Worth while Excursions from Khao Lak:

4 km after Takua Pa the H401 (KM 145,5) branches off to the right in direction Surat Thani (156 km). At first the road leeds along the wide Takua Pa valley and then swings elegantly into the hills. On the other side of the hill pass at Km 107, there is a wonderful country side with overgrown lime stone rocks.

At Km 109.1 a road (2 Km) branches off to the left leading to the National Park Rain Forest, which is 646 M2. Many travelers like to stop here between the coasts for the night, because guest houses here are inexpensive, even romantic, and you have an ever-green monsoon forest on your door step. The park is not flooded with tourists. Only a few thousand guests visit each year. (admission 200 Baht, car 20 Baht)

The nature lover will be spoilt with dense jungle, smaller water falls, and long winding paths leading along beautiful streams. Many animals types can be found in these forests.There are many seldomly seen mammals, like Elephants, a few Tigers, Leopards, Asian Black Bears, Guars and Serows, which can only be found during long day treks, if lucky. More easily found, and also with luck, are Varanids, Gibbons, wild Boar, Flying Squirrels, Squirrels, Otters and Rhinoceros Birds.

With its plate-shaped centre and having six brick-red and white speckled petals and measuring a massive 80 cms in diameter, makes it the largest single blossom on earth. According to the locals, it blossoms at the beginning of the rainy season in June / July. Other sources suggest that it flowers from September to December, yet more say that it can be seen in flower all year round. Anyone searching for these specimens can ask in any of the park offices for advice on its whereabouts, because apparently, they can also be found in several places outside the park

Only few years ago some specimens of the Rafflesia (Rafflesia kerrii major or, 'Buah Poot' in Thai) were found, not that far from the entrance to the park, a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of the liana, a woody species of vine.

After 3 km you come to a village where on the right you will see a workshop where bamboo furniture is made for the many resorts in the area.

After 1.6 km ( 21.2 km ) you turn to the left at the T-junction. On this newly asphalted country road, the 4003, you drive through unspoilt rural areas with practically no traffic, this brings you to Ban Chang Non ( 27.3 km ) and then through a small mountain pass ( 33 km ) up to the H4090 ( 34.9 km ) where you turn left again.

After another 6 km ( 40.9 km ) a new asphalt road with pot holes turns to the right at the road sign "Lumru Waterfall 5 km" . After 4.5 km ( 45.4 km ) the next road sign "Lumru Waterfall 800 m" directs you to the right onto a narrow concrete road to a car park, from here it is a 2 minute walk along the reservoir banks to the unspectacular Lamru Waterfall .

Back on the main road and a further 2.6 km ( 48 km ) you come to a cross roads.

Turn right here on to a concrete road that ends after 3 km at Hin Lad Waterfall which consists of rapids and water basins, where you will find the village children enjoying themselves swimming and playing in the water with inner tubes (15 Baht per person).

Having passed Wat Kapong with a Chedi , you continue to the northern end of the town ( 54.5 km ) where you see the road signs "Park Weep Waterfall 3 km" and "Hot springs 8 km" . You take the road heading north (drawn yellow on my map).

Having taken this road, after 11.4 km, on the right hand side, you pass the junction to the Naresuan Temple (Wat Narai Nikayaram) where some old Indian statues are placed in a new hall.

(1.8 km further you reach the T junction at highway H401 and the Km130 marker. Turning right here leads to Surat Thani and left takes you to Takua Pa.)

From here on, there aren't any signposts directing you to the Hot Springs. From the yellow road, after 4.7 km, keep right to Ban Bang Pang and 400 mts further on, at the school, keep right again on to the new wide road, the 5014, which ends after 4.4 km. 500mts to the right from here you will find the Hot Springs . The hot water can be seen bubbling from the riverbed in various spots where it flows for 100 mts before joining the cold water of the river. There you might go for a paddle in the warm water.

If you continue until you have passed through the village of Kapong ( 54.5 km ), you meet the H4090 again after 1.1km (sooner than it looks on the map!) ( 55.6 km ) and turn right at the road sign "Takua Pa 32 km", "Ranong 163 km" .

After 9.2 km ( 64.8 km ) you turn left on to the H4032 (signposted "Takua Pa 16 km", "Khao Lak 49 km" ).

After 1.6 km through the village of Ban Tamtua, to the right you will see the nice village temple Wat Kuan Niyom , definitely worth a stop, particularly as you also have a nice view across the wide valley.

5.2 km further ( 71.6 km ) the new connecting road to Pakweep turns off.

The Chinese temple (300mts further on the left) is quite interesting.

Behind the bridge you enter the old town Talad Takua Pa which is best explored on foot. The town is full of character with the old arcade houses , built in the Chinese style, still to be seen. Every second or third year in September the town centre gets flooded for a few days to a depth of around a metre. There is a lot of flood damage to be seen on the buildings but this doesn't detract from the overall morbid charm.

We recommend returning to the Pakweep road ( 71.6 km ). Although this is a new road, it may have some treacherous pot holes. Still, this is a minor irritation whilst driving through the beautiful landscape .

