Top 7 Things to Do in Khao Lak, Thailand – Complete Travel Guide

Top 7 Things to Do in Khao Lak, Thailand – Complete Travel Guide

A quick roundup of the absolute best things to do in Khao Lak, Thailand. From scenic waterfall trails to learning the art of the eight limbs, here's the only guide you need to visit Khao Lak.

Khao Lak is a growing tourist hotspot in southern Thailand. A few hours north of the hustle and bustle of Phi Phi and Patong you'll find epic beaches, authentic southern Thai markets, waterfalls, hikes and pockets of hostels and lively barefoot bars.

I spent a month in Khao Lak training for my first Muay Thai fight in Thailand. In the time between training, I wanted to explore the best things to do and see in the area.

This blog post lists all the main attractions as well as a few hidden gems to discover in the beauty; Khao Lak, Thailand.

The best things to do in Khao Lak

Without further ado, let’s dive into this updated list of the best things to do in Khao Lak!

1. Rent a motorbike and explore

This is a no-brainer. A scooter is the best and cheapest option to explore any part of Thailand. Most beaches and hikes in Khao Lak require transportation. If you want to explore on your own, you can buy a basic “Scoopy” or Honda Click for around 150 baht per day. If you're staying longer, you can get one for around $2000 to $3000 per month, which is about $2 to $3 per day including fuel.

There are several motorcycle sellers in Khao Lak, so take a walk and choose. Just remember that they will offer you a high price at first, take this as an opportunity to practice your bartering! Remember, if you pay much more than above, you will be ripped off.

2. Train Muay Thai in Rawai

Muay Thai, Thai Boxing, The Art of Eight Limbs. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and its popularity has quickly spread around the world. Its rules are very similar to boxing, except that you can use your legs, knees, hands and elbows. Muay Thai is an excellent way to get in shape or experience a real and raw element of Thai culture.

Luckily, Khao Lak is one of the best places in Thailand to do this. Rawai Muay Thai is a world famous gym in the heart of Khao Lak. It is run by real Thai fighters, has several champion trainers and current champion fighters training in the gym. Training Muay Thai in Rawai is a truly authentic Muay Thai experience for beginners and fighters.

A typical day in Rawai consists of a morning run of up to 6km (optional), followed by a 2.5 hour session of pocket rounds, technique, pad rounds, clinching and bodyweight exercises. If you want to burn some of those pad thai and changs, this is the best and quickest way to do it. You will also learn an invaluable skill and experience the raw Nak Muay lifestyle.
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Read more: Find out what it's like to train and fight Muay Thai in Thailand as a foreigner.

3. Go to the beach

Khao Lak is surrounded by a beautiful coastline and pristine white sandy beaches. Take the scooter and go beach hopping for the day (is that a thing?). I have written a detailed blog post for the best beaches in Khao Lak, so save yourself some time and check it out.

My favorite beach in Khao Lak is by far Coconut Beach. It is hidden and requires a bit of a drive through the rice plantations and coconut trees. It's really quiet, with magical white sand and a cool swing for that iconic vacation Instagram photo.
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4. Check out the waterfalls

Khao Lak is also home to some epic waterfalls, just a short scooter ride from the city center. If you visit Khao Lak in the rainy season, you will definitely experience something special, even though the waterfalls flow all year round. Below I've listed the best waterfalls in Khao Lak, as well as a handy map to help you find them.

Tong Cha Fa Waterfall

This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Khao Lak as it is located just 7 km from the main road of Bang Niang. Check out the map below or just follow the road sign next to Zantika nightclub and then take the winding road into the mountain.

This waterfall is located in the national park, so the entrance fee is 100 baht per person. However, this is definitely worth your time and money as you will be rewarded with 5 levels of epic waterfalls, each equipped with a deep pool underneath for swimming. The short windy hikes between the falls are well signposted and beautiful. A must in Khao Lak.
alt=“Ton Chong Fa Waterfall after monsoon”>Stage One – After heavy monsoon rains

READ FULL POST: Ton Chong Fa Waterfall, Khao Lak, Thailand

Sai Rung waterfall

If you are looking for something that is very easy to get to and don't feel like a hike. Sai Rung Waterfall is just 10 km north of Bang Niang. Look for a street sign directly after Hotel Le Meridian.

This is a famous waterfall for Thai locals to go swimming with their families. It is just a 1 minute walk from the scooter parking lot. This waterfall proves to be a pleasant and pleasant place to relax on a warm afternoon.
alt=“what you can do in Khao Lak is the Sai-rung waterfall”>

READ FULL POST: Sai Rung Waterfall in Khao Lak, Thailand

Ton Prai waterfall

Ton Prai is about 40 minutes south of Khao Lak, so it's best to leave for a day trip. The winding roads to the waterfall are scenic and pass through some smaller Thai towns where you can buy cheap and tasty local street food. Look for signs directing you to the parking lot in front of the waterfall.

The waterfall itself is just a short hike from the parking lot, so make sure you're prepared. The winding hike into the mountain takes about 15-20 minutes. Perhaps due to its relative isolation, this waterfall is quieter compared to the alternatives and you can experience it yourself.

