Khao Lak is an awesome place to take the kids for a beach holiday – but which are the best beaches in Khao Lak? This guide will help you choose the best Khao Lak beach for your family holiday.
Khao Lak, a picturesque coastal town along the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, is known for its stunning natural beauty, serene ambience, and pristine beaches. But not all Khao Lak beaches are the same – and while some families want complete isolation, others prefer to be close to the town centre.
During our time in Khao Lak, we checked out all the beaches (I know, I know, such a tough job, but someone has to do it) and have put together this detailed guide – so you can decide which is the best beach in Khao Lak for your next holiday.
Can’t decide which is the best beach Khao Lak has? Well, depending on how long you stay in Khao Lak, you might even do what we did and split your time between two different Khao Lak beaches.
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Khao Lak Beaches Map
The map below shows the location of all the Khao Lak beaches we cover in this guide.
Zoom in and out for a closer view.
Best Beaches in Khao Lak
Starting from the south and moving to the north – below is a guide to the Khao Lak best beaches.
Khao Lak South Beach
Located in the original Khao Lak village, Khao Lak South Beach is at the southern foot of the Khao Lak mountain in the Lam Kaen area. This area is about 10 minutes from the Khao Lak Center, which you can reach via the winding mountain road.
The main beach here is Khao Lak Beach, a pretty beach about 700 metres long.
While not a real touristy area, those who do come to the area tend to come to visit the Turtle Conservation Centre at the Thai Royal Navy Base. There are also two waterfalls in the area – Ton Pling and further south, there is Lampi Waterfall.
If you want to stay at Khao Lak South Beach, we recommend the Kalima Resort, a great family friendly resort offering accommodation in two bedroom suites and some great on site facilities, including a kids club.
Nang Thong Beach
Nang Thong Beach is one of the most popular areas in Khao Lak and is often considered one of the best places to stay in Khao Lak.
With its long, golden shoreline, it’s a popular choice for beachgoers. The central location is dotted with various Khao Lak hotels and resorts, from luxurious resorts to budget-friendly options.
You’ll find a few beachfront restaurants and bars offering fresh seafood, cocktails, and magnificent sunset views.
The calm waters make it suitable for swimming, and its central location to La On Village, Khao Lak’s town centre, ensures easy access to shopping.
There is also a lovely little lighthouse on a rock just off the beach, which makes for a great photo, especially at sunset when the colours of the sky and the beach turn golden.
Nang Thong Beach is the ideal choice for families wanting to be in the heart of all Khao Lak offers.
If you want to stay at Nang Thong Beach, we recommend X10 or the Sands. We stayed at X10 for a few nights while in Khao Lak and highly recommend this resort to families. It has 5 pools, multiple restaurants and a kids club – read our full review here.
Bang Niang Beach
About 5 minutes north of Nang Thong Beach is Bang Niang Beach, which is slightly less crowded and has a quieter and more relaxed vibe.
Despite being quieter than Nang Thong Beach, you’ll still find plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops and bars along the street, although this is a little bit of a hike from the beachside resorts. There aren’t too many beachside places to eat – apart from the resorts.
This area is known for the vibrant Bang Niang Market, where you can shop for local handicrafts and sample delicious street food. Other places of interest include the Chong Fa Waterfall and the Tsunami 813 Memorial Park with the stranded police boat.
Bang Niang Beach is a great choice if you prefer a more laid-back atmosphere while still being close to amenities.
If you want to stay at Bang Niang Beach, we recommend Fanari, Ramada or La Vela. All of these resorts are fabulous for families, and except for Fanari, all have multiple swimming pools, restaurants, and a kids’ club on site.
Khuk Khak Beach
After Bang Niang Beach is Khuk Khak Beach, a much less touristy area that provides a rustic beach experience.
There’s not a whole lot to do around Khuk Khak Beach, so it’s not heaving with tourists. However, there are local markets open in the morning and evening.
Being just a 5 to 10 minute drive from Bang Niang Beach and Nang Thong Beach, Khuk Khak Beach is ideal for those wanting a quiet location but within easy reach of the action.
For those families that like the idea of staying on Khuk Khak Beach, we recommend Andamania Resort – its lovely property featuring a pool and restaurant.