We recommend to trace back to the Pakweep Road ( 71.6 km ). Indeed, this is a new road, however, shows many treacherous pot holes. Still it is a regional tidbit running through beautiful landscape .
The road leads past forest and plantations to the west for 23.2 km until arriving at the H4 ( KM 71.8 ). Now there are only 11.8 km before getting back to Khao Lak. A total of 106.6 km

Phang Nga Tour:
(green dots)

H4 - Thung Maphrao ( 18,3 km ) - H4240 - KM 9,3: Sitting Buddha Statue under the big Bo Tree (Ban Nikom) - junction Ban Buk Pui ( 33,3 km ) - H4090 - junction H4 ( 47,4 km ) - H4 - KM 43,9 ( 51,2 km ): turn-off to Sa Nang Manora Forest Park  (4 km) - Phang Nga ( 54,4 km ) - Wat Sawan Khuha - H415 - Thap Put - H4118 - Wat Bang Riang - H4118 - Thap Put - H4 - beautiful mountain road - turn-off H4090 - turn-off H4240 - Thung Maphrao - H4 - Khao Lak

Thai Muang Tour: (red dots)

H4 - Thung Maphrao (18,3 km) - H4240 (1,5 km) - turn right to Ban Klang - pass "Sawasdee Lagoon" campsite - Bo Dan - H4 - Khok Kloi - very beutiful country road - Hot Spring Resort - Hot Springs - rural scenery - Thai Muang - Hat Thai Muang National Park - Thai Muang - H4 - Lam Pi Waterfall - Khao Lak

Golf around Khao Lak

On their homepage there is a description of the 18-hole golf course at Thap Lamu. It is located 10 Km to the south of Khao Lak, the prices are relatively inexpensive. http://asiatours.net/golf/thailand/courses/lak_tublamu_ge.html

The next 18-hole golf course, is 25 Km further south, in Thai Muang

There are two more courses north of Khao Lak, one is near the dam at the reservoir in Khao Sok National Park (1 1/2 hrs away) and another located in Ranong (2 hrs away).
In addition, there are many golf courses in Phuket .

The golf pro in Khao Lak is Olaf from the Khao Lak Guide Co.

Tennis in Khao Lak

On the website http://www.wotif.com/hotels/thailand-khao-lak-tennis-court-hotels.html   6 Resorts in Khao Lak are listed offering tenniscourts for their customers.
Most centrally located at Nang Thong Beach  is the Seaview Resort , which has 2 tennis courts. Non-guests, too, can play there. They just have to become temporary members in the Seaview Sports Club which is not expensive at all.

At Bang Niang Beach the La Flora has a tennis court, at Khuk Khak Beach the Cher Fah , at Pakarang Beach the Takolaburi Cultural Resort & Spa , at Pakweep Beach the Le Meridien
and at Khao Lak South Beach the Merlin Resort .

Transport can be easily arranged with the local songthaew taxis.

Elephant Trekking close to Khao Lak

There are several elephant camps close to Khao Lak offering elephant treks through plantations and jungle. This is especially exciting for children who will find this a memorable adventure. These trips last from between 30 and 60 minutes, which apart from being exhilarating, can be quite tiring, especially for children. The best elephant camp for small children is situated at Bang Sak where the terrain is relatively flat. Longer tours can be arranged.

• Khao Lak - Lam Ru N.P. (5 km, Chong Fah Waterfall, primeval forest)
• Mu Ko Similan Marine N.P. (14 km to the harbour Thap Lamu, islands, coral reefs, world class-diving )
• Khao Lam Pi - Hat Thai Muang N.P. (30 km, Lam Pi Waterfall, mangroves, sea turtles)
• Ao Phang Nga Marine N.P. (65 km to the harbour, world class boat trip to limestone rocks, mangroves, James Bond Island , sea canoe journeys to sea caves)
• Sar Nang Manora Forest Park (55 km, not a N.P., but just as worthwhile, waterfalls, swimming, primeval forest)
• Sri Phang Nga N.P. (55 km, Tam Nang Waterfall, primeval forest)
• Mu Ko Ra - Ko Prathong N.P. (96 km to the harbour, islands, mangroves)
• Mu Ko Surin Marine N.P. (96 km to the harbour, islands, coral, world class-snorkelling )

On the island of Phuket:

• Sirinath Marine N.P. (85 km, sea turtles)
• Khao Phra Taeo Wildlife Park (100 km, primeval forest, Tone Sai Waterfall)

In Krabi Province:

• Than Boke Khorani N.P. (140 km, Limestone rocks, caves and swimming)

In Surat Thani Province:

• Khao Sok N.P. (72 km or 129 km, Rain forest, waterfalls, swimming, tree-houses, reservoir with limestone rock, floating bungalows.)
• Khlong Phanom N.P. (100 km, waterfalls, limestone caves, nature walks, rainforest)

In Ranong Province:

• Laem Son N.P. (157 km, mangroves, beaches, islands)
• Mu Ko Phayam N.P. (180 km, islands, mangroves)
• Namtok Ngao N.P. (190 km, Ngao Waterfall)

On the Website   http://www.dnp.go.th/  the National Parks Authority of Thailand introduces these National Parks and 134 others. Beside the wildlife and geography of the parks, the tourist attractions and accommodation possibilities are also described in words and pictures.

When a more distant Park is to be visited, an overnight stay is recommended. For the most comprehensive information regarding accommodation and National Park Reservations visit: http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/reservation.asp?lg=2 .
However, the method of payment is problematic, because the total booking price must be transferred in advance to a Thai account. For guests of our reservation service, perhaps we can assist, esp. for the Similan and Surin National Parks.
Under   http://www.thaiforestbooking.com/  a new web site that has more than 54 National Parks listed with all booking information. Online reservations can be made for accommodation in the park or surrounding area using Visa card, however, we have had no personal experience with this service.

The Mu Ko Surin National Park is well catered for by the travel agencies in Khao Lak. They make all reservations without fuss.
Happy Lagoon Tours (beside the Nang Thong Supermarket) offers the journey by bus and boat for 1700 Baht return per person and the air-con bungalows can be booked for 2000 Baht per night, tents for 400 Baht per night.
The boat trip to Similan National Park with Happy Lagoon Tours can be booked for 1600 Baht (including collection from the Resort), the air-con bungalows are priced at 2000 Baht per night and without air-con for 1000 Baht.