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READ FULL POST: Ton Chong Fa Waterfall, Khao Lak, Thailand

Lampi waterfall

Lampi is about 30 minutes south of Khao Lak, so you could check it out on the way to or after visiting Ton Prai. Just before Thai Mueang village you will see clear signs pointing towards Lampi.

This is a popular local waterfall. On weekends you can often find many Thai families swimming and enjoying the fresh water. The site consists of 3 levels, each with a small pool for swimming, so overcrowding isn't too much of a problem here. The main pool is also very wide and deep so there is plenty of room for swimming and some short jumps.

5. Get fresh food from the markets

After a long day of Muay Thai training and waterfall hunting. There is nothing better than visiting the many local Thai markets in Khao Lak. Here you will find stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables directly from surrounding farms, street vendors, desserts and shake stands.

There are markets every afternoon in Khao Lak, but they seem to rotate which nights they open. In general, it's a good idea to try them between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Below is a map of where the common markets are located around Khao Lak.

Bang Niang Market

Bang Niang market is always busy and lively, with exotic smells and happy smiling faces. Here you can buy fresh produce or visit one of the many street vendors to find a great deal on a Pad Thai or Thai curry. This is easy to spot and is directly opposite the tsunami boat in Bang Niang.

Khu Khak market

This is a morning market where you can get an authentic taste of Thai culture between dawn and 12:00. Locals usually buy their produce here, where you can buy everything from dragon fruit to fresh fish or even processed and packaged foods. This market is easy to miss from the main street. However, if you walk down the side streets towards Khao Lak Stadium (right next to 7/11) you won't miss it.

During our 6 weeks stay in Khao Lak, we often bought our products from this market to cook at home as they have the best prices. Just remember, if you're a farang, you'll pay a premium for everything in Thailand. However, we quickly found that if we went to the same providers week after week, we would get a better price every time.

Build market

My favorite night market in Khao Lak. The Build Market is made up of old shipping containers converted into permanent storefronts. At night, when the market takes place, these are surrounded by pop-up street vendors and tables of fresh fruit. There are tattoo shops, clothing stores and of course street food vendors.

6. Watch a Muay Thai fight

If you've worked up a sweat at Rawai Muay Thai or seen some of the posters showing local Thai fights, then you'll undoubtedly want to spend an evening at the local stadium to see authentic Muay Thai. Khao Lak Stadium is tucked away just behind the main road in Bang Niang.

There are several signs pointing to it, so finding it won't be a problem. Fights take place every Friday evening from around 9:00 p.m. The entry fee is 1000 baht for the cheapest ticket, so it's a bit steep, but it's worth it if you want to experience the excitement of a live Muay Thai fight. I would strongly recommend purchasing the cheap “stadium ticket” as it gives you the best view of the fight and allows you to walk around the stadium freely.

The stadium itself is as authentic as it gets. There are stray dogs and the occasional rooster that roam the dirt and concrete floors surrounding the stadium. The bathroom is a small hole in the floor with a bucket and you have to walk around to the preparation rooms where you can get a quick look at the Nak Muays being massaged and getting ready to enter the ring.

I had my first Muay Thai fight in Thailand in this stadium. If you want to find out what it's like, check out my blog post or video.

alt="Children fight Muay Thai at Khao Lak Stadium">

7. Grab a beer at the barefoot bars

There are so many amazing things to do in Khao Lak. After a long day of exploring, there's nothing better than a cold beer in one of Bang Niang's small barefoot bars. There are several bars just a stone's throw from each other along Chai Hat Road, which is connected to several resorts and hostels.

My favorite bar is definitely the Gecko Bar. A very small bar that always attracts like-minded travelers from all over the world who want to play a game of table football or pool or have a chat over a 50 baht Chang or Thai whiskey.

Khao Lak has proven to be one of my favorite backpacking destinations in Thailand. It's easy to visit on a budget and offers plenty of authentic adventures off the beaten path. I have also written a few other blog posts showing some of these experiences, such as: Like training and fighting at Khao Lak Stadium, checking out the best beaches, or how to travel here cheaply. Make sure you check them out!

Khao Lak Accommodation Guide: Where to Stay?

Muay Thai Accommodation: Rawaii Muay Thai If you are spending a long time in Khao Lak, I would suggest booking a private session or staying overnight at the Rawaii Muay Thai Gym. The gym has dormitories and private rooms and can negotiate discounts on training packages.

Best Hostel: Dkaya HostelCentral location, great vibes, clean rooms and air conditioning! You really can't beat this hostel if you're looking for good accommodation in Khao Lak, Thailand on a backpacker's budget.

Best Resort: Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas One of the top-rated resorts on Khao Lak. Located on the beach, with a huge pool and free breakfast, it's no wonder the reviews are so overwhelmingly positive!

Where to go next in Thailand?

Did you enjoy this quick and easy guide to the best things to do in Khao Lak, Thailand? If you're looking for more adventures and remote destinations in Thailand, be sure to check out some of my other travel guides below!

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MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
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