The time was when visitors to Phang Nga province were confined to day trippers from Phuket who came by bus or boat to see the fantastic scenery of Phang Nga Bay. That began to change around the turn of the century, and by 2005 the area around Khao Lak beach was attracting thousands of travelers, and international hotel chains were beginning to build in the area. When the tsunami hit Asia the day after Christmas in 2004, Khao Lak was the worst affected area of Thailand, with an official death toll of more than 4,000 people (unofficialy, 10,000 people).
Off the coast of Phang Nga are the Similans, a group of eight islands that Skin Diving magazine rated among the ten best places on earth. Even for non divers, the islands, as well as the mainland, are home to some beautiful scenery.
Further to the north are the Surin islands, also very highly rated dive spots.
Getting there can be the biggest challenge to enjoying a stay in Khao Lak. Unless you rent your own car or arrange transport through your resort, the only other option is to hop a bus bound for Ranong.
Khao Lak was well on its way to being Thailand's next big travel destination, and that's when the December 2004 tsunami hit. Almost every resort was hit, and several were completely wiped out. It's take years for the area to recover, but if you didn't know about it, today you would see very little sign of what happened here. Even the memorials, such as the police boat tossed 2 kilometers inland, are rather poorly marked.
There's a lot to see around Phang Nga away from the water. Not far from Khao Lak beach is the Khao Sok National Park, which is home to one of Thailand's largest remaining tracts of virgin rain forest. Trails marked through the forest are relatively easy going, and lead to fantastic views of limestone mountains, waterfalls, caves and lakes.
Broad view of Phang Nga bay. This bay near Phuket, with its fantastical scenery, is a popular spot with tourists. It used to be that the only way to see it was on a tour boat from Phang Nga city, although you could take a boat from a small fishing village near Phuket for a more "personal" tour by the people who lived and worked in the bay. You would still see the infamous "James Bond Island" but the fishermen know at least a dozen more truly beautiful and unique spots.
Richlieu Rock, one of the Similan's premier dive sites About 70 kilometers off the coast of Khao Lak is the Similans Islands National Marine Park. This group of nine islands was rated among the ten best places on earth by Skin Diving magazine. The coral reef is just a few meters from the beach, making it ideal for both snorkelers and divers alike. See our complete on-line guide to Similans dive sites at SEA Undersea.
Located 70 kilometers off the cost of Phang Nga, the Similan Islands are, according to many, the best preserved marine ecosystem in Thailand, with accordingly the best scuba diving to be had in the region. The Similans are a chain of nine rocky islands running in a north - south line. The Similans National Park, created in 1982, also includes two additional islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
The Similans are very popular with divers, and you'll find a complete on-line guide to Similans dive sites at SEA Undersea, but you can visit the islands even if you're not a diver.
