Travel to Khao Lak

How to travel to Khao Lak?

Khao Lak Up-to date facts about Khao Lak, the new destination in the South of Thailand, presented by travel writer Richard Doring				Update: 04/30/2007
How to travel to Khao Lak?

To the Dream Beach in the Tropics...
		... Khao Lak Beach	... at the beautiful Andaman Sea
		Swimming in the sea around the clock,
natural and comfortable bungalows,
	cool beach restaurants and cosy beach bars,
many activities in an unspoilt nature,
		memorable excursions to fishing villages, coral reefs, bizarre rock formations, islands, caves, and waterfalls in the nearby jungle.

How to come to Khao Lak

From Europe to Khao Lak:

Many airlines fly to Phuket via Bangkok. Thai Airways has one direct flight from Europe with a stop in Bangkok.
Malaysia Air flies via Kuala Lumpur, once in a while for acceptable rates.
Direct flights from Europe are available in the season by various charter companies.

In the arrival hall of International Airport Phuket there are money change counters by several banks. At official rates they change cash and travellers' cheques and accept credit cards by Visa and Mastercard.

Transfer by minibus (3K)
Mr. Roth

From the airport there are no busses to town or anywhere else. Thai Airways minibusses by Tour Royale Enterprises Car go to Phuket City for 80 Baht.
For Khao Lak (80 km, 1 hour) the only direct transfer is by taxi. In the arrival hall there is a counter labelled "Airport Limousine" where coupons are sold (1500 Baht for 1 to 3 persons). When there is high demand it may take some time before a taxi is available.
The resorts in Khao Lak offer a transfer service for booked guests for 1200 to 1700 Baht.
On request the Internet Booking Service Khao Lak arranges a transfer by minibus for 1400 Baht for 1 to 3 persons, for 1600 Baht for 4 persons or more.
The driver waits outside the arrival hall at one of the 2 exit gates with a signboard showing the name of the guests. Payment is due upon arrival at the resort.

The cheaper alternative: Take the Thai Airways minibus towards Phuket City for 80 Baht, but alight at the 4-lane highway, app. 25 km before Phuket, at any stop of public busses (a sala beside the road). Cross the road and take any bus towards the north to Ranong (No.430), Surat Thani (No.465) or Takua Pa (No.436). The fare is about 30 Baht to Khao Lak, it takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.

From Bangkok to Khao Lak:

By airplane
to Khao Lak:

Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Phuket about 16 times per day from app. 7 to 19 hours in 80 min., and at 21.30 hours.
Economy fare is 3025 Baht = app. 66 Euro, 6050 Baht return = app. 131 Euro.
Business class is 4025 Baht = app. 87 Euro, 8050 Baht return = app. 175 Euro.
If economy is sold out, it is worth while to book business class.
Bangkok Airways flies two times per day for the same fare.
About 40% cheaper are Air Asia, Orient Thai and Nok Air, but the baggage allowance is only 15 kg (Air Asia's surcharge is 160 Baht/kg).

Information about the airport and transfer see above.

By bus
to Khao Lak:

Bus No. 465 from Surat Thani to Khao Lak (4K)

From Bangkok highway H4 (with 4 lanes until Chumphon) runs 787 km until Khao Lak. The ac-nightbus takes about 11 hours due to several breaks to take a meal (mostly included in the fare) .
The comfortable ac-nightbus from Phuket Central Tour departs at 18.50 and at 19.00 hours (6.50 and 7 p.m.) from the Southern Bus Terminal. If you want to make sure, you buy the ticket at the terminal in the morning and go sightseeing until departure.
We do NOT recommend the cheaper busses without air-conditioning.
The fare is 580 Baht (to Takua Pa and to Khao Lak). As the bus continues to Phuket, you remain seated until Khao Lak. Around 7 a.m. you alight either at the junction to Bang Niang Beach (= KM 62,1) or at Nang Thong Supermarket (= KM 59,6) at the junction to Nang Thong Beach.
Pickup-Taxis or motorcycle taxis should be around to take you to the resort for 20 to 50 Baht, otherwise you may ask in any shop.
The more "expensive" alternative: The extremely comfortable VIP-Bus "999" to Phuket has only 24 seats, three in one row. It starts at 17.30, 18 and 18.30 hours, takes about 11 hours to Khao Lak and has a fixed rate of 895 Baht to Phuket and to Khao Lak. The last VIP-bus at 18.30 hours is recommended, it arrives around dawn.

By train
to Khao Lak:

From the main station in Bangkok (Hualampong) you take a night train to Surat Thani (Phunpin station). There you get the connection by Phuket-Bus No.465 to Khao Lak. Tickets are for sale on the right (to the south) of the station at a table in front of Sintawee Coffee Shop for 120 Baht (ac 160 Baht).
The only day train, a Sprinter, leaves Bangkok at 8.05 a.m. and arrives in Surat Thani at 16.30 hours. There is no connecting bus towards Khao Lak.
For the most comfortable class, 1st class sleeper with ac, the fare is 1279 Baht.
The cheapest class, 3rd class seat, costs 397 Baht with ac, 297 Baht with fan.
We recommend the blue trains.
Rates are in Baht. Update: January 10, 2007

Train No. class	Bangkok	Surat	Fare: 2nd class ac		Fare: 2nd class fan		Fare: 2nd cl. seat
Train No. class	dep.	arr.	upper bed	lower bed	upper bed	lower bed	ac	Fan
Sprinter 43 (ac) 2nd class (seats only)	8.05	16.20					578
No connection by bus. Taxi to Khao Lak for 2000 Baht (fixed rate), app. 2 1/2 hours
Rapid 171 (ac) 1,2,3	13.00	0.09	698	788	438	478	558
Special Express 35 (ac) 1st + 2nd class	14.45	0.46	758	848
Special Express 37 (ac) 1st+2nd+3rd class	15.10	1.53	758	848	498	548	478
Rapid 169 (ac) 1,2,3	15.35	3.02	698	788	438	478	558
Express 83 (ac) 1,2,3	17.05	4.00	718	808	458	498	438
Rapid 173 1,2,3	17.35	5.00	698	788	438	478	418	278
Rapid 167 1,2,3	18.20	5.38	698	788	438	478	418	278
Connection with non-ac-bus 465 at 6.20 a.m., arrival at Khao Lak 10 a.m. (120 Baht)
Express 85 1,2,3	19.30	6.27	718	808	498	548	438	298
Connection with ac-bus 465 at 7.20 a.m., arrival at Khao Lak 10.30 a.m. (160 Baht)
Sprinter 39 und 41 (ac) 2nd class (seats only)	22.50	8.00					578
Connection with 2nd cl. ac-bus 465 at 8.20 a.m., arrival at Khao Lak 12.20 hours (140 Baht)
More busses from Phunpin to Khao Lak at 9 (ac2), 10, 10.20 (ac), 11.20 (ac2), 12.30, 13.30 (ac2), 14.30 (ac2) and 15.30 Uhr (all departure times may change without notice)

On the Website http://www.asia-discovery.com/train.htm you may order your ticket within 60 days (Service charge 200 Baht). They are delivered to your hotel in Bangkok. On demand they will be sent to your home country by DHL (at the additional DHL fee).

May we (Richard and Dagmar) book your holiday bungalow at Khao Lak for you?
Maybe for the next season again?

The resorts at

Things to do
in Khao Lak

Special

May we (Richard and Dagmar) book your holiday bungalow at Khao Lak for you?
Maybe for the next season again?

The resorts at

Things to do
in Khao Lak

Special