Pakarang Beach
Located just north of Khuk Khak, Pakarang Beach is a large area yet a quiet, secluded spot. The beach is lined with Casuarina trees, has soft sand, and unique tidal pool formations during low tide, offering a chance to explore marine life.
For those families that like the idea of staying on Pakarang Beach, we recommend Apsara Resort. This is a fantastic family friendly property with a gorgeous pool, multiple restaurants and a kids club.
And be sure to check out Memories Beach Bar – it has a cool atmosphere, great food, sun loungers and massages.
Coconut Beach
Ask most people – tourists and locals alike – what their favourite Khao Lak Beach and most will say Coconut Beach.
While you won’t find any accommodation here – what you will find is a gorgeous beach, with coconut palms swaying in the breeze and minimal development. There are no waves, so it’s perfect for families with little ones.
You’ll find a few restaurants and bars along Coconut Beach – the perfect spot for watching the sunset. Check out Boatyard Restaurant, Coconut Garden Bar and Bounty Beach Bar. You’ll also find plenty of massage shops.
While you can’t stay here – I’d definitely recommend spending at least one day here while holidaying in Khao Lak. We loved chilling out here.
White Sand Beach
While generally just an extension of Coconut Beach, White Sand Beach does become cut off from Coconut Beach during high tide – so I have listed them separately for the purposes of this article.
White Sand Beach is a gorgeous beach known for its pristine, powdery sands and clear waters. The beach is set in a bay surrounded by lush green hills and is an excellent place for swimming and watching the sunset. The beach here has no waves, perfect for families with young kids.
While quieter than other areas, you can still find laid-back beach bars, restaurants and massage shops such as Thai Beach and Secret Bar.
For those families who’d like to stay on the gorgeous White Sand Beach, we recommend Ao Thong Beach Resort.
Another nearby option is the spectacular (but pricey) Robinson Resort. While not right on White Sand Beach, it’s just a short stroll away. Robinson Resort would have to be one of the best resorts in Khao Lak – there is so much to do there, including multiple pools, restaurants and, of course, a fantastic kids club.
Pak Weep Beach
Located some 12 km from the centre of Khao Lak, Pak Weep Beach is a beautiful stretch of beach in a quieter part of town.
Despite being a quiet area, you’ll still find some fantastic resorts here, making it ideal for families that intend to spend plenty of time making use of their resort facilities and wanting a gorgeous, quiet beach all to themselves.
The beach here is lovely and wide with light coloured sand and turquoise water, with gentle to no waves. It’s ideal for families and is one of my favourite beaches in Khao Lak.
There aren’t too many tourist attractions here, so you will need to drive or get a taxi into town if you want to venture further afield. Although there are plenty of restaurants and bars along the beachfront, such as Bambi Restaurant, The Rock Bar and Pason Restaurant. There are also multiple beachside massage places too.
If you’d like to stay on Pak Weep Beach, we recommend Mai Khao Lak or Beyond Resort. We stayed at Beyond Resort, which is just beautiful but only permits children over 12, so there aren’t as many family friendly facilities on site. Mai Khao, however is fabulous for families with kids of all ages, with multiple pools, restaurants and the all important kids club.
Bang Sak Beach
Further north, Bang Sak Beach is less developed and offers a quieter atmosphere.
You will find several local Thai restaurants and food stalls at the beach. Garang Artisan Ice Cream is right on the beach, with delicious ice cream, bakery goods and coffee.
Just 5 minutes away is the Bang Muang Market, which is open daily. Bang Sak is also close to Ban Nam Khem, where the Tsunami Memorial Center is and the pier to take the ferry to Ko Kho Kao island.
For those families who’d like to stay in a quieter part of Khao Lak, Bang Sak is well recommended. If staying here, consider booking the Outrigger or Graceland Resorts. Both are fabulous family friendly resorts, including pools and restaurants, however only the Outrigger has a kids club.
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I hope you enjoyed this guide on choosing the best beach in Khao Lak for your upcoming family holiday. Other guides that you might find helpful include things to do in Khao Lak, how to get to Khao Lak and the best family hotels in Khao Lak.