Key Points     Key Point Four The  intersection of the main H4 and H402 at Khok Kloi. Key Point Five The intersection of H4 and H4032 by the Phra Narai (Vishnu) Park at Takua Pa. Key Point Six The intersection of H4090 and H401 at KM 135. Tree top hut at Khao sok guest house Two marine parks and a large waterfall provide diversions on the fast road to the pristine jungle of Khao Sok National Park.

Before leaving Phuket Island take the old road (west turn) to drop by the Sirinath National Park headquarters on Mai Kao Beach before crossing on the old Sarasin Bridge and rejoining H402.

At Key Point 4 you may turn east and plan your own short tour to Phang Nga and Krabi  as an alternative to our tours (shorter and longer) which continue north along the west coast on H4.

H4 is a fast main route to the district town (amphoe) of Thai Muang (administrative district towns have government offices, secondary schools and a hospital). Where H4 turns sharply right at the northern end of town, the road straight ahead leads to Hat Thai Muang (hat means beach) and Khao Lam Pi National Park (4 kms, bungalow accommodation is available), passing the entrance to the Thai Muang Golf and Marina complex on the way. The park area contains tropical evergreen, mangrove beach and swamp forest. The long, empty beach is conserved for rare nesting turtles (Nov-April). The park area includes the Khao Lam Pi Waterfall 10 kms north of Thai Muang on H4 (right turn on narrow sealed road 2 kms). The natural pools refresh in the cooler jungle.

Further north the road narrows and winds its way round the headland (KM 55-58) that is part of the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. Drop into the park HQ for information, bungalows and a pleasant balcony restaurant. a second restaurant one kilometre north overlooks Khao Lak Beach, where there are several comfortable bungalow resorts.

Khao Lak Beach is the best place to stay for visitors seeking a good level of comfort near Takua Pa and Khao Sok. Guest houses at Khao Sok National Park are rustic by comparison and many close in the rainy season.
Drive through (Amphoe) Takua Pa on H4 and keep going straight on H401 to Surat Thani at the intersection 4 kms north of the town. You pass Key Point 6 (see shorter tour diversion) and go over a low pass before reaching Khao Sok National Park at KM 109.

Thick jungle and karsts with vertical walls have helped preserve the habitat of the park. The 645 km² of park and adjacent wildlife reserves support endangered species including more than 30 (estimated) pairs of big cats. Rustic places to stay near the Park HQ offer simple comforts. The visitor centre sells a simple map (3 Baht) for trekking up the Sok River to Ton Kloy waterfall (9kms) and provides guides. Khun Nit of Khao Sok Rainforest Resort offers an assortment of treks. More detailed information about the flora and fauna of the area may be found in "Waterfalls & Gibbon Calls" by Thom Henley.

Accommodation

Khao Lak Laguna Resort. New resort on beach $$.  Tel. (076) 431498. Fax:: (66 76 431297). Reservations Mobile 01 229 2274. Khao Lak Bungalow.  Leafy setting right on beach $.  Tel. Mobile 01 229 2197.