Hotels Guide Thailand
Where to stay in Phang Nga – Khao Lak, Ko Yao and Phang Nga Bay
Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
Southern Thailand

Where to stay in Phang Nga – Khao Lak, Ko Yao and Phang Nga Bay

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Khao Lak, Natai, Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao Yai and Phang Nga town compared. A guide to the quieter Andaman province next to Phuket.

Phang Nga sits just north of Phuket and shares its airport, but feels much quieter. It covers Phang Nga Bay, with its dramatic limestone islands, the long beaches of Khao Lak, and the departure points for the Similan and Surin Islands, two of Thailand’s best-known diving areas.

Choosing an area

  • Khao Lak is a string of beaches about an hour or more north of Phuket airport. It suits families and couples looking for resorts on long, uncrowded sands, and divers heading to the Similans.
  • Natai and Khok Kloi, close to the Sarasin Bridge, have a handful of luxury beach resorts within easy reach of Phuket airport.
  • Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai are rural islands in Phang Nga Bay, reached by boat from Phuket or Krabi. They have rubber plantations, fishing villages and some beautiful small resorts.
  • Phang Nga town is the provincial capital, set among limestone cliffs. It is a practical base for exploring the bay and the caves by boat or kayak.

When to go

Like the rest of the Andaman coast, the best months are November to April. The Similan and Surin Islands National Parks close to visitors every year during the monsoon, usually from mid-May to mid-October. Many Khao Lak resorts stay open in the low season, with lower rates and rougher seas.

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Phuket International Airport and transfer by road. Phang Nga Bay tours depart from piers in Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi, and the Similan Islands boats leave from Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak.

Things to do

The best-known sights are Ko Tapu (often called James Bond Island) and the sea caves of Ao Phang Nga National Park, the Muslim stilt village of Ko Panyee, Sri Phang Nga and Khao Lak–Lam Ru national parks, and the Tsunami memorials around Ban Nam Khem and Khao Lak.

Where to stay

  • Khao Lak

    Long, quiet beaches north of Phuket and the gateway to the Similan Islands. Khao Lak's beaches compared, plus seasons and transfers.