Khao Lak.

Watch the turtles on Thai Muang Beach. This protected beach is best known for its efforts in conserving the endangered Leatherback and Olive Ridley sea turtles. The female turtles come ashore during moonlit nights between November and April to lay their eggs in the sand. Park rangers patrol the beach to keep the inevitable poachers away, but visitors are more than welcome to join them and watch this amazing event. The park is also famous for its release of the baby turtles each March in a well-publicised event designed to raise public awareness for the sea turtle’s plight.