![\"Khao](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/khao-sok-bramvandesande-2-800x450-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Think of the Andaman coast and most people will mention\u00a0Krabi,\u00a0Phuket, maybe\u00a0even\u00a0Koh\u00a0Phi, but few would think of\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u00a0in the\u00a0Phang\u00a0Nga\u00a0province.<\/p>\n
As the worst affected part of Thailand from the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 in terms of devastation and casualties, this beautiful stretch of coastline was also the slowest to recover in terms of tourist visitors. However, 10 years on, it\u2019s now on the rise again and is becoming increasingly popular with visitors who are heading north to the mainland to escape the crowds and the overdevelopment in parts of\u00a0Phuket.<\/p>\n
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Just a short 30-minute drive north from\u00a0Phuket,\u00a0across\u00a0Sarasin\u00a0Bridge, you\u2019ll find perhaps the most striking example of the region\u2019s recovery. Situated on a quiet stretch of sand down a twisting country lane, the spectacular Iniala<\/a>\u00a0is an indirect result of the 2004 tragedy.<\/p>\n Owner Mark Weingard was actually on Natai Beach when the tsunami hit. Almost a decade on, he returned to open this luxurious complex that\u2019s home to three three-bedroom villas (and a frankly raunchy) penthouse, not to mention Azurmendi restaurant, the creation of Michelin-starred Spanish chef, Eneko Atxa.<\/p>\n No expense was spared in the construction of the project and no less than 10 leading international designers, including Thailand\u2019s Eggarat Wongcharit and Brazil\u2019s Campana brothers, were involved in designing each of the truly unique rooms.<\/p>\n Further proof of the resort\u2019s star quality and hefty price tag is the fact that the\u00a0Kardashians\u00a0paid a visit shortly after it opened in 2014. Still,\u00a0Weingard\u00a0hasn\u2019t forgotten his lucky escape and 10 per cent of room revenues and 5 per cent of other revenues go directly to charities in the region.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you really want to get away from the bustle of\u00a0Phuket,\u00a0then travel north along the leafy Highway 4 for a couple more hours to reach\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak-Lam Ru National Park, which also marks the start of\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u00a0proper.<\/p>\n Characterised by sweeping bays of golden sand that are blissfully\u00a0uncluttered\u00a0by\u00a0sunbeds\u00a0and jet skis, it\u2019s home to numerous four- and five-star family-focused resorts, such as the\u00a0Ramada\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak Resort<\/a>, the\u00a0JW Marriott<\/a>\u00a0and the recently rebranded\u00a0Pullman\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak<\/a>.<\/p>\n For something completely different, check out the design-oriented\u00a0Casa<\/a>. Designed by leading Thai architecture firm VaSLab and a member of the global Design Hotels group, it features 36 very contemporary, striking and monolithic-looking concrete-clad villas and suites. Its Ingfahlounge bar just over the road is also a pretty intriguing spot for a drink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All the hotels in the region are ably supported by the\u00a0usual selection of souvenir shops, restaurants and tailors that stretch along, and off, Highway 4, which cuts through the area. There is also a fairly regular night market held at nearby Bang\u00a0Niang.<\/p>\n While you can enjoy\u00a0the usual water sports, such as kayaking and sailing, Khao Lak has the added option of being a place where you can indulge in some surfing. It\u2019s particularly good between March and November when you can expect consistent one to three-metre waves, making it a good spot for beginners.<\/p>\n In terms of things to do away from the beach, there\u2019s a real focus on exploration and adventure in the area, whether it\u2019s splashing around in the cool pools of Chong Fah waterfall or canoeing through the local mangrove swamp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A chance for quiet reflection on the Boxing Day tsunami can be found at the numerous memorials to the 3950 people who lost their lives.<\/p>\n Located along the main road at Bang\u00a0Niang,\u00a0you\u2019ll find the\u00a0International Tsunami Museum<\/a>, a sobering destination which lays bare the truly destructive nature of the natural disaster. Just opposite, you can\u2019t miss the grey Police Boat 813, which was swept almost 2km inland by the wave and now remains permanently beached in a patch of farmland and has become\u00a0a memorial garden.