Hotels have been refurbished, renovated and upgraded to provide accommodation that befits the splendour of Khao Lak’s surroundings. Many hotels have added landscaped pools, lotus ponds and pleasant gardens that welcome and soothe the traveller. Shops selling touristy items and curios, banks, tour operators, restaurants and bars have reopened. Khao Lak has been truly blessed by nature as it has the warm Andaman seas lapping its beautiful white beaches, gentle slopes are covered with tropical forests, sparkling waterfalls gush down hills and mountains, wonderfully clear blue skies and the gentle breeze embraces the visitor. Khao Lak Beach: situated in the province of Phang Nga, midway between Thai Muan and Takua Pa, this is one of the more popular beaches. The beach has a long clean sandy shoreline that stretches for miles with warm waters that are very inviting. Khao Lak beach seldom gets crowded during the peak season and there is always enough space for travellers looking for some quiet privacy and peace to snooze under the warm tropical sun. Hat Bang Sak Beach: shaded by tall trees with wide leafy branches, this beach is a favourite with locals who often come here to picnic. There are several stalls around the beach selling Thai food and canned and bottled drinks that have been chilled, making this the perfect beach to have picnic parties without having to prepare food at home. The beach is often referred to as ‘Turtle Beach’ by the locals as turtles struggle to the shorelines to lay their eggs. Sadly, the number of turtles returning to the beach each year has been decreasing. Similan Islands: the magnificent Similan islands lie off the coast of Phang Nga, about three hours away by boat from Khao Lak. The islands have been declared a marine national park and there are strict regulations on usage. The crystal clear warm waters are crowded with colourful tropical fish and coral reefs and are a diver’s dream come true. Meanwhile, the white beaches are perfect for sunbathing and lazing the day away. Thai Muang National Park: this is one of the more unusual national parks as it has a beach on one of its borders. The park will delight nature lovers as it has many exotic plants and abundant wildlife. Hidden away in the forest are several waterfalls including the Lumpee Falls and the Tohn Prai Falls, which are perfect spots to have a dip and a rest after a long hike. During the months of November to February the leatherback turtles arrive at the park’s beach to lay their eggs. Khao Sok National Park: the park is so large and has so much to offer in terms of wildlife and plants that it has not been fully documented since it was declared a national park. This is one of nature’s best gifts to the region as the park has caves, limestone hills, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls all waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Wat Tham Suwankhuka: the cave temple is certainly worth visiting as it has two main caverns to explore. One of the caverns has images of a reclining Buddha as well as other images of Buddha on its walls. There are also drawings of the royal seals of King Rama V, VII and IX. Loosely translated, Wat Tham Suwankhuka means ‘Temple of Heaven Grotto.’ | 
