Khao Lak Beach is a 1,100-metre long strip of sand located between Tap Lamu Pier and La On Village. Bordered by a row of pine trees providing beach-goers with a welcoming shade, Khao Lak Beach and its immediate hinterland feature an ever growing lively scene of restaurants, bars, and convenience stores that makes this destination self-sufficient. The area hosts a handful of accommodation choices from budget to luxurious, divided between the beachfront and along Phetkasem Road.

Who is it For:

• Families
• People looking for a tranquil destination

What’s Good:

• The length of the beach makes it never crowded
• Good snorkelling at both ends of the beach

What’s Not So Good:

• Very few attractions or things to see and do, except for the beach
• Sea is rough from May to November

Nang Thong Beach and La On Village are the two sides of the same coin. As the most developed resort town in the whole of Phang Nga Province, it is the favourite destination to those who like to socialize while on holiday. Nang Thong beachfront hosts a wide range of resorts as well as satellite businesses, while along Phetkasem Road, La On Village is an animated town housing enough dining, shopping, and nightlife entertainment options to please any vacationer. Many dive centres offering day and live-aboard trips to the Similan Islands and other nearby fantastic dive sites can be found in La On Village.

Who is it For:

• Families
• Young travellers
• Scuba divers
• People who want a compromise between 'too busy' and 'too quiet

What’s Good:

• The length of the beach makes it never crowded
• Affordable dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment
• Good range of quality affordable hotels

What’s Not So Good:

• Crossing Phetkasem Road in La On Village is not very convenient and rather risky
• Sea is rough from May to November

Located a mere five-kilometre north of La On Village/Nang Thong Beach, Bang Niang Beach and town presents a similar kind of holiday destination. Bang Niang is the second most developed area in Khao Lak; its beachfront features a good range of accommodation choices that could suit mostly any type of budgets, and the village settled along Phetkasem Road houses an eclectic choice of restaurant and shopping options. The highlight of this destination is its large market which offers a very pleasant place to hang around for shopping and sampling delicious street food snacks.

Who is it For:

• Families
• Young travellers
• Scuba divers
• People who want a compromise between 'too busy' and 'too quiet

What’s Good:

• The length of the beach makes it never crowded
• Affordable dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment
• Good range of quality affordable hotels

What’s Not So Good:

• Crossing Phetkasem Road in La On Village is not very convenient and rather risky
• Sea is rough from May to November

The northern part of Khao Lak starts at Khuk Khak Beach to end at Baan Nam Khem, the last seaside fishing village before Takua Pa Town. This almost 20-kilometre long strand features beaches such as White Sand, Pak Weep, and Bangsak, just to name a few, as well as the famous Pakarang Cape. Barely developed, this long stretch of deserted beaches hosts only high-end and mid-range resorts that offer their guests a ‘get away from it all’ type of holiday. Satellite businesses in this area are scarce, and apart from local markets and a small number of convenience stores set along Phetkasem Road, there’s no other way than to drive 15 minutes to meet civilization.

Who is it For:

• Wealthy travellers
• People who want to get away from it all, in style

What’s Good:

• 20 kilometres of desert beaches interspersed with capes
• Peaceful natural environment
• Resorts in this area have all facilities to keep their guests entertained
• Beautiful waterfalls are located in the immediate hinterland

What’s Not So Good:

• A bit far from everything
• Very few local dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment options
• Sea is rough from May to November

Located between Phuket Island and Khao Lak, Natai and Thai Muang beaches are the two main destinations in the southern part of Phang Nga Province. The former starts just north of Phuket and features a small amount of four- and five-star resorts settled on an approximately 12-kilometre long strip of sand. Apart from a few local villages – the largest one is Kok Kloy – there is no development in this area. The latter, Thai Muang, is directly on the continuity of Natai Beach: there’s no topographical difference between the two. Here again, the shore is deserted, and apart from a few resorts scattered along the stunning 20-kilometre long beach, there’s mostly nothing else than the ‘call of the wild’ feel of the area to attract visitors. The luxurious status of most of the resorts available in this area permits vacationers to get back to the roots in style.

Who is it For:

• Wealthy travellers
• People who want to get away from it all, in style

What’s Good:

• Almost 40 kilometres of desert beaches
• Peaceful natural environment
• Resorts in this area have all facilities to keep their guests entertained
• Beautiful waterfalls and hot springs are located in the vicinity
• Mangrove forest in the area offer good canoeing opportunities

What’s Not So Good:

• A bit far from everything
• Very few local dining, shopping and nightlife entertainment options
• Sea is rough from May to November