<\/p>\n About 20 minutes further up the coast, you can also visit the Ban Nam\u00a0Khem\u00a0<\/strong>Tsunami Memorial Park\u00a0overlooking\u00a0Koh\u00a0Kho\u00a0Khao\u00a0island (turn off Highway 4 at the 82km marker). Set on a quiet headland, a memorial sculpture in the shape of a giant wave topped with a squid trawler and a giant golden Buddha looking out over the waves makes it a poignant, yet tranquil place to reflect on the events of 10 years ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the local area of\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u00a0is rich in flora and fauna, one expedition that really shouldn\u2019t be missed is a trip up to\u00a0Khao\u00a0Sok\u00a0National Park.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good two hour drive from the main beach resorts of\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak,\u00a0but the journey to get there through the undulating mountain passes is impressive enough to make it worthwhile. The sprawling park is the largest wilderness area in Thailand and its tumbling waterfalls, ancient\u00a0rainforests\u00a0and abundant caves make it one of the most spectacular spots in Thailand (which is really saying something).<\/p>\n The main focus for visitors is the dramatic scenery offered up by the\u00a0man-made\u00a0reservoir of\u00a0Cheow\u00a0Larn. The most popular option for day trippers is to take a boat ride around the lake from\u00a0Ratchaprapa\u00a0Dam, though the more adventurous can also try their hand at kayaking, caving or trekking.<\/p>\n If you have more time, you can stay on the lake in the various floating cottages or opt for one of the numerous guesthouses just outside the park gates \u2013 try\u00a0Khao\u00a0Sok<\/a>. Most hotels in\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u00a0will offer day trips to the park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another benefit of\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u2019s\u00a0location is its proximity to the aquatic delights of some of Thailand\u2019s best diving and\u00a0snorkelling\u00a0sites.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Similan<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Surin<\/a>\u00a0chains are both national parks and offer up an amazing combination of crystal clear waters, vibrant coral and abundant aquatic life \u2013 manta rays, turtles, sharks and barracudas are all commonly sighted. Richelieu Rock (a regular in top 10 lists of the world\u2019s best dive sites) is about 18km south of\u00a0Surin\u00a0Island and is particularly famous for being a place to spot whale sharks (best sighted between February and April).<\/p>\n Surin\u00a0Nua\u00a0is also home to one of the last remaining communities of\u00a0Moken<\/strong>\u00a0(sea gypsies). \u00a0Due to\u00a0Khao\u00a0Lak\u2019s\u00a0more northerly location, both are fortunately easier to reach than from\u00a0Phuket: it takes about two hours by boat to get to Surin from\u00a0Khuraburi\u00a0Port<\/strong> and the\u00a0Similan islands are approximately 1.5 hours from\u00a0Taplamu\u00a0Pier.<\/p>\n You can choose to do a day tour, spend a few days on a liveaboard or stay overnight in the basic national park-run bungalows or tents. Take note, entrance fees for Similan\u00a0National Park are B500 for adults and B400 for\u00a0Surin. Both are closed for around six months of the year during the monsoon season between May and November.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feature Image: CC by 3.0 \/ Bram van de Sande<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Iniala](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/iniala-beach-house-800x533-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBeach Bases in Khao Lak<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Pullman](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pullman-khaolak-lagoon-800x533-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Casa](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/casadelaflora-khaolak-pool-800x400-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nShopping in Khao Lak<\/h2>\n
![\"Chong](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/chong-fah-waterfall-800x536-2.jpg\")
\u00a0Chong Fah waterfalls \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0PercyGermany<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nIn Remembrance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Khao Lak Park Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"khao-sak-national-park\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/khao-sak-national-park-800x533-2.jpg\")
Khao Sok National Park \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Bram van de Sande<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nIsland Escapes in Khao Lak<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"similan](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/similan-800x600-2.jpg\")
Similan \/ CC by 3.0 \/\u00a0Fred von Lohmann<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n![\"similan-lakshmi\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/similan-lakshmi-800x600-2.jpg\")
CC by 3.0 \/ Lakshmi Sawitri<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n