Categories > Guides and Tips
11 Best Beaches to Explore in Khao Lak
Should the best beaches of Phuket still leave you wanting more, adding Khao Lak to your travel bucket list is wise. There, the long lovely stretches of sand and gleaming ocean waters are bound to leave you breathless like never before.
Now, all you need is to pick which beach in this 25-kilometer-long white sand deserves your attention first. Keep reading as we show you what the top beaches of Khao Lak have in store for everyone exploring the Land of Smiles.
Small Sandy Beach (Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park)
Media credit: peachanan
Address: Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Contact Number: +66 76 485 243
Admission Costs: 100 baht
Website: https://www.thainationalparks.com/khao-lak-lam-ru-national-park
The Small Sandy Beach in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park is a great spot if you’re looking for a tranquil and unspoiled hideaway. This unique beach is a mishmash of fine golden sands, turquoise waters, numerous rock formations, and verdant jungle trees.
It’s a hidden gem within a nature preserve, so don’t expect to see any facilities besides some basic showers, toilets, and a small kiosk that sells drinks and snacks. Plus, reaching this beach isn’t easy since it requires a little bit of trekking to get here.
There are two ways to reach Small Sandy Beach:
Media credit: hana_aries_
Method 1 (Main Entrance)
The main entrance of Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park is the most common way to go to Small Sandy Beach, but it’s also the longest. You know you’re here if you see a temple across the street with many tiger and rooster statues.
The route to Small Sandy Beach is through the Hat Lek Nature Trail which starts near the park’s Sawatdikan Khaoluk Restaurant. This jungle path has ten checkpoints that serve as trail markers, so it’s hard to get lost on your way to the beach.
Method 2 (Short Trail)
If you’re traveling from the south, there’s a shorter route to the beach without going to the park’s main entrance. Look for a brown wooden sign on your left-hand side that says “Small Sandy Beach” along PhetKasem Road’s winding hill.
You’ll find a small parking area here and a ticket booth for Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park.
This jungle path is shorter and straightforward, but it should still take you up to 10 minutes to reach Small Sandy Beach so be sure to carry a bottle of water with you.
Poseidon Beach
Media credit: scrambler1974
Address: Lam Kaen, Thai Mueang District, Phang-nga 82210, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
If you prefer a quiet place with all the basic amenities you’ll ever need, this Khao Lak beach is a solid option. Poseidon Beach has two beachfront restaurants which means you’re already covered for showers, toilets, sun loungers, parasols, and WiFi.
Beachside massages are also available in these restaurants which is a nice option if you want to relax your weary bones. Plus, the beach has fine white sands with small rocks and seashells that make it perfect for families who enjoy walks with their kids.
There are also big rocks along the coastline which you can use as backdrops for stunning Instagram photos, especially during the sunset. If you have snorkeling gear, Poseidon Beach is a good snorkeling spot since fish make these rocks their home.
Coconut Beach
Media credit: fynholt
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
Coconut Beach is one of the more beautiful beaches in Khao Lak thanks to its white sands, crystalline waters, and slender palm trees. It’s the quintessential tropical beach paradise that makes you wonder if it came out of a postcard.
If you love swimming, you’ll appreciate Coconut Beach more since the Parakang Cape on the west protects it from strong waves and currents. That makes it the ideal beach for families who want to enjoy a safe swimming session with their kids.
Since this beach is already a popular destination, expect to see plenty of tourists, Thai massage shops, restaurants, and hotels during your visit. You can find the entrance to Coconut Beach on the left of Kantary Beach Hotel Khao Lak.
Khuk Khak Beach
Media credit: mikko.manninen
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
This underrated hideaway is one of the more peaceful beaches in Khao Lak since it doesn’t attract as many crowds as its neighbors. It’s also a long and massive beach which makes it ideal for peaceful afternoon beach walks, jogs, and drinking sessions.
Khuk Khak Beach doesn’t have rock formations, so you can enjoy sunbathing in its fine golden sands. It’s best to do this on the beach’s southern and northern portions since they’re the most peaceful with only a few small bars and even fewer tourists to see.
Otherwise, the beach’s middle section is the top pick if you want access to more bars and resorts. It’s also an excellent surfing spot since its sandbank offers consistent wave breaks during the surf season in Khao Lak which runs from April to November.
Pak Weep Beach
Media credit: sognissima
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
Going to Pak Weep Beach gives you the perfect opportunity to have a relaxing beachside picnic with friends and family. Though this beach has some bars and restaurants, there are plenty of free chairs and tables so it’s okay to just bring food.
