Surfing Khao Lak & Phang Nga Thailand

Khao Lak in Phang Nga is a great area for surfing in Thailand and still has a lot more space than Phuket. There are reef, point and beach breaks, some easy to find and others that take a bit more effort. Khao Lak is about 1.5 hours drive north of Phuket Town, which makes it more open to swells out of the Indian Ocean. This means Khao Lak can have slightly bigger waves than Phuket.

It is not completely unexplored anymore, especially around Pakarang and Memories Beach, but there are still long beaches, quiet corners and plenty of days where you can get a lot of waves without much fuss.

Pakarang Point is one of the best-known surf areas in Khao Lak. The Memories Beach area has become a popular place for surfing, board rental, surf lessons, beach bars and a relaxed local surf scene.

This is often the easiest place to start if you are visiting Khao Lak and want to see what the surf is doing. There can be beginner-friendly waves on smaller days, but the area can also get more powerful when the swell fills in.

Pakarang is located north of the main Khao Lak tourist area, and it is worth checking often during the surf season because the banks and swell direction can change from day to day.

Khao Lak was massively damaged by the tsunami in December 2004. Since then, it has rebuilt and returned as a popular tourist destination in southern Thailand, with natural rainforests, diving, national parks, white water rafting and of course surfing.

Khao Lak is also one of the main step-off points to the Similan Islands and Surin Islands. There are plenty of places to stay in Khao Lak too, from simple guesthouses to large resorts.

The beaches are pristine and often much quieter than Phuket, but some surf spots take a little effort to get to. This is part of the appeal of surfing in Phang Nga. You can spend the day checking beaches, sand banks, points and reefs, and still find places with very few people around.

Some places to explore are Pakarang Point, which is located in Khao Lak itself, the longer beach breaks around Khuk Khak and Bang Niang, and sections of the Phang Nga coast further south towards Khok Kloi and Natai. Some places are easy to find and some are quite difficult to access.

While you are exploring Phang Nga you will also see many other sights and attractions, including rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs and quiet beaches.

South of Khao Lak, the Phang Nga coastline continues down towards Khok Kloi and Natai Beach. This part of the coast can pick up swell and has long open beaches, but it is more exposed and less developed as a surf area.

If you are exploring this coastline, check the banks carefully and do not expect marked surf zones or much help nearby. When it is working, it can be a good place to get away from the crowds. When it is not working, it can just be a long empty beach with a lot of wind and closeouts. Still, that is sometimes half the fun.

Khao Lak is a good base if you want a quieter surf trip than Phuket. During the surf season you can find surfboard rentals, surf schools and local surfers around the main surf beaches, especially near Pakarang and Memories Beach.

Outside the surf season, Khao Lak is still a good place for diving trips, national parks, waterfalls, island tours and a slower beach holiday. If you are coming mainly for waves, aim for the May to October surf season and check local conditions before locking in your plans.