Khao Lak Overview
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By Sam Wilkinson - Photos by
Stephan Audiger
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Khao Lak, a one-hour drive north of Phuket,
has one major resource to fall back on; an asset
so in demand that it is worth its weight in
gold – its beautiful natural and unspoiled
beaches.
Mile after mile of glorious golden stress-free
strand awaits the visitor with views out over
the turquoise Andaman that no artist's brush
could better.
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Khoa Lak doesn't 'do' crowds; it's not a mega-shopping
destination and the fleshpots of Patong, Patpong and
Pattaya seem so far away that they could be on another
planet.
But it's not only about beaches and peace: Khao Lak's
proximity to world-class diving sites is a powerful
lure for scuba enthusiasts and with a backdrop of
almost virgin rainforest and several stunning national
parks nature lovers are in the right place.
La On Village
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| La On
Village |
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La On Village comprises Khao Lak's southernmost part
and is by far the busiest spot in the whole province.
Both sides of the main thoroughfare are lined with
opticians, souvenir shops, opticians, restaurants
and cafés, minimarts and more opticians. Okay
– so they do a good line in cheap Ray Bans, two-for-one
glasses' deals and progressive lenses but there surely
aren't that many myopic people in Khao Lak.
Things are sleepy during the day here. The only movement
seems to be the white-coated opticians ghosting about
in their shops. At 15:00 the souvenir stalls and shops
start to set up and by 18:00 the restaurants are receiving
their first customers. However, just to the north
of this area there are a few places of note for shoppers
seeking to get away from the sameness of tailor-after-tailor-after-optician.
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| Souvenir stalls |
Local Taxi Service |
Optician |
La On northern part
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| You even
can learn Thai at the Booktree |
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First off, opposite Dragon Divers there is a doctor's
practice with a pharmacy a handy few steps further
down the road. On the Sea Dragon Dive Center's side
there is a recently opened mall featuring higher-class
boutiques than those found in the 'centre' of the
village. For those with a literary bent there is an
excellent bookstore here, offering a veritable cornucopia
of international magazines, books and newspapers as
well as valuable local information.
However, those looking for the usual fare of fake
DVD's, CD's and VCD's along with computer games and
fake brand-name goods as well as swimwear and beach
accessories will not be disappointed. They're all
here along the main strip but in lesser quantities
than at Patong or Pattaya.
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| CDs & DVDs |
"Higher-class boutiques" |
The cat is not for sale... |
Dining & Nightlife
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| Tiffy's
Café, north of La On Village |
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As for dining out, the options are virtually unlimited.
All along the main road you will see restaurant after
restaurant with more down the small roads leading
off.
The road from La On down to Nang Thong Beach also
has more eateries as well as on the beach itself.
Night spots of note are the ever-dependable Happy
Snapper, featuring live bands and Song's – both
laid-back places in which to meet both locals and
the many members of the diving industry community.
There is also live music and a large dance space in
the Kuk Kak, the chic nightclub in Le
Meridien's grounds.
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| Song's Bar |
Jai Seafood Restaurant |
Happy Snapper |
Tours & Activities
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| Fresh
fruits at a stall in La On Village |
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Day tours comprise
elephant trekking, visiting the many waterfalls in
the area, trips to nearby islands, trekking in the
national parks and there's even a mini golf on the
road leading to the Chong Fha waterfall.
For fresh fruit and vegetable lovers, there is a
fresh market on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays
to the north of La On village, opposite the washed-up
police patrol vessel.
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