Since it’s not as popular as the nearby White Sand Beach, you’ll love its peaceful and mellow atmosphere. But, even Pak Weep Beach has hotels, restaurants, and massage shops, so it’s not like you can’t enjoy fun activities while you’re here.
In fact, the rocks that emerge during the low tide are excellent fishing spots. During this time, you can also enjoy a lovely walk along the coastline of this Khao Lak beach because there are plenty of seashells and hermit crabs to see.
Bang Sak Beach
Media credit: stereotypin
Address: Bang Muang, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
This one is among the most distinct beaches in Khao Lak, but not for obvious reasons like location or beach condition. Bang Sak Beach is unique because it can be the most peaceful hideaway on most days or become the hottest party place on some days.
There are trees along the beach with plenty of shady spots that make it good for beach picnics. You can also use the benches and tables at the nearby tree park if you want a panoramic view of the beach with lines of pine trees to protect you from the sun.
Though it’s usually quiet, the success of the Bang Sak Beach Festivals in the past two years made it among the places to watch out for in Khao Lak. These happened during March of 2022 and June of 2023, but it’s still unclear when it may happen this year.
White Sand Beach
Media credit: sarivep
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
If a pristine white sandy beach is your idea of a perfect summer getaway, there’s the White Sand Beach in Khao Lak. This popular venue is full of seaside bars, massage shops, and restaurants which are lined up along thickets of cassowary plum trees.
Aside from these facilities, it’s a great place for animal spotting thanks to its part-jungle location. You’ll see common mynas, tailorbirds, sunbirds, Pacific swallows, striped squirrels, and hermit crabs near the shops and trees along the beach.
You can even book tour guides from the bars and restaurants in White Sand Beach. This way, you can explore the jungle area opposite the beach and observe the local fauna and flora more effectively.
Pakarang Beach
Media credit: teerin_dansuwan
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
If you love surfing or want to try it for the first time, this beach in Khao Lak is the place to be. Pakarang Beach is known as Memories Beach to the local surfing community and tourists visiting to catch its waves.
It’s home to the two famous surf schools Better Surf Thailand and Pakarang Surf School which makes it perfect for surfing newbies. The reef breaks from the beach to Pakarang Cape provide consistent surfing waves that you can enjoy regardless of the tide.
Expect rocks and corals in the water, so you must be extra careful when swimming or surfing.
Its shoreline also has numerous dead corals, but some parts are purely white sands so choose an ideal location if you want to go for a walk or jog in Pakarang Beach.
Bang Niang Beach
Media credit: christophergross91
Address: Tambon, Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
Bang Niang Beach has everything you want from a tropical paradise: fine white sands, warm crystalline waters, private villas, lively bars, and beachfront restaurants. That makes the perfect choice if you want to try various beach activities.
Our team’s thalassophiles particularly love swimming in Bang Niang Beach. During the peak season, its warm and calm waters are ideal for swimmers of every skill level, so it’s forgiving for families who have small kids with them.
Of all the beaches in Khao Lak, Bang Niang is also iconic for its night market. Though Bang Niang Market operates during the day, it turns into a lively place at night, and it’s definitely worth visiting whenever you’re here for vacation.
Nang Thong Beach
Media from daretosurf_khaolak
Address: 91 Phetkasem Road Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
If you love surfing and picturesque beach sceneries, Nang Thong Beach has you covered in both regards. It has an exposed beach break, so expect a consistent surf experience with a mix of wind swells and ground swells that are good for all levels.
During peak months, it produces gentler swells so it’s best for surfing beginners and groms. If you couldn’t care less about surfing, an attractive sight in Nang Thong Beach that you’ll love is the small lighthouse that’s accessible during the low tide.
It’s a lovely attraction that’s great for romantic beach walks with your boo. If you visit during the sunset, you can even snag stunning Instagram-worthy photos with the lighthouse as your backdrop.
Sunset Beach
Media credit: jhpunkt4056
Address: Khuekkhak, Takua Pa District, Phang-nga 82220, Thailand
Operating Hours: 24/7
Admission Costs: Free
This sheltered beach is a great place if you want to avoid the huge crowds at the popular beaches in Khao Lak. Sunset Beach’s clear and warm waters are perfect for swimming, and it has enough shallow areas so it’s safe to have kids with you here.
The biggest attraction on this beach is the giant rock sticking out of its golden sandy shoreline. That’s why Sunset Beach attracts a mixed crowd consisting of pilgrims visiting the rock and tourists who enjoy its tranquil atmosphere.
Legend says that circling this peculiar rock three times will increase your vitality and grant your wish. Well, there should only be one way to find out if it’